Suppose you had a year for a round the world ride - Page 3

 On Fri, 12 May 2006 16:20:40 -0600, Bryan said:


I've been wondering how much of that road (the 389/500) is paved.

--
"I refuse to answer that question on the grounds
that I don't know the answer."
- Douglas Adams

 

It is mostly dirt.  I read a ride report that made it sound  muddy and
difficult with many mosquitos.

Googling for information doesn't supply very much information, I've spent
hours searching.

Bryan

 On Fri, 12 May 2006 17:37:45 -0600, Bryan said:


I've heard wonderful things about the section of the 389 that goes
North from Baie Comeau. It goes up to some of the huge hydro dams on
the Manicouagan. It is paved and looks very twisty.

Hmm... I'm only a couple of days away. I just might go!

--
"I refuse to answer that question on the grounds
that I don't know the answer."
- Douglas Adams

 

I lived in Goose Bay in the early 60s as an Air Force brat, the access was
boat or air.

I have always wanted to go back.  My first plan was to drive the 71 VW Bus
from Utah.
But know that I am back into bikes....

If you go, I'd love to see pics.

Bryan

 
Bryan wrote:

We had a visit last year from a guy who was here with the USAF back in
the early 60s.  He made the trip to the Goose from Texas in 5 days.
Not on a bike.  ;o)

A few years ago a guy from Alaska, riding a Honda Reflex 249cc scooter,
left Alaska, rode down to Washington to start the 4 Corners Tour,
completed that in the time allotted and then started the trip from
Madawaska, Maine to Goose Bay.  He made it past Manic 5, then Honda
developed electrical problems and he had to abort his trip.

For those interested in the trip to Goose Bay, here's how it goes:


takes about 2.5-3 hours to drive (the speed limit is 90 km/h) depending
on all the usual factors.  You are then in Manic 5, the hydroelectric
dam site.  In '93, the first year we made the trip, you drove across
the dam but now you have to go down into the valley and back up the
other side.  Only taking the official tour will take you on the dam and
allow you to see the massive reservoir on the other side.  You can get
a motel room at Manic 5, it's best to reserve as  truckers use the
place a lot.

100 km of straight gravel road takes you from Manic 5 to Relais
Gabriel.  It's just a pit stop for fuel, food and cabins for the weary
traveler -- again reservations strongly advised.  The speed limit for
the stretch from Manic 5 to Goose Bay is 60 km/h but I don't know
anyone who follows that.  Most stretches you can comfortably do 100
km/h and in some places I've been known to do 130.  The most common
complaint on this road is  flying rocks from speeding trucks.  (One
trip cost me a windshield) Oh yes, best to plan the trip from
Baie-Comeau to Lab. City for a Saturday or Sunday when pulp trucks
aren't running -- those guys are nuts!


is a good gravel road.  You hit pavement at Gagnon (a now-demolished
mining town where you still see sidewalks and a blvd.) and have that as
far as Fire Lake, about 50 km away.  Fire Lake to Mount Wright is the
absolute worst part of the trip.  You are following (and crossing)
railway tracks most of the way.  If it hasn't been raining the road
might be ok, but if it's been raining it's rutted, muddy and slow.  But
that stretch is only 60 km and then you hit pave again and are soon in
Lab. City, where you'll find the usual small town amenities: a few
hotels--I'd recommend the Two Seasons in Lab. City or the Wabush Hotel
in Wabush (Lab. City's sister town), restaurants-- MacDonald's is the
only franchise though.


(a bit cobblestony in parts).  Churchill Falls has a hotel, gas, food
etc.  From Churchill Falls to Goose Bay is another 3 hours on a
slightly better gravel road.

The road out of Goose only opened in 1993 and has been consistently
upgraded since -- Goose to Churchill Falls in 1993 took us 8.5 hours
in a Nissan Sentra, now it's 3 (2.5 for some who don't value their
cars or their lives).

Depending on when you were in Goose Bay you will find a tremendous
difference.  We were here from 77-80 with the Canadian Forces,
returned in 1991 and were in shock to see the diffence.  Moved out in
1994 and returned in 1997 to even more differences and upgrades.  It
ain't the same old isolated place -- and in some ways that's
unfortunate.

Things you'd never dreamed you'd see in Goose Bay: A&W, Subway, KFC,
Burger King, 2 car dealerships, 3 computer stores, etc.
The American Base was turned over to the Canadians in the 70s and most
of the stuff on what you'd have known as the Canadian Side or the North
Side is pretty much gone.

There have been tremendous changes to the base in the last 6 years.
The Goose Hilton was imploded, the Hospital was demolished, all the row
houses in the 500s were torn down, only the officers' duplexes remain
there.  A lot of the row housing in the 700s and the 1100s were also
demolished.  Goose High is being gutted of asbestos as we speak and
will  be demolished soon.  I don't know what the elementary school was
called when you were here but we knew it as St. Michael's.  That's
closed and AFAIK, also slated for demolition.  I'd be happy to answer
any questions you might have.

Gabby