Quebec Route 389

[Fisseha Aranda]

Route138 is a major highway in the Canadian province of Quebec, following the entire north shore of the St. Lawrence River past Montreal to the temporary eastern terminus in Kegashka on the Gulf of St. Lawrence. The western terminus is in Elgin, at the border with New York State south-west of Montreal (connecting with New York State Route 30 at the Trout River Border Crossing). Part of this highway is known as the Chemin du Roy,[2] or King's Highway, which is one of the oldest highways in Canada.[2][3]

It passes through the Montrgie, Montreal, Lanaudire, Mauricie, Capitale-Nationale and Cte-Nord regions of Quebec. In Montreal, Highway 138 runs via Sherbrooke Street, crosses the Pierre Le Gardeur Bridge to Charlemagne and remains a four-lane road until exiting Repentigny.

This highway takes a more scenic route than the more direct Autoroute 40 between Montreal and Quebec City. It crosses the Saguenay River via a ferry which travels between Baie-Sainte-Catherine and Tadoussac; in the event of a closure of this ferry, drivers must take a significant detour via Quebec Route 172 and Quebec Route 170 to the city of Saguenay in order to cross the river by bridge.

From Tadoussac to Blanc-Sablon,[4] at the beginning of the 20th century, the first routes of what would become Route 138 (formerly Route 15) were laid in the vicinity of Sept-les. In 1961, a section was added from the Franquelin region to the tip of the Moisie River, some 20 kilometres east of Sept-les.

On the north shore of the Gulf of St. Lawrence, until 1976, there was no continuous route to go further east than the Moisie River. Only bits of paths here and there connect a few coastal villages to each other, Natashquan connects to Aguanish by a dirt road (1959).

In 1984, to commemorate the 450th anniversary of Jacques Cartier's arrival in New France, the Commission de toponymie gave this name to the part of Route 138 located east of the Saguenay River, that is, the part that extends from Tadoussac to Havre-Saint-Pierre.[5][6]

Until the mid-1990s, the highway's eastern terminus was Havre-Saint-Pierre, but in 1996 the extension to Natashquan was completed. A 40 km gravel section between Natashquan and Kegaska opened on September 26, 2013, with the inauguration of a bridge across the Natashquan River.[8] [9]

When planning Route 138, from Havre-Saint-Pierre to the Pashashibou River, the Quebec Ministry of Transport planned the installation of lookouts. Visual openness, proximity to an exceptional landscape, educational potential, as well as a tourist vocation play a determining role in the choice of sites.

Over the 150.5 km that separate Havre-Saint-Pierre and Pashashibou River, Route 138 offers visual openings towards the Gulf of St. Laurent, Pontbriand River, the villages of Baie-Johan-Beetz and Natashquan, etc.[11]

A second segment of about 17 km extends from Tte--la-Baleine's airport, east through Tte--la-Baleine, to the ferry terminal southeast of Tte--la-Baleine. There is also a 10.7 km roadway, la route Mecatina, from Mutton Bay to a ferry terminal in La Tabatire and continuing beyond.

A third segment of Route 138 extends from Old Fort to the Newfoundland and Labrador border (connecting with Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Route 510), near Blanc-Sablon on the eastern end of the Cte-Nord.[12]

That first stretch was everything I have fallen in love with about cycling over the course of the pandemic: feeling the contours of the changing terrain beneath me and the instant feedback of effort and reward as I pedaled and coasted; the way I could move through the world fast enough to cover serious ground, but slow enough to let the passing scenery be more than a fleeting impression.

After a day of rest in Montral, we made our way toward the border. Opting for a more direct route to Saint Albans, the transition back was jarring. The quiet farm roads, the funk of cut grass and livestock, the sound of nothing but our spinning wheels disappeared. In its place came roaring trucks, impatient SUVs and the very real worry that we were about to be turned into roadkill.

This route stops at historic and cultural sites along the St. Lawrence River in the Centre-du-Qubec, Chaudire-Appalaches and Bas-Saint-Laurent regions. Driven by three centuries of navigation on the river, this route features a lighthouse climb, a boat excursion, sea kayaking, a fun circuit related to marine themes and more.

Explore four billion years of biodiversity, and learn about the age of dinosaurs and cavemen. A 360-degree wall projection takes you on a journey to the bottom of the St. Lawrence River. You can also observe urban fauna.

Welcomed by guides dressed in period costume, you will learn the history of this water-powered mill dating back to 1783. Still operational, it produces buckwheat flour, offers exhibitions, and boasts a shop, restaurant and patio.

On the banks of the river, the Lieu historique national du chantier A.C. Davie showcases the history of this shipyard. After your visit, why not stroll around Old Lvis and enjoy dinner out at one of its great restaurants?

