With the chance of rain 100%, I pulled out the rain gear, packed up and headed for the cafeteria for breakfast. Wonderful dorm room at Bishop University with an inexpensive place to eat a five minute walk way. My legs were not feeling tip top but with a few miles of easy riding I would be up to par. I was greeted at the door by a woman who was running the cafeteria. Asking where I was going with all my riding gear on she quickly noted that she had brought her potted plants indoors because of the forest fire fallout of fine particle matter. She said the smoke was descending from Quebec City and it would be a bad idea for me to continue north. Using my better judgement I packed it in and rode three miles from Lenoxville to Sherbrooke to catch a bus to Montreal. With 140 miles to go, I felt cheated out of my goal of reaching Quebec City. 410 miles covered to date but no cigar. A bus brought me to Montreal and from there I tried to get a bus or train south. The routes all went to NYC and the schedules were terrible so I booked a car rental, a Toyota 4runner, packed up the bike and spent the next seven hours driving south through a dim of smoke. The vents were closed the smell still seeped into the car. Very spokey ride covering 380 miles. The car and highway lights were a dirty yellow and the visibility at several points along Interstate 87 slowed me down below 60 mph. At a rest top to fill up the gas tank and get some food the front hood in just fifteen minutes accummated a fine dusting of fire debris. Canterbury, Connecticut at 12:15 am was a very welcome site. Betsy was awake to great my weary soul.
Once these fires have subsided I will figure out a way to finish the last 140 miles, perhaps in September.