We crossed the St. Lawrence on the 101 year old Pont de Québec. When built, it was considered one of the engineering wonders of the world, notwithstanding the fact that it had collapsed twice during construction, killing a number of workmen in the process.
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Unfortunately, the road signs at the north end of the bridge are very confusing and we eventually decided to recross the river and have another shot at it, this time with Michael driving and navigating.
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This time, we used the Pont Pierre Laporte. He was a Québec cabinet minister, murdered by FLQ terrorists when I was an undergraduate at McGill. The FLQ separatists specialized in acts of conspicuous bravery, such as murdering an elderly night watchman and planting bombs in public mail boxes. Fleeing the country after Laporte's murder, they were welcomed back a few years later by a federal cabinet even more spineless than themselves, in an attempt to pander to the Québec separatists - an act which demonstrated to Canadians just who really swung the cat.
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Pont de Québec, from the Pont Pierre Laporte.
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Les Forges are skilfully concealed in the northern suburbs of Trois-Rivières, but signage is adequate for the navigator. On site, the first signs you see are of the standard utilitarian Parks Canada variety.
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After parking, this historical marker is the first thing you encounter on the site.
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Immediately behind th marker was a tent, apparently used for demonstrations of forge work - but even blacksmiths have to break for lunch!
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Visibly recognizing sponsors is ALWAYS a good idea.
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The two main attractions on the site are the reconstructed ironmaster's house (shown here) and the remains of the forges themselves.
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