The Seigneurie des Aulnaies tells the story of seigneurial life in New France. The miller and guides dressed in period costume faciliate the tour of the mill and manor. The bakery offers organic flour milled on site as well as breads and pastries.

True to its name, Parc des Chutes et de la Croix boasts a waterfall and a cross. Standing 33 m high, the waterfall is located right in the centre of town. The park spans 53 hectares of green space, and features trails, a lookout and a walkway.

Tour the Onondaga submarine to get a sense of life as a crewmember. You can even spend the night! Watch a multimedia show about the sinking of the Empress of Ireland, and climb up a 33-m lighthouse for a stunning view of the river.

Quebec Route 389 is in eastern Quebec. It runs north from Baie-Comeau to Fermont in Caniapiscau, Quebec, continuing as the Trans-Labrador Highway through Labrador City. Route 389 (R-389) is a challenging/fun road to drive. The road alternates between sections of asphalt and gravel. In places it is narrow and twisty. There are few services. You often have to share the road with lumber trucks that travel quickly when they are heading north empty.

The longest secondary road in Quebec, it passes the Manicouagan Reservoir and large hydro-electric dams along its way to some very remote mining communities. This road passes through Manicouagan (in unorganized territory of Rivire-aux-Outardes) and Caniapiscau (unorganized territory of Rivire-Mouchalagane).

It begins at Route 138 in Baie-Comeau, which is connected to the rest of the Canadian highway network through Quebec City. It travels 567 km (352 mi) north the turn off for Fermont (4 km (2.5 mi) south of the highway), and then another 6 km (3.7 mi) to the border between Quebec and Labrador, where it becomes Highway 500 (part of the Trans-Labrador Highway). The Trans-Labrador continues through Labrador City, Goose Bay and Forteau, returning to Qubec 1125 km later at Blanc-Sablon, the easternmost point in the province.

Some drivers may find it a challenging and demanding drive, even when weather is good and roads are dry. Experienced gravel drivers will find it fun. The gravel portions are well signed, with warnings for every significant corner. It is a popular motorcycle trip in the summer. RVs and travel trailers can manage this route if experienced and adequately prepared. Close attention is constantly required, and in places the scenery is distractingly beautiful. Including stops for fuel, a brief stop at MANIC-5, and supper at La Pourvoirie Relais Gabriel, it will take 9 hours in good conditions.

The road is unpaved in parts, and there are few gas stations en route. Make sure that your vehicle is in good working order, and that you have a spare tire and the necessary tools. Gravel highways can be hard on vehicles and tires. There's no mobile telephone signal on most of the route (a satellite telephone may work) and roadside assistance is expensive in such a remote location if it can be had at all.

Bring food and water: the water you will find along the way may not be potable. Be sure to keep your gas tank filled. Motorists continuing to the Trans-Labrador (where there's a 410-km gap between stations at one point) often carry a spare can of fuel.

If you're travelling in winter, check the road condition updates provided by the Quebec Ministry of Transportation. Make sure that you have winter tires on your vehicle (not so-called all-season/all-year tires: it is illegal to drive a Quebec-plated car in Quebec in the winter if it does not have winter tires), and have a winter emergency kit with you.

In June 2023, it was hard-packed gravel in fair condition with a thin layer of small gravel on top. Depending on your vehicle, you can push the speed to 85-90 km/h with constant vigilance. Moderate washboarding. Every significant corner is signed.

The northbound route is used by logging trucks returning empty. They can and do travel very fast. For your safety, pull to the side where it is safe to do so, to let them pass. If you're travelling in winter, check the road condition updates provided by the Quebec Ministry of Transportation. Make sure that you have winter tires on your vehicle (not so-called all-season tires), and have a winter emergency kit with you.

Please make your way to the joining hotel in Alma and enjoy its convenient location in the centre of town, near restaurants, shops, and the waterfront. Located on the southeast shore of Lac St Jean (pronunciation is closer to 'John' than 'Jean') where the lake flows into the Saguenay River, Alma was formed in 1962. Alma was formed as an important industrial center due to the construction of a hydro-electric dam on the Grande-Dcharge River, a paper mill, and an aluminum smelting plant, during the 1920s and 1930s. All of these are still active today.Meals: Nil

After a delicious breakfast, the first half of your bike route is mainly along the edge of the Peribonka River until it veers north, away from the waterway and into the heart of the countryside. Although most widely known for its blueberry production, there are approximately 1000 farms in the Saguenay-Lac-St-Jean region, growing everything from potatoes and green vegetables, to canola and fruit. Dairy and beef are the two main animal products to come from the region, with agrotourism and 'microfromageries' (cheese makers) contributing to the local culture. Overnight in Dolbeau-Mistassini, next to the pretty Mistassibi River.Meals: B

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