Tour St. Francois LbNA #9358
Map
Nearby Boxes
Add Note
Add Location| Owner: | Adoptable |
|---|---|
| Plant date: | Jun 6, 2004 |
| Location: | |
| City: | Ile d'Orlean |
| County: | Quebec, CAN |
| State: | Quebec, Canada |
| Boxes: | 1 |
| Planted by: | The von der Insels  |
|---|---|
| Found by: | C & H |
| Last found: | Jul 31, 2014 |
| Status: | FFFaFFFFOF |
| Last edited: | Sep 20, 2015 |
New directions as of August 20, 2007. This is a replacement box in a very slightly different location. I told you this place gets busy!
(Note: This box is semi-orphaned. We try to get up to Quebec as often as possible - we still haven't seen half of the attractions after a dozen trips!)
The Ile d'Orlean is an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, just northeast (downriver) from Quebec City. It is halfway from Quebec City to Ste. Anne de Beaupre cathedral and the magnificent Canyon Ste. Anne. The bridge to the island is almost directly opposite the Montmorency Falls, another incredible natural sight - taller than the Niagra Falls! We're taking you to a lovely picnic spot, so pack a lunch or buy something nice and fresh on the island.
From Quebec City, take Highway 40 towards Ste. Anne de Beaupre until it becomes Highway 440. Then take the exit for Ile d'Orlean and cross the bridge. At the end of the bridge, go up the hill to the traffic light - the only traffic light on the island! Take a left onto Route 368 (east/est), and start measuring your distance. It's 17 miles to the letterbox. Route 368 is a loop road popular with cyclists that goes all the way around the island, through all five villages. On the way to the box you'll pass through St. Pierre and Ste. Famille, stopping in St. Francois before continuing around the isle.
You will go past several cideries, so stop at Domaine Steinbach cidery (less than 4 miles from the light) or the Ciderie Verger about 3 miles further) for a taste and a bottle of cider or jam. Go on to the cheese shop - a fromagerie - 5 1/2 miles later on the right. You'll see a maple products erablerie ('maplery') or cabin a sucre ('sugar shack') where you can get some home-grown maple syrup (sirop d'erable) or maple butter to put on your locally-purchased just-baked bread ('pain chaud'). The syrop is fresh in the Spring, the berries are very fresh in the Summer, and the apple and grape harvest comes in the late Summer/early Fall.
At St. Francois, the road will begin to turn south. It doesn't take far to get to a sign that tells you you're at the Halte Municipale de Saint-Francois. This is the town rest area, playground, ball field and picnic spot. You can see the tower! Park your car or bicycle and take in a breath-taking view of the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Laurentide Mountains from atop the tower.
When you're done with nature's grandeur, we'll get down to some serious letterboxing at ground level. From the tower's base, walk along the fence heading generally southwards, past the little playground until you see the ball field off to your left. Head towards the backstop. Go right up to the backstop and stand behind home plate (behind the backstop - no need to enter the ball field!). From there, turn about and look at the tower. Looking at the tower, walk towards it, up a little rise until you are stopped by a fence. Immediately to your left is a weather-beaten shed. Go over and face the shed's permanently- barred door. Walk around the right side of the shed to the rear corner. Under the rear corner furthest from the road lies a little piece of the island to leave a good impression on you. Well, maybe on your logbook. This rest area gets busy in nice weather, so be very discreet!
After stamping in, if the weather's nice you may find the casse-croute (snack bar) trailer open for business. Try the poutine! It's probably not good for you, but once you've tried it you won't be content with ordinary fries again!
When you hit the road again, go left out of the park to enjoy the rest of this island's charm and beauty. *And* there's a vinyard just west of the bridge...
When you get back to the traffic light remember to turn *left* to leave the island. As you go over the bridge don't get into an accident looking at the gorgeous Montmorency Falls!
Be sure to e-mail us about your adventure. If you're just thinking of going now, e-mail us at vonderinsel@cox.net for tips on other neat stuff around there! We'll be glad to help.
