Date: Mon, 8 Jan 2007 09:44:36 -0500
Reply-To: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Christopher Gronski <gronski@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Baie Comeau to Labrador to Newfoundland
In-Reply-To: <5hbed6$a8lf2u@smtp01.lnh.mail.rcn.net>
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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
On 1/6/07, Joy Hecht <jhecht@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> I just called too - they said there was no "Quebec Far North" map - then
> they looked up Malcolm to see what had been sent to him. (Didn't know you
> could spy on people through the Quebec tourism info center, did you? :-)
> Then she said it's a map called "Nunavik and James Bay area" or something
> like that.
>
> And if there's anyone else out there interested in driving the Baie Comeau
> to Happy Valley/Goose Bay road, from Quebec to Labrador, this summer, please
> email me! We're working on getting together a caravan.
>
> Tentative dates are to leave from BusFusion, which is June 7-10, and head
> east. For those who can't take as much time, I'd guess we'll convene in
> Baie Comeau (or somewhere near there - haven't got my maps yet to study!)
> perhaps a week or so later. It's 875 kms from Ottawa (near BusFusion) to
> Baie Comeau, with some lovely things to see on the way, so we'll have to see
> how we do that, if we do it together.
>
> From Baie Comeau we'll head out in caravan on the 1200 kms of unpaved road
> towards Goose Bay. Maybe a week or ten days to get there, taking a
> reasonably leisurely pace so our vans are happy, stopping to hike and talk
> to caribou perhaps, visit what appear to be some reservoirs and lakes, and
> perhaps somewhere a speck of a town?
>
> (We haven't yet sorted out what towns there are, particularly where to get
> gasoline en route.)
>
> Then from Goose Bay there's a ferry to Cartwright, which takes either
> thirteen or fifteen hours, depending on which ferry we take. On the shorter
> ferry, the fare in summer 2006 was around $CA 80 for the van and $CA 46 per
> adult. From Cartwright we have about 320 kms more of unpaved road to get to
> Red Bay - another 3 days maybe? In Red Bay, we hit - Civilization! Paved
> road, nice historical museum (yeah, there's history up there - Portuguese
> fishing boats from something like the 16th century found in the water off
> Red Bay, remains of their settlements), pretty town, etc. The paved road
> goes around another 90 kms to Blanc Sablon, just over the Quebec border,
> where we get the ferry to Newfoundland. Or we could take a short detour
> into Quebec to visit a nice bird sanctuary in Brador Bay, where we can see
> Atlantic puffins and lots of other birds not commonly seen in the
> continental US. Oh, and before we get to Blanc Sablon we might stop at the
> friendly visitor center on the Newfoundland side with free wifi, and read
> three weeks of accumulated vanagon emails!
>
> The ferry from Newfoundland takes around 3 hours, and in 2006 it cost $CA
> 22.75 per van and $CA 11.25 per adult. It comes in to St. Barbe on the
> Great Northern Peninsula, where we might head north a bit to visit the
> Viking settlements. If we're feeling extravagant after all our roughing it,
> we might go for a (rather pricey!) dinner at the Norseman Restaurant up
> there, which is supposed to be the best restaurant in Newfoundland. (Okay,
> I realize that's not saying much - Newfoundland isn't France, after all -
> but the chef is supposed to be renowned and the food is apparently artsy and
> fancy. I looked in and checked the menu when I was up there last summer,
> decided it wasn't a place to bother going alone.) Check it out:
> http://www.valhalla-lodge.com/Restaurant.htm
>
> Heading down the coast (the only way to go from up there), we'll get to Gros
> Morne National Park, which is a lovely place to visit.
>
> After Gros Morne, we might divide up. Those lacking time may continue down
> the coast to Port-aux-Basques to catch the short ferry (6-7 hours) to Nova
> Scotia. Those with more time who want to see more of Newfoundland (plus
> Keith, who lives in St. John's) will head east, via whatever routes they
> fancy. Well, okay, there's only one road that goes all the way there - but
> I want to make some detours up to the north shore, as I didn't see those
> places last summer.
>
> So, does it sound splendid and enticing? It should, it's going to be great!
> If you're interested in coming along, just send an email.
>
> And to read what the Newfoundland and Labrador tourist office says about the
> drive, click here:
> http://www.newfoundlandandlabradortourism.com/labrador_scenic_tours.zap.
>
>
> 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 Malcolm Stebbins
> :::Sent: Thursday, January 04, 2007 9:47 AM
> :::To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> :::Subject: Re: Baie Comeau to Labrador to Newfoundland
> :::
> :::The map that everyone here "needs" is called "Quebec's Far North." One
> :::can call Tourism Quebec
> :::at:
> :::1 877 266-5687. I just called them and I was initially told that the map
> :::did not exist, then that
> ::: they were out, and after getting through 2 levels of
> :::supervisors.......they will send the map + a
> :::general Quebec map + provincial parks map + camp-grounds of Quebec. Ask
> :::for them all.
>
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