MONDAY JULY 27

Here we are, back in Montreal.  The 2CVs have finally arrived, and we get the customs formalities out of the way.  At 9 p.m., giddy as a bunch of schoolchildren, we head off on a 2,000 km non-stop run to catch the Raid . Of course we had planned to drive through the night, but we overlooked the fact that there are about as many gas stations open at night in Canada as you would find crossing the Massif Central in winter!

We spend the rest of the night curled up in our 2CVs "ouch, that darned bar hurts!", waiting for the service stations to open. It was a long night, during which we were able to appreciate all the shortcomings of the immortal 2CV that have made it so engaging and unique in the world:   For example, the 2CV is probably the only car in the world where you can be cold in the winter (if you are hot, watch out for asphyxiation!)  but your feet are hot in the summer,  that can go so quickly down hill, but then makes the next climb into a traffic jam, and in which, on a rainy day, meeting a truck guarantees a cold shower, right in your face, which incidentally is a great remedy against falling asleep at the wheel!  But our little band of masochists was in agreement that our big american rental car had seemed pretty dull, with its silent V6, air conditioning, stereo, automatic transmission, cruise control, and all the other gadgets that took all the spice out of life.

Would roses be as beautiful if they didn't have thorns?

2CV, no problem !