The MGA With An Attitude
MGA Guru Is GOING MOBILE - (August 16 - August 31, 2018)
Thursday August 16, 2018:
A little quickie maintenance in the morning while the engine is still cool. Fan belt was squealing last night, so tighten the belt first, then check/adjust tire pressures all around, and reduce engine idle speed a bit (after resetting the points a couple days back). Then of to a WiFi spot for breakfast.
This may be a good start to a new page. We are sitting in Saint Hyacinthe, Quebec, Canada, roughly 25 miles east of Montreal. We are about to set off on a two oil change side trip to St Johns and Gander
Newfoundland, with some hope of return by way of the Trans Labrador Highway north of the Bay of Sr Lawrence. Click on map for larger image. We have a few "small" problems with the automatic routing, like a 20 mile jump between K and L, Point May and St Jacques, that plots out as a 417 mile loop to the north (seems like there should be a ferry there). Also 200 miles between M and N (Port Hope Simpson to Happy Valley-Goose Bay) that plots out as a 1935 mile loop to the south. That one has a road on the map, Rt-520 Trans Labrador Highway, but the routing program seems to choke on it. We will have to find out if it is passable.
Meanwhile we are taking today to look at the routing and to try contacting the few car clubs that may exist in this end of the world. Looking at the maritime provinces New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Nova Scotia, plus Newfoundland And Labrador, we have no shops on out Shops list, none at all so far. There are several car clubs, at least one in each of the Provinces. We will see if we can hook up with those clubs, and ask the locals how they get their vintage cars repaired. Our Fiends list has only three people in Nova Scotia to visit (so far), but perhaps the clubs may turn up more friends.
Okay, we only got half a day off. Just got an invitation to a club party in Sydney, Nova Scotia. Thought we had to do 860 miles in 42 hours, but it changed from Saturday to Sunday, so we get to take it easy (sort of). Gotta go. Check back later. As we were about to leave there was a slight delay for the obligatory five minute chat with some locals who were interested in the MGA and trailer. Then an hour to a fuel stop, and a couple more hours before we stopped on the south side of the St Lawrence (seaway) in a little place between Notre-Dame-du-Portage and Riviere-du-Loup (love the French names with all the hyphens).
Friday August 17, 2018:
Early morning we hauled on 70 miles farther east to a fuel stop in Edmondston (still in NB), and a Walmart for restock of engine oil and gear lube (preparation for next oil change). Returned to the car park to find a local bloke checking out the rig, revealing he has a nice MGA just a few miles away. He was amazed to find out who I was, having spent lots of time on my web site while he was restoring his car (we seem to get a lot of that these days). He had to pick up his wife at the hair salon, but they would meet us at the local Tim Horton's where we were about to stop for breakfast.
 Okay, they dropped in while we were finishing breakfast. Say hello to Real & Frances Cyr from St-Basile, New Brunswick.
We were about to go to their place to check out his MGA. But first they needed a little diagnostic work on their Dodge Caravan. The engine was making some odd noise they described as "squealing", but to me it sounded more like a warbling hiss, and seemed to be coming from the top of the engine, maybe an intake air leak. Rev it up to road speed and switch off, and the noise instantly stopped while the engine was still turning at speed, no mechanical noise from the engine or belt driven accessories. So the noise was in the air intake or fuel injection area. The engine was running well otherwise, so we figured it was not going to blow up on the way home, and off we went.
Several minutes later we were pulling Real's MGA 1600-MK-II out of the garage for photo-op and a listen to see how it was running. The bumper overriders are upside down, and the fan blade is backward, but those can be fixed later. When it was (previously) discovered that the 1622 engine had a "15" head (causing very high compression, pinking and run-on), the head was changed to an 18 "L" head (1972-1974 MGB). Nice head with larger intake valves, but shallow combustion chamber requiring clearance eyebrows in the engine block, and it still has the run-on issue due to high compression (even running on premium fuel). Someone needs to do a compression test on this thing. It fired right up and ran well with carburetors seeming to be in good tune, but it had a funny knocking noise, not bottom end but maybe a rocker shaft assembly issue. We pulled the valve cover to check valve clearances, and those seemed to be okay. In the process we replaced the rubber grommets with new ones pulled out of the magic trailer. Thinking we might need to check for wear on the rocker shaft (maybe later).
