Monday, 8/29
Still in Baie Comeau. Went to get the tire fixed but it was bad, also the other side’s rear tire was worn down, so both replaced, and, optimistically, we took off for Newfoundland via pretty much all of Labrador. The cost of the tires was almost the same as at home and they were the exact same 8 ply tires.
The drive to Manic 5 (135 miles) was absolutely stunning, most picturesque lakes yet. Manic is a term for a series of dams on the Manicouagon River. This one, number 5, is the largest of its kind in the world and is a real monster. I’ll send photo when able. Hydroelectric power dominates in Quebec.
But the day wasn’t perfect. We were getting gas upon arrival here and one if the new tires was almost flat. I pulled it up to the air station and discovered the valve stem was defective – not the metal core but the rubber base. So I put the spare on. Thank you Paul, when you suggested a bottle jack, I thought maybe the one I had wouldn’t be enough so I bought a new 6 tonner and it worked great. So, we are 250 miles (half of which is gravel) from a tire place in Labrador city where we will get the tire fixed. I still have one more spare.
So, we’re are boondocking for the first time in awhile, parked at this overlook to the dam.
It is cooler than it has been but black flies are a problem especially for Susan as she gets quite a reaction from their bites. We have, and use, head nets.
Tuesday 8/30
I took a two hour tour of the dam – very impressive, while Susan sat with Adam. She would not have done well on the tour inside the dam – couple hundred yards of narrow passage ways surrounded by concrete with water leaking everywhere from Lord knows where. Then we were driven across the top of the dam – yikes. It’s the biggest damn thing I’ve ever seen.
We then got our first taste of gravel, 65 miles in about 4 hours! Some of it was OK, but a lot was less than 20mph for us – not so for huge trucks, pickups,and cars – were all going over 50 – kicking up a lot of dust and producing zero visibility. They must not own those vehicles.
We are now set up overlooking a gorgeous lake next to a gas station. The lady who runs it and the restaurant doesn’t charge anyone for staying the night. We have 100 miles of pavement next, then some gravel, then pavement again into Labrador City – should do it 2 days.
Still in Quebec, but in a couple hundred miles it will be Labrador (and English speaking people and another lost hour – Atlantic time – 4 hours different that West Coast). This photo is virtually taken from the doorsteps of the RV. The woman who own the gas station, restaurant, and truck facility, let us stay here free. Better than last night. Boondocking is not too bad.
On the other side of the road are the banks of the Manicouagon Reservoir, which formed a result of a monstrous meteorite over 2 million years ago. Look at a map of the area or a satellite photo, it’s perfectly round and probably 100 miles across – now filled with water and the source of the river.
Wednesday, 8/31
Pretty easy drive at first, then the asphalt turned to a different ingredient, then gravel. Finally a short stretch of good road about 30 miles south of Labrador City, but we stopped short in Fermont at an actual campground.
Starting to see a lot more waterfowl. Saw a Red Fox today that was actually red – I think all fox in North America are Red Foxes but they vary in coloration, the last one we saw was black – they all have a white tipped tail. We are in bear and moose country. No moose sightings yet. Labrador has one of the largest populations of caribou, but I don’t think we will see them as they migrate south, along our route, in the winter. To see wildlife you have to put in a lot of miles, in fact there are some days when we don’t see anything but birds.
9/1/16
I’m going to send this, hopefully, when we get to Labrador City this morning. Also, I have some photos ready to send when we find wifi.
PHOTO INFO: The road of whales, which runs NE along the St Lawrence Seaway for a couple hundred miles. Lots of whales and whale watching excursions are big business. There are innumerable nooks and crannies like this along or near the road.
Most of these being sent are your mom’s photos.
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