Art 132 in Quebec

More jagged cliffs and red lighthouses, pastel colored homes and towering churches, white caps and lapping waves, seagulls and sailboats… I took up along Highway 132 from Rimouski, Quebec and continued my journey towards my end destination of Gaspe, Quebec. I would suggest all who venture this way to take the route of Highway 132.  I call it ART 132. An expedition of art in many shapes and forms.

The music was playing (my only option was french music). I was buckled in. I filled up my gas tank and was out on the road. But not 15 minutes later I was pulled over, out of the jeep and walking towards the beach with my camera in hand. ” Why all the cars,” I thought?

There are many times where sights and sounds convince me to stop and investigate. Sometimes I come across them by fluke and other times I just did not figure it out from the literature because it was not significantly represented. Then there are times when just the amount of cars parked, lining the side of the highway, is enough of a clue to stop.

Sainte Flavie Art on Saint Laurent River

All those cars are stopping for something? In this case they bunched up cars stopped for art. Not only unique art but a fantastic photo opportunity. The gallery had created art pillars with faces leading out to the waters of the Saint Laurent.

On site was an art studio and inn. Both very busy. But most stopped to look at the many, many pillars of faces leading out to the river. It was one of the most unique ways I have come across for promoting an art studio. One by one, cars stopped and people came to look. I was one of them. (Main BLOG Photo).

Back in the jeep I tried to focus on putting some kilometres behind me giving myself a pep talk as I was buckling in. I said to myself, “This time stay focus and try not to stop after every corner,” shaking my head.

I continued to drive through small villages. I was going up and over hills like a roller coaster ride –  dizzying at times. Luckily on some of the bigger hills the trailer behind me slowed me down to a crawl.. to me it was like a rest stop.. before the next hill down. It was easy to see I had entered the Appilachian Mountains.

Lighthouse in Matane

I pulled over in Matane, Quebec. I stopped to stretch my legs and take a quick look around. Matane is the ferry terminal destination for connecting to Godbout and Baie Comeau on the Quebec mainland on the other side of the Saint Laurent River. On the highway is a big red lighthouse. You cannot miss it. Beautiful building of which tourism works out of.

Onward and upward I moved on. I drove into and out of many villages including Grosses-Roches (pop. 432), Les Mechins (pop 1182), Cap Chat (pop 2721), Sainte-Anne-des-Monts (pop 6765), La Marte (pop 244), Marsoui (pop 331), Rivire a Claude (pop 170), Mont Saint Pierre (pop 220),  Murdocheville (pop 856), Grande Vallee (pop1246) and  Cloridorme (pop 749). And then I pulled into Gaspe, Quebec under the cover of darkness. Have to wait till tomorrow to see what that looks like.