But it was running okay so we took it for a short test run. A little rock and roll revealed that the shock absorbers need oil, and it could benefit from installation of a front sway bar. Otherwise it drove like a champ with the high compression 1622 engine pulling strong.
On return we popped the bonnet to discuss the missing 4-inch air hoses and air block felt piece
above the radiator. When we open the bonnet on my car for reference, I soon discovered a broken pipe for the distributor vacuum advance. So that's why it has been a little sluggish at low speed. Not long to retrieve a bit of small bore rubber hose from the trailer to reconnect the pipe.
Then we had some fun checking out before, during and after pictures of his restoration work.
Not finished yet, we had to check out his toy shop where we found a Jaguar MK-II in process of restoration, and a very nice Volvo 1800ES sport wagon (shooting brake to the Brits), "E" for fuel injection, and "S" for ????
Looking farther back in the shop (once you get past the crawler tractor) we found the rafters and attic full of parts, mostly left over from a second parts car during the MGA restoration work. He really needs to get rid of most of this stuff, some just rusty scrap, but some serviceable parts needing a new home.
There were at least three spare cylinder heads, one small valve (Nash Met perhaps), one 1500/1600 type, and a rebuilt 15 head with very low mileage (previously on his restored car now needing a new home). If you need a B-series head (in eastern Canada) just holler.
I had to ask about the gray interior, and was amazed to find that Real had rebuilt them himself, including cutting ans sewing the leather covers. Wow, this is only the second (non-pro) person I have known to be so bold. Considering that the brake pedal was working very near the floor, we spent a few minutes to lengthen the brake master pushrod to raise the pedal height (with very good results). About that time a neighbor friend dropped in for a little jolly jesting, and eventually we all headed to a local bistro for a late lunch before we hit the road again.
Cruising around the top and down the eastern side of Maine (USA) and then east again, and a few hours later we stopped in Fredericton, NB for a brief visit with Bryan Walker (on request of a mutual friend we will see a couple days later). Great stories about racing MG TCs and a number of car restorations. He still has two TC's stashed in the garage (we didn't ask him to dig them out). The car under cover in the front drive is a MG YT (1948–1950) needing restoration. YT is the follow-up version of the YA, introducing the independent front suspension design that would follow over into the MG TD, TF, MGA and MGB all the way through 1980 (I knew that). Being rare enough, this YT is even more unique, bring one of four cars to have the MG TD style dash panel (I didn't know that). We think this car is looking or a suitable new caretaker to carry out the restoration work.
Approaching late dusk we were off and running east again, keep on keeping on, finally stopping in Moncton, NB well past midnight (with another six hours to go by mid day Sunday), having clocked 375 miles for the day (in spite of all the stopping time).
Saturday August 18, 2018:
Heavy rain in the morning, continuing through to the evening. Checking weather forecasts to the east, we decided to sit it out and use the time to catch up some grunt work (including email and photos and notes for three days). Good move, as the sun popped out briefly around 7:30 pm, we would wait a while so we might not drive back into the receding storm front. Heading east again 11-pm, stopped in New Glasgow 1:45-am as we were just driving into the rain again.
Sunday August 19, 2018:
Breakfast and email, haul out at 10:30-am with three hours to go. Half way along at Port Hastings we had a brief delay for a rotating draw bridge to let a small pleasure craft through the lock. Note that the draw bridge is labeled "Welcome to Cape Breton", which would actually be Cape Breton Island, which is the eastern end of Nova Scotia. We were still 77 miles from our destination in Cape Breton Regional Municipality (population 94,000).
We rolled into Cape Breton (the city) at 1:30-pm for a barbecue with British Car Club of Cape Brenton and New England MGT Register, Atlantic Chapter. Good going, got to hit two clubs at once today. Meet and greet at least 20 cars and 40 people. Hiding in the photo below, 5th car from left, next to my MGA, is a resident MG TC. In the garage an MGB and MG TD. On the lift was another MG TD in final stages of reassembly after full restoration.
Turning our back on the prior row of cars we found a Jaguar XJS (V12) and another Jaguar drop head coupe. But my prize find of the day was the rather rare (this side of the pond) Austin 1800-MK-II. Thinking of sport coupes, there was the well known Austin Cooper (Mini), and the slightly larger Austin America (which I used to own), and the next step up is this Austin 1800. Gotta smile, nice car.
I was surprised to find how many people in this neck of the woods already knew about us. Someone had fired a warning shot, and they knew we were coming. When the party was breaking up about a dozen die-hards remained to chat until a while longer. Then I borrowed time on the resident computer to make a ferry reservation for next day, after which we had an invite to stay over night at another friend's place a few miles away (closer to the ferry terminal). After a late night chat, somewhere well past midnight I was catching up these photos and notes, but we do have to get up in the morning. Zzzzzz.
Monday August 20, 2018:
Hopped a ferry from North Sydney, Nova Scotia to Port-Aux-Basques, Newfoundland. We drove in at ground level and parked on level 3 with trucks and trailers, up to 8 lanes wide mid ship. More trucks and cars on Level 5. Cars only on levels 2 and 6. Passengers and cabins on levels 7, 8, 9. This thing is huge.
Sun deck on top at rear (level 10). Forward of the sun deck was a helicopter pad, and up front the pilot house (all the way across).
Goodbye Nova Scotia.
Show up two hours early for check in and boarding, 6-hr 20-min sailing time, half hour to get off, another half hour lost from Atlantic time zone to Newfoundland time zone. That pretty much killed the whole day.
Hello Port-Aux-Baques, Newfoundland.
So far we have one club and two people to contact on this big island. The club has no contact information on their web page (looks like a blog posted by a single person). We have phone numbers but no email addresses for the two guys, and my cell phone does not work here except for two cities, Corner Brook (4 hours away) and St Johns (10 hours away). This is going to be interesting. Looks like we will drop in on these guys and knock on their doors to see if anyone might be home. Can't wait to see the looks on their faces.
Tuesday August 21, 2018:
Good news: A post on a BBS resulted in two email addresses for the two people we know in Newfoundland.
So off we went this afternoon 90 miles northeast up the coast, nice casual roads with some hills, a few turns, very nice scenery, and little traffic. Then spin off downhill a few miles to the north shore to St George's.
Say hello to Dave Warr, and after a bit we get to see some of his toys. A modern Jag sedan in front, an older Jag sedan in back, a GT6+ in the middle, half of a Spitfire on the left, and a Pontiac Firebird way in the far corner. His daily driver is a Jeep Liberty, and something similar for his wife (remember where we are).
Friendly chat went on for a few hours I recon, then a casual dinner, some time to look up a few more names and addresses, and investigate the club that may or may not still exist. As dusk was upon us we headed north another 54 miles to stop in Corner Brook, which is the only small pocket on this side of the island where we may have phone service. Time spent to post these photos and notes, and we will wait to see what might happen tomorrow.
Wednesday August 22, 2018:
Bit of a day off in Corner Brook. Email with tech questions, email a couple of people we want to visit. In the afternoon we wandered along another 222 miles to Gander, NL. Thought we might have a friend to see here, but so far no contact (may catch him later on the return trip). Still searching for information on the one club that was supposed to be here. Wandered along another 90 miles late night to land in Clarenville where we expect to find another WiFi spot