Your most beautiful motorcycle tours | The Townships, between lakes and mountains

Many of you have suggested your favorite motorcycle rides on the roads of Quebec. Over the next few weeks, we will be presenting a few of them, but we have chosen to launch the series by testing the first one ourselves, a superb walk along Chemin des Cantons, between Lac-Brome and Ayer’s Cliff.

Pierre-Marc Durivage
The Press

This hike is not the result of one, but of two suggestions. Nicole Lussier suggested a loop between lakes Memphremagog and Massawippi, while François Panzini suggested that we ride from Saint-Armand to Owl’s Head. It is by seeing on a map that the Chemin des Cantons covered a good part of the suggested routes that we have concocted the itinerary proposed here.

From Brome Lake to the Missisquoi Valley

From exit 90 of Highway 10, head south on Route 243. You quickly find yourself on the edge of Brome Lake and its pretty waterfront houses — we take this opportunity to remind you of the importance of tranquility of residents; for the good of all, we moderate the rhythm and the engine speed. Arriving in the charming village of Knowlton, we have to make a choice to get to Sutton: we follow the exotic Chemin du Mont-Écho if we are not afraid to drive where the asphalt ends, or we take the alternative route that follows highways 104 and 215.

In Sutton, we stop for an excellent cappuccino at Mollie’s, a coffee bar that has a storefront in the heart of the village. The menu also offers soups, salads and gourmet sandwiches, concocted by the chef, Jonathan Prima, of the Marconi. We take the road again in a southerly direction, taking Scenic Road, which plunges a few kilometers further into the magnificent valley of the Missisquoi River. This is where you join the route suggested by Mr. Panzini. Moreover, from June, we will be able to stop again at Château Sainte-Agnès, the vineyard where the clip was shot. Easy on Me of Adele, which has been revived under a new administration.

Around Lake Memphremagog

Arriving in Mansonville, we take a look at the round barn, a superb example of the agricultural architecture typical of the Eastern Townships. In front of the wooden building built in 1912 is today the market place where local producers meet every Saturday morning, from May 21st. We then take Chemin de Vale Perkins to join Chemin du Lac, which will give us a first glimpse of Lake Memphremagog, near Knowlton Landing. We then head for the abbey of Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, to fill up on tranquility, but also good products prepared on site by the Benedictine monks – fine cheeses, ciders, compotes and spreads.

Finally, we stop for dinner at the La Memphré microbrewery, which not only offers an excellent selection of beers, but also a terrace with a breathtaking view of Lake Memphremagog and Maison Merry, a historic residence built in 1821, today converted into a museum. Unusual fact, the manager of the brewery offers us a house blend between Pointe Merry, a West Coast-style IPA, and an ephemeral wheat beer with raspberries. The result is excellent and goes wonderfully with the delicious Boss burger. Following Nicole Lussier’s advice, we then take route 247 to follow the eastern shore of the lake, which gives us a few furtive glimpses of the abbey, on the other side of the magnificent body of water. In Georgeville, we stop at the WN Ives General Store, which surprises with its impeccably restored decor and its lovely selection of local products, ideal for preparing a picnic.

From Fitch Bay to Lake Massawippi

Route 247 takes us to Fitch Bay, but we suggest that you take Merril Road, unpaved but very well maintained, which takes us directly to the Narrows Covered Bridge, built in 1881 on the road that linked Montreal to Boston. You can no longer cross it with your vehicle, but it is a very nice place to stop for a bite to eat. We then take the route of Chemin des Cantons, heading north, which offers us some inviting curves along Fitch Bay. Arrived at the Rider house, a striking Victorian residence topped with a spectacular wrought iron witch, we turn right on Fitch Bay Road, which brings us back to Route 141, towards Ayer’s Cliff. Here, you can eat an ice cream or a hot dog at Wood’s, but you can also stop for a cocktail on the superb terrace of the very chic Ripplecove Inn, which offers a superb view of Lake Massawippi. Last step before taking the way back, we take the Ayer’s Cliff road before taking the Mountain road, which will offer us a spectacular view of the entire magnificent region that we have surveyed up and down. during this exceptional hike.