Marc and Carolyn's Cycle Touring Adventures : Mont Ste Anne. Jan 21. Minus 21

Yes. It is cold now. As we waited for the windshield to defrost the dashboard read -21 outside.

It was so cold that Nadia's driver side window was stuck OPEN after she paid for her ski ticket. So we had to park in the sun, wrap the door in a blanket and then let the car heat and the green house effect of the sun thaw out the frozen window/door. We waited inside the chalet by the fire and in 10 minutes the door warmed enough and we could close it up and start our day.

As they say, "there is no bad weather just bad clothing", so we put on our warmest layers (and layers) and set out.

And found a hill to climb as soon as we could!

La Harvey, named in honour of the gold medalist, is the trail we chose today.

It is a great long trail, with rolling hills and it passes by the St Nicholas warming hut.

Up to the St Nicholas we climbed, and then around and up some more to enjoy Mont Ferreol.

We didn't stop often and we didn't take many photos, because stopping and taking photos can be a very chilly undertaking.

But when two trees are hugging, you have to stop and take a photo - I call this one "pine hugging birch" ❤️ (or maybe they are playing hide and seek?).

I only saw one wee "wild animal" today, a tiny mouse (or mole?) scurried across the trail and then disappeared in the tiniest hole in the snow. So cute.

We also only saw one other skier. He came up behind us and exclaimed that we were very brave to be our there today. We practically jumped out of our boots because we were not expecting anyone.

He was right. We were brave. The wind chill when the trail crossed the hydro lines was the kind of cold that makes your eyes water and then freezes your tears. Ouch. And the wind was pushing the snow into the set tracks making the going slow.

But we loved every kilometer.