Across the Country to the Maritimes: Day 35 - Les Cantons de L'Est and at M. C. & Patti's

Started our day with coffee on the porch - it's so relaxing here! Pored over maps, deciding what route we wanted to follow to do some sight seeing, incorporating MC's suggestions of places to see, etc.

Reviewing maps...

M. C. & Patti's Paradise Resort...

Taking our time... so nice and peaceful here!

The grounds...

At the "5 à 7" (Happy Hour Spot)

Much of the landscaping done by M. C. & Patti's daughter,

Melanie, a professional landscape designer.

Oops... back at the "5 a 7"... We like that spot!

When we finally pulled ourselves away from "the resort", we decided to take the Chemin des Cantons. So many interesting and charming little villages and municipalities, some only about a block long! Parked in Knowlton (Lac Brome) and biked a wee bit. Checked out a few antique stores.

At Lac Brome (aka Knowlton)

One of M.C. & Patti's favourite... Star Cafe in Lac Brome

During our drive, we got to see a few sand sculptures that appear in a few communities done by a local artist. These are incredible and apparently are not affected by weather. We were told they were done earlier this summer, while the sand was wet, and will last till October when they get levelled. This artist travels the world doing these sculptures. He also does ice, snow and chocolate ones as well.

One of the awesome sand sculptures...

Another awesome sand sculpture

Upon MC's recommendation, we went to l'Abbaye de Saint-Benoît -du-Lac. Benedictine monks have been here since 1912. The current church was completed in the mid 1980's and is just beautiful, with its tiled corridors leading into it. We arrived in time to hear one of the monks playing Gregorian music on the impressive pipe organ in the church.

Abbaye de Saint-Benoit-du-Lac

The highlight of the day was our short visit with "Mouse", aka Gilbert Garand, a friend of Andrée and René and MC, who has been a monk here for 40 years now. He is from Saint-Boniface. I knew his sisters, Evelyn and Terry (who married Rolly Dion). Pretty sure Gil, Denise or Gerry would know that family and may have gone to school with some of them.

Though they live a monastic life mostly in silence, they are allowed to speak when it is work related, when they have company and also for a short time after their supper. We were very well received. He took us on a bit of a tour, bringing us up the tower you see in the pictures overlooking the property.

From the tower, on our private tour...

From the tower... what a view!

As seen from the tower... Cool gardens

sculpted in an existing large piece of granite...

We then went to a small private room where he had prepared us a sampling of some of the cheese they make here as well as their famous Apple Cider - which is his specialty. The cider that we had is made in the champagnoise fashion, and is naturally fermented in the bottle. Tastes even better than an Asti-Spumanti which I am fond of!

Suzie and Brother Gilbert Garand enjoying a

glass of cider and cheeses, made here... so good!

He was so happy to hear news of Andrée and René and Zoé and is "toasting" them in the photo we took with him. He also inquired about MC and says he is still waiting to see the movie that you made of Pere Turenne in Africa.

A toast to Rene and Andrée!

Robert, thoroughly enjoying the lunch!

After our short visit, the church bells rang, which was his signal to go to Vespers, which are a special prayer time held every day at 5:00 pm in the church. We went to the church for this as well. It is open to the public. The prayers are in latin and done in Gregorian Chant. So peaceful and serene. So glad we were able to attend!

The church...

We then went to the store in the basement to stock up on cheese and cider! Yay!

Drove on towards Mount Orford National park where we rode our bikes on a beautiful hilly section of the park which happened to be part of the Trans-Canada Trail - Yes - I finally got on the TCT!!