Driving to Labrador City
BakerDon
to Matane Quebec will be starightforward in terms of highway conditions and
accommodations. But any comments on the ferry service from Matane to Baie
Comeau? And what of the road from Baie Comeau to Labrador City? Are there
many stops along the way for Gas, meals and accommodations.
Gabby
Just came back from NB.
Best make a reservation for the ferry, either Matane to Baie-Comeau or
Matane to Godbout (going to Godbout will add about 40 minutes to your
drive since you have to get back to Baie Comeau). Ferry offers a bar,
cafeteria and lounges. Crossing is a between 2 hours and 2hrs 20 min.
depending on whether you're going to Godbout or Baie-Comeau. I prefer
to make the last crossing of the day, sleep in Baie-Comeau and start
the trip to Lab City bright and early the next day.
In Baie-Comeau you'll find lots of hotels from cheap, middle of the
road to expensive (We usually stay at Hotel/Motel LeComte, it
comfortable, clean and convenient and under $100/night. OTOH, Le
Manoir offers a lot more for many more $$$.)
Once you leave Baie-Comeau there are 3 places for Gas: Manic 3, Manic
5 (has a restaurant, motel, gas bar and convenience store) and Relais
Gabriel (gas, 2 or 3 cabins, restaurant with a very limited menu and
EXPENSIVE) We drive a Versa and a tank gets us from Baie-Comeau to
Labrador City without a top-up. Good thing, since gas gets expensive
at Relais & Manic 5.
Baie-Comeau - Manic 5 213 km Paved
Manic 5 - Gagnon 180 km Gravel
Gagnon - Fire Lake 90 km Paved
Fire Lake - Mont Wright 67 km Gravel
Mont Wright - Lab City 44 km Paved
First part of the road from Baie-Comeau to Manic 5 is very twisty and
you are constantly going up and down hills. The speed limit is 90 but
the recommended speed for some turns is as low as 35 IIRC. The
Quebecers drive like maniacs (passing on double solid yellows and on
hills) and if you drive this during the week you'll likely meet many
pulp trucks. Meeting them is better than having them on your tail
when you're making the trip in the opposite direction. This part of
the road also has a few construction zones.
Once you pass Manic 5 you're on a hard packed dirt road, again with a
speed limit of 90. Easy driving. You'll find a stretch of fairly new
test pavement in the middle of nowhere.
The paved section at the former Gagnon townsite is starting to show
its age and has some cracks and bumps but it's still pave. Yes I
speed on this section. ;o)
Firelake to Mount Wright is not bad but it's still the roughest part
of the road. Lot's of twist and blind hills and narrow at the crest
of hills where it seems I always meet tractor trailers. Several
railway crossings, some with flashing lights others with STOP signs.
Those crossings are often at the top of a grade and you have to look
almost behind you to see if something is coming. If it's been dry
it's very dusty; if it's rained a lot, it's muddy and not nice; if,
it's had just a few showers it's generally pretty good.
Mount Wright to Lab City is paved and uneventful.
BakerDon
"Gabby" <Lavol...@msn.com> wrote in message
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