Excusez ma pauvre Francais de mon ecole secondaire! (Je n'ai pas des accents en mon computeur, aussi!) Nous avons directions en Francais pour tous les bon gens de Quebec, si vous m'ecrivez. Actuellement, mes parents (Edgar Cormier et Marie Rita Marquis-Cormier) parlent Francais le meilleur...
(Note: This box is semi-orphaned. We try to get up to Quebec as often as possible - we still haven't seen half of the attractions after a dozen trips!)
The Ile d'Orlean is an island in the middle of the St. Lawrence River, just northeast (downriver) from Quebec City. It is halfway from Quebec City to Ste. Anne de Beaupre cathedral and the magnificent Canyon Ste. Anne. The bridge to the island is almost directly opposite the Montmorency Falls, another incredible natural sight - taller than the Niagra Falls! We're taking you to a lovely picnic spot, so pack a lunch or buy something nice and fresh on the island.
From Quebec City, take Highway 40 towards Ste. Anne de Beaupre until it becomes Highway 440. Then take the exit for Ile d'Orlean and cross the bridge. At the end of the bridge, go up the hill to the traffic light - the only traffic light on the island! Take a left onto Route 368 (east/est), and start measuring your distance. It's 17 miles to the letterbox. Route 368 is a loop road popular with cyclists that goes all the way around the island, through all five villages. On the way to the box you'll pass through St. Pierre and Ste. Famille, stopping in St. Francois before continuing around the isle.
You will go past several cideries, so stop at Domaine Steinbach cidery (less than 4 miles from the light) or the Ciderie Verger about 3 miles further) for a taste and a bottle of cider or jam. Go on to the cheese shop - a fromagerie - 5 1/2 miles later on the right. You'll see a maple products erablerie ('maplery') or cabin a sucre ('sugar shack') where you can get some home-grown maple syrup (sirop d'erable) or maple butter to put on your locally-purchased just-baked bread ('pain chaud'). The syrop is fresh in the Spring, the berries are very fresh in the Summer, and the apple and grape harvest comes in the late Summer/early Fall.
At St. Francois, the road will begin to turn south. It doesn't take far to get to a sign that tells you you're at the Halte Municipale de Saint-Francois. This is the town rest area, playground, ball field and picnic spot. You can see the tower! Park your car or bicycle and take in a breath-taking view of the St. Lawrence Estuary and the Laurentide Mountains from atop the tower.
When you're done with nature's grandeur, we'll get down to some serious letterboxing at ground level. From the tower's base, walk along the fence heading generally southwards, past the little playground until you see the ball field off to your left. Head towards the backstop. Go right up to the backstop and stand behind home plate (behind the backstop - no need to enter the ball field!). From there, turn about and look at the tower. Looking at the tower, walk towards it, up a little rise until you are stopped by a fence. Immediately to your left is a weather-beaten shed. Go over and face the shed's permanently- barred door. Walk around the right side of the shed to the rear corner. Under the rear corner furthest from the road lies a little piece of the island to leave a good impression on you. Well, maybe on your logbook. This rest area gets busy in nice weather, so be very discreet!
After stamping in, if the weather's nice you may find the casse-croute (snack bar) trailer open for business. Try the poutine! It's probably not good for you, but once you've tried it you won't be content with ordinary fries again!
When you hit the road again, go left out of the park to enjoy the rest of this island's charm and beauty. *And* there's a vinyard just west of the bridge...
When you get back to the traffic light remember to turn *left* to leave the island. As you go over the bridge don't get into an accident looking at the gorgeous Montmorency Falls!
Be sure to e-mail us about your adventure. If you're just thinking of going now, e-mail us at vonderinsel@cox.net for tips on other neat stuff around there! We'll be glad to help.
Excusez ma pauvre Francais de mon ecole secondaire! (Je n'ai pas des accents en mon computeur, aussi!) Nous avons directions en Francais pour tous les bon gens de Quebec, si vous m'ecrivez. Actuellement, mes parents (Edgar Cormier et Marie Rita Marquis-Cormier) parlent Francais le meilleur...