Canada Trip

[mimikv]

Thank you all for your response. Actually we will be in Canada for about 40 days. The first stop will be 6 nights in NB - then 2 travel days to get up to ferry in NS over to NL for 13 days. We are just doing a day trip over to Labrador. Back to NS for 6 nights and then to PEI for 5 nights and back to NB for another 6 nights. My husband has made all the campround reservations and the ferry reservations. We are taking the shorter route over to NL - the 6 hour ferry rather than the 14 hour ferry. I wanted to go one way and return the other - but the longer way was double the cost - so we went the cheaper route. We have been in NS before but not in our RV - we stayed in hotels- motels - I like it much better to stay in our own motorhome. NS was just beautiful - that is why we are returning for a longer stay. We are retired now and have more time to explore. This is our first long trip - we will be away from home for 2 months.
mimikv

[mimikv]

Thank you all for your response. Actually we will be in Canada for about 40 days. The first stop will be 6 nights in NB - then 2 travel days to get up to ferry in NS over to NL for 13 days. We are just doing a day trip over to Labrador. Back to NS for 6 nights and then to PEI for 5 nights and back to NB for another 6 nights. My husband has made all the campround reservations and the ferry reservations. We are taking the shorter route over to NL - the 6 hour ferry rather than the 14 hour ferry. I wanted to go one way and return the other - but the longer way was double the cost - so we went the cheaper route. We have been in NS before but not in our RV - we stayed in hotels- motels - I like it much better to stay in our own motorhome. NS was just beautiful - that is why we are returning for a longer stay. We are retired now and have more time to explore. This is our first long trip - we will be away from home for 2 months.
mimikv

[Little Kopit]

Oh, so you're going over to the Labrador Straits. Red Bay, I assume. There are nice walks in the area too. I have not been there since 97 or 98, when the road did not go past Red Bay. I'd like to hear how you find it.

13 days will give you a chance to see a thing or two, an miss a few zillion others. Enjoy.

[Novi]

When I retired we had only been away for up to 1 month. Now we go for 3 months at a time. Once we are on our way we settle into a routine and after a couple of weeks I don't care if I never go back I could just keep going. So, enjoy your 2 months and hope you have great weather.

[Adventurous]

I just found this forum and I am delighted to get info from people in the know!!
Just like MIMIKV we are planning a 2 month trip to the Maritimes (from Florida via Michigan)
However we have NO reservations for any campsites at all, we like to just wing it. We do like staying in the provincial parks. Will we get in trouble since the season is so short and "everyone" is there at the same time?
For comparison we went to Alaska without reservations and did just fine.
I also just found out that boondocking is not allowed, is that true everywhere??????
Any help will be greatly appreciated

[brad03ca]

Hello Again Ellen. I think the only Malls to allow boondocking are the Wal-Marts, with the exception of Nova Scotia. You should have no problems with camping along the way concerning reservations.Provincial Parks may be more of a challenge, as they are quit popular. If you need more help... Please let me know....

[Little Kopit]

Hi Ellen,

My first question is: Are just coming to the Marititmes (NB, NS, PEI) ordo you mean Atlantic Canada (those 3 plus Newfoundland & Labrador)?

& BTW if you say in the Maritimes to a Newfoundlandler and clearly mean to include this province, Newfoundlanders can get quite upset. I had it happen to me when I had just moved here.

Anyway, if you are coming 'across the gulf', and you want to 'boondock', here the term is gravel pit camping. This is ok, but the private campground owners are becoming quite concerned about this. It is the obvious parking at box store parking lots overnight, that is causing this, of course.

Generally, you can get away without reservations, except for a few of the federal park sites.

Keep asking questions and we will answer.

[Adventurous]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">My first question is: Are just coming to the Marititmes (NB, NS, PEI) ordo you mean Atlantic Canada (those 3 plus Newfoundland & Labrador)? </div></BLOCKQUOTE>

Oops, sorry for the short cut. In effect I ment that whole area and used Maritime as a "short" instead of mentioning them all. I could also say "Way up there"!!!
I don't know yet if NL will be possible. That is why I was checking out the "dry camping" (that is what we call it) situation and get an idea how many nights we need to spend in campgrounds.
We belong to Passport America but most of those discounts do not apply in July or August!!
And Coast to Coast has only one campground (in Baddeck)

Besides we really do like just to hang out where it is nice off the road when possible.
I totally understand the campgrounds versus Walmart situation.
If we decide to go to NL how far in advance do we need to reserve the ferry to Port-aux-Basques?


Different question:
What is the best way see the bay of Fundy ?
Stay at the big National Park or at surrounding campings and make side trips?
Thanks guys!

[brad03ca]

Hi Ellen: If I were going to NL I would check the reservation list now. Boondocking, dry camping, gravel pit camping, or just ol wet'in a line, can be done anywhere in NL and its great. I would just tour around Bay of Fundy, ST.Andrews on day, Hopewell Rocks next etc. If you have the time...take it slow and enjoy

[Little Kopit]

Ferry reservations any moment.

I haven't committed myself yet and am getting worried. I have some other things to 'settle' $ wise. The fracture question got settled today. I'll be able to hike.

I don't know about Passport America or Coast to Coast up here. I tend to stay away from those. I have Good Sam and Explorers Club. Both have been useful in quite a few Canadian cgs. I tend to go to government cgs, when I can. More often than not they have treed sites with trees defining the sites.

The BIG exception to that is Cape Breton Highlands National Park. I haven't tried there since 95 and likely won't. The park cgs. were extra squich. Private ones in that area were better.

[2Roadrunners]

Enjoy your trip. Digby Scallop Fest in August. Blueberries in the Amherhest area in August. Bay of Fundy, Hopewell...there is a campground next door..Paradise I believe it is named. Fisheries Museum in Lunenburg, Hank Snow Museum in Liverpool, Peggy's Cove...have boondocked at all of these places. Not hard to hide out out there.

BTW.....Taking the boat over?? I worked on the Caribou at theshipyard near Québec City from day one until the day she was delivered. Also worked several months on the Joey & Clara Smallwood.

[brad03ca]

<BLOCKQUOTE class="ip-ubbcode-quote"><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-title">quote:</div><div class="ip-ubbcode-quote-content">BTW.....Taking the boat over?? I worked on the Caribou at theshipyard near Québec City from day one until the day she was delivered. Also worked several months on the Joey & Clara Smallwood. </div></BLOCKQUOTE>
Have you travelled on these ships Roadrunner? Would be a good feeling to be able to say " I did that or I made this" How long would it take to build these ships?

[Little Kopit]

What an interesting post Roadrunner.

Boondocked near Lunenberg? Do you know that this is now illegal? A product of the private cg-Walmart feud?

And both the Caribou and the Smallwood are new since I moved to NL, IIRC. I moved over on the Bond. Now, that was a loading experience not to be forgotten.

& here we are with a new study out last month recommending things like:

1) Fare reductions*
2) New ferries, since all ferries including the Caribou and the Smallwood are 'old'....


* current fares are definitely a source of outmigration, especially of those who want to travel.

[2Roadrunners]

Hi,

Can't really say how long it took us, possibly nine months for the Caribou, but I am not sure. It is a wonderful feeling when you build these and then you see them go down the ways on launching day..huge ceremony too. My niece was the one who christened the Caribou. The ferry service drew names of the workers, I forget how many,maybe thirty and they got a free round trip cruise on it.

From Port Hope, you must see those lakers go by. We built many of them for CSL, Halco and Patterson.

Spent 32 years in that yard.....Jim the Shipfitter.