I'm in London Ontario, 16 hours, 47 minutes / 866.48 miles South West
of Baie Comeau...

Chris

On 1/8/07, Joy Hecht <jhecht@alum.mit.edu> wrote:
> 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
> :::
>