Unpredictability

This is probably our last trip to Quebec. We're gettin' old.

Since we sold the trailer, we had to find different accommodations. We have reserved a rustic cabin on an organic farm just east of Sherbrooke. No joke.

We do not have an agenda except to re-visit some of our favourite places and to go with the flow and see where life leads us.

I love how the mountains just pop our of the plains southeast of Montreal.

"Attention!: I am unpredictable."

Probably a good sponsor for this vacation: unpredictability.

The welcome centre at the border is a shadow of its former self. BUT, the one in Magog is amazing! We lucked out and connected with a staff member there named Patrick. We had a grand old time chatting with Patrick who spent 40 years as a police officer in Sherbrooke and now works at welcoming travelers to his neighbourhood. He was born to do that job.

We were so influenced by his enthusiasm that we decided to take a detour down to a field to fork restaurant near Austin. Parcelles. One km down a rough, dirt road, we came across a line of mostly high end vehicles: BMW's, Mercedes and Land Rovers as well as electric cars. No parking on site. You park at the side of the gravel road.

This could be interesting.

A nice sign at the end of the narrow path took us onsite to....

... a field of asparagus and two greenhouses.

That path wound around through approximately 3 acres of very well-tended gardens.

Kale in the distance.

And, speaking of in the distance, do you see people sitting under the trees?

Here's a better picture. There were people sitting at long tables, people sitting at picnic tables, people sitting on benches, people sitting on blankets on the grass. Staff dressed in white and black made their way around the grounds delivering....

.... wood-fired pizzas and vegetable dishes made from whatever was harvested this morning. And wine and desserts.

Sadly, our new friend Patrick had neglected to let us know that you need to reserve the day before. They are so busy that they need to go with reservations. We were free to wander around though.

Isn't it interesting? They get their plums from the same place in Elora that we do. Mennonites from Ontario shipping bare root stock to Quebec.

Patrick also got Ted's attention when he suggested we go even further afield to Mansonville where there are a Polish deli, Euro Deli du Village, that make their own sausages. There is also a great bakery there, he said. I could sense Ted thinking, "You had me at sausages." Some Slaska garlic sausages made their way into our cooler.

We were surprised to see "Toronto sausages". And, what do they have in them, you ask? Pork, chicken and turkey. Ted was unable to purchase a sausage that has chicken and turkey in it.