Recently, I took a trip around Quebec, visiting rural landscapes, small towns and cosmopolitan cities alike. One thing that I stumbled across, in a couple of instances, was Quebec's snowmobile trail system. The Quebec Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (FCMQ), who represents that snowmobile clubs in Quebec, has set up an extensive trail system for snowmobiles around the province that appears to be loosely based on the highway system in Quebec. There are Trans-Quebec trails, which tend to be longer, and regional trails which are just within a smaller area, but just as fun. The signage appears to be on par with highway signage as well. The various member clubs maintain the trails for the most part, with the Ministry of Transportation Quebec (MTQ) helping with maintenance where necessary. Here is an example of the signage I saw near Sherbrooke in the Eastern Townships region of Quebec.
Alberta operates six ferries scattered throughout the province. Roughly twenty to twenty-five kilometers up the Red Deer River from the town of Drumheller is one of the most scenic ferry crossings in all of Wild Rose Country, the Bleriot Ferry. Using the North Dinosaur Trail (Alberta Highway 838, or AB 838), the Bleriot Ferry provides a scenic river cruise of sorts in the Canadian Badlands. The Bleriot Ferry started operating in 1913 as the Munson Ferry when a few bridges crossed the Red Deer River. The ferry was started by Andre Bleriot, the brother of famed early aviator Louis Bleriot, who became famous for being the first person to fly over the English Channel. At the time, the Alberta provincial government commissioned local residents to run the ferries. There were several ferries along the Red Deer River, and not only did they serve as vital transportation links, but they also served as local social hubs, since everyone had to take the ferries to go places. Over time, as the...
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