Day 3: Baie Comeau to Labrador City

Day3: Lets go to Labrador City

We filled up our extra 20L gas can for the next leg of our journey.  Our trip takes us north on Hwy 389 past the massive hydroelectric dam called Manic 5, The Eye of Quebec (the funny circle thing), through empty remote terrain, and finally to Labrador City.

The road is bumpy, but paved to the Manic 5 dam.  The dam was constructed in the 1960s and is part of series of hydroelectric dams that provides 99% of Quebec's power. At the visitor's centre we took the short 30min tour to learn about its history.  After Manic 5, the road turns to gravel and as we pushed further north the road starts deteriorating quickly.  Transport trucks create huge clouds of smoke when passing, and makes it difficult to see the road. Also, since there's no cell signal, there were randomly placed phone booths, but as they are 50-75 km apart, not sure how useful they would have been if we needed them?

After 5 hours of driving on mixed pavement and gravel, we were relieved to finally arrive in Labrador City.  Our hotel is actually in Wabush, a town just 5km away from Labrador City.  

Also forgot that there is a 1 hr time difference, so ended up arriving at 7pm at our hotel.  

Tomorrow we make our drive to Happy Valley Goose Bay.

SOS phone at random intervals 

Some bridges were single lanes with wooden boards

so much dust sticks to the truck

Manic 5 Dam

Gassing up at Manic 5.

Transport trucks creates massive dust bowls

Day 2: Quebec City to Baie Comeau

|Day 2: Quebec City to Baie Comeau, QC
After a good night's sleep, Day 2 started with beautiful sunshine and warm weather.  We left Quebec city at 8:30 and thought we were making good progress until the realization that we were driving on the southern shore of the St Lawrence river, instead of the north...Oops.

After a U-turn, we drove east along the northern shore of the St Lawrence river, and what a beautiful drive. The road hugged the shore line, and we had lots of opportunities for side trips to enjoy the water to take a break.

Half way after leaving Quebec City, the highway stops due to a large Fjord.  We had to take a quick 10 min ferry ride across the Fjord to the city of Tadoussac, QC.  Its been a while since I've been to Quebec, but I came to a realization that my French sucks....I can barely say Bonjour correctly.  I just end up making a confused, blank face when spoken to.

Being one of the shorter days, we arrived at Baie Comeau around 4pm, and had a great dinner at a local micro brewery called St Pancrace.  Tomorrow will be northward to Wabush, Labrador !

Marg and Koichi's Adventure - Day 1

Labrador & Newfoundland

The day is finally here! Marg and I departed for our adventure to the Big Land today.  It almost 8000km of road tripping madness to the east coast, but we decided to take the road less traveled.  The typical driving route to NFLD is driving east through New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, but we decided to go north through Labrador by taking the Trans-Labrador highway.  It is one of the last all gravel highways left in Canada, and its sheer remoteness make it an adventure just to finish driving it from Wabush in the west to Blanc Sablon at its southern most end.

We then continue south towards the north shore of NFLD, and visit L'anse aux Meadows where the vikings first landed in North America.  Travelling south, we stop at Gros Morne National Park for 2 days, and then to St John's.  A 16hr ferry journey from the capital of NFLD to Syndey will be a good rest from driving. Then we drive the Cabot trail, and go hiking in Cape Breton Highlands.  We then head towards, Moncton, Trois Rivieres, Ottawa, and then back home to Waterloo.  Its lots of driving, but what better way of experiencing the east coast.

Our Ride & Eqipment
2012 Tacoma 4X4.  General Grabber AT2 tires...all stock otherwise
Two full size spare tire, tire patch kit, full set of tools, battery booster pack, spare oil/coolant/washer fluid
Cooler full of great food that Marg made, camping equipment in case we need it, and Spongebob.

Day 1: Waterloo to Quebec City

 The first day was from Home to the beautiful Quebec City.  Our day started at 5:30am to beat the Toronto gridlock.  Passing through Montreal by lunch time, we arrived at Quebec by 3pm.  Went for a beautiful jog along the St Lawrence River before dinner, and then had dinner at the Petit Chateau in Old Quebec City.
With its narrow streets and cobble stone roads, we felt like we were walking around in France.

Tomorrow is a 500km trip to Baie-Comeau, and then we head north to Wabush, Labrador