rallyreview


BMW Club Quebec 35th anniversary rally


By Norton Rubenstein #95745


QUEBEC CITY, IN THE CANADIAN Province of Quebec, is one of my favorite places, but it’s been a while since my last visit. When I read in Owners News that the BMW Club Quebec 2015 rally was celebrating its 35th anniversary as an MOA affiliate, my friend Donald Branson and I jumped at the opportunity and signed up. Over 400 years old, Quebec City


ranks among the ancient cities of western culture in the New World, and even though some of its charac- ter has given way to modernization as concessions to “les touristes,” it still retains a strong essence of its early beginnings. It is Canada’s Jamestown, and older by one year. The original, or Old City, is situated below the much larger and very modern new city. Although modernized, buildings have been maintained so they appear to be as they were originally; all changes to historic buildings must, by law, comport with structural and cos- metic use of the period, maintaining a balance between safety and visual representation. The new city, on a high bluff above the old city, is domi- nated by the imposing Chateau Fron- tenac, reputed to be the most photographed hotel in the world. It’s an easy ride on the slab from


Richmond, Virginia, to Quebec; two nights on the road and rally registra- tion on the third morning. Passing through Canadian Customs was straightforward for me, but much more interesting for Don; he was one of the chosen few and was “requested” to pull into an inspection area where his bike was searched while he was asked a few personal questions in the


84 BMW OWNERS NEWS October 2015


Approaching Quebec City from Lévis with the old city on the water. The Chateau Frontenac dominates the skyline.


station. Border security is something they take very seriously and the agents don’t smile, but searches take less than half an hour. The rally campground, “Camping Tran-


sit,” was located in Lévis, directly across the St. Lawrence River from Quebec City, about a half hour trip. I was a bit concerned about my very rusty French, but we were greeted at the campground gate by Patrick Boucher, who ran the registration table and memen- tos sales and who, like everyone else at the rally, spoke English very well. The tenting area sites had plenty of electric and water services and were very comfortable. Don and I unloaded our bikes, set up our tents, and began to chat with others around us. Some club members were circulating to help with tent setups if needed, some offer- ing to be ride guides for those with specific local interests. Don and I wanted to ride the Île d’Orléans


coastal circuit (about 50 miles). I heard that the island, lying in the St. Lawrence between Lévis and Quebec City, was beautifully landscaped, with little farms, small spe- cialty food shops, quaint red-roofed stone cottages, old churches, and a good selection of roadside inns (“auberges”). Later that first day, our tenting neighbors, Marc Rous- seau and JoAnne Lemay, volunteered to act as our guides to the island. There are two ways to get on the island


from our Lévis campground, bridge or ferry. Since we had a late, (15:30) start and wanted to get back in time for dinner, it would have to be a quick tour. The ferry route to the island is quicker, but going by bridge Marc could also give us a ride through the New City, and it would take only a little longer. Following Marc was interesting, and at times I wondered if Don and I had registered for some kind of time trials event by mistake. As I remember, it


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