Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 19:56:00 -0500
Reply-To: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Joy Hecht <jhecht@ALUM.MIT.EDU>
Subject: Re: Baie Comeau to Labrador to Newfoundland
In-Reply-To: <11dcddf80701080644x53eb0ec6s4f0d4e06a942c97f@mail.gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
Oh wonderful, another interested person! The person taking the lead would
be me - though not on the mechanical side! I'll definitely be trusting to
the mechanical skills of the other caravaners on this trip - since I can't
trust to AAA in those parts of the world.
All of us (there are maybe half a dozen interested people at the moment) are
still a bit tentative, pending schedules. Trying to figure out how long it
will really take, sorting out how much time the working folks can get off
from work, wrapping our brains on how incredibly far even the starting point
for this excursion really is from the US! But hopefully we'll all be able
to get away and we'll pull it off!
My sense from studying google earth maps, is that basically aside from
knowing where the few towns are, there won't be much need for a map.
There's only one road, so we'd really be in trouble if we got lost. Though
I guess maps that show nice things that aren't visible from the road -
lakes? reservoirs? - would be good.
Where are you based, Chris?
Joy
****************************************************************
Joy Hecht
now living in a real house in northern Virginia
and Matilda, 1989 Burgundy Vanagon
now living in the driveway and resting after two and a half years
lugging Joy and her stuff around...
For musings about life traveling in the van or living in one place:
http://www.joyhecht.net
****************************************************************
:::-----Original Message-----
:::From: Vanagon Mailing List [mailto:vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM] On Behalf
:::Of Christopher Gronski
:::Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 9:45 AM
:::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
:::Subject: Re: Baie Comeau to Labrador to Newfoundland
:::
:::Four points about the Quebec Labrador Trip:
:::(1) The Nunavik and James bay map is useless
:::(2) There is gas along the way
:::(3) A cheater hose for propane may help
:::(4) 2WD is probably OK
:::
:::POINT ONE:
:::
:::The Nunavik and James Bay map is borderline useless for the
:::Trans-Quebec Labrador Highway 389. On that map it is represented by a
:::squiggly red line running upward to the right, with not a single town
:::or stop marked on the entire 567km stretch between Baie-Comeau and
:::Fermont Quebec. Drawing a squiggly line on a napkin would be only
:::marginally less representative.
:::
:::POINT TWO
:::
:::There is a more useful map on page 120 of the Manicouagan Tourist
:::Guide, also available from Quebec tourism. It indicates there are four
:::stops (each with gas, food, and lodging) between Baie Comeau and
:::Fermont.
:::
:::Km 94 Poste Micoua, Elape Manic Outardes
:::Km 214 Barrage Daniel-Johnson, Motel de l'energie
:::Km 314 Relais Gabriel
:::Km 567 Fermont
:::
:::If I can get a hold of a scanner in the next few days I'll post a JPEG
:::or something.
:::If there is a different map with better detail, someone please speak up.
:::
:::POINT THREE
:::
:::If we can't secure a propane source in advance I'd recommend portable
:::tanks with a cheater hose to refill. I have a hose made up that goes
:::from a standard BBQ tank to our westy tanks that you can extend your
:::stay with. Carrying an extra tank, on top of all the driving we'll do
:::I'm sure we'd be fine.
:::
:::POINT FOUR
:::
:::Though I have the benefit of driving a syncro, I also know that a 2WD
:::Vanagon is not your typical 2WD vehicle, The rear engine and high
:::ground clearance make it a reasonably capable vehicle off road. When I
:::had my 2WD air cooled van I drove on several logging roads that I
:::would never would have taken a 2WD sedan on. I think it is worth
:::talking to people at the motels along the route, they'll let you know
:::what kind of vehicles they've seen in their parking lots, but I would
:::not worry to much, remember it is 600km long or so and they do call
:::this a highway, there is no way it is 600km long of off road 4WD only
:::conditions, thinking of the pounding that would do to ANY vehcile 4WD
:::or not.
:::
:::IN CLOSING
:::
:::Depending on timing I'd LOVE to come on this caravan with the group. I
:::think our 2WD friends will be fine provided their vehicles are
:::mechanically sound and have decent tires for the trip. Count me in
:::whoever is taking the lead on this one...
:::
:::Chris
:::
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