Date: Tue, 29 Sep 2009 13:26:16 -0230
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: Interested in a trip to Newfoundland in 2010?
In-Reply-To: <83575584-4896-4AE3-BB81-B4AE54CEED25@mac.com>
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Not via Goose Bay again, I hope! ;-)
Rules of thumb for Newfoundland travels:
1. Do not plan on taking the ferry through Goose Bay in June. Our 2006
excursion from Quebec up to Goose Bay (Labrador) and from there by ferry and
more dirt road and more ferry down to northern Newfoundland was completely
planted when we found out - 300 kms up the dirt road to Goose Bay - that the
ferries would not be running for a few more weeks due to too many icebergs.
And when they did run, it would be freight-only until the backup of trucks
had been cleared out. Two people bailed on Newfoundland. The other two
went around via Nova Scotia.
2. Blackflies are EVIL!!!! They do seem to like women more than men, from
what I've seen and heard about. They seem to be worse in June than later in
the summer.
3. Do not ever count on Marine Atlantic ferries to go when they are
supposed to. They won't. Newfoundland is not a trip to make on a tight
schedule.
4. Newfoundland is BIG. You cannot see all of the island in a week unless
all you want to see is the TransCanada through your windshield.
5. If you like good coffee, bring your own, unless you're going to spend
all your time in St. John's. No fresh-roasted beans available anywhere else
on the island.
6. The weather might not be very nice. Do be prepared for temps in the 50s
and rain and fog the whole time. When the sun comes out, regard it as an
unexpected gift. "Hot weather" in Newfoundland in the summer is above 70.
80 is a serious heat wave.
That being said, it's a stunningly beautiful place, the people are extremely
friendly to tourists, and you won't be sorry if you come. A good strategy
is to take one ferry to the island, visit the island, go across the island,
then take the other ferry back. At vanagon gas mileage, it costs about the
same to pay more for the Argentia ferry and save the gas getting across the
island, so price-wise it doesn't matter which route you take.
There's a wonderful folk festival in St. John's the first weekend in
August. Worth scheduling your trip around it.
Joy
On Tue, Sep 29, 2009 at 1:03 PM, Kim Brennan <kimbrennan@mac.com> wrote:
> Yep. Definitely still interested.
>
> On Sep 28, 2009, at 8:10 PM, Arthur,Dave wrote:
>
> Is there any interest in a trip to Newfoundland in 2010?
>>
>>
>>
>> There are a couple of us planning to take our Westys to the Rock in
>> 2010. We may be able to integrate our plans.
>>
>>
>>
>> Dave
>>
>>
>>
>> '86 Westy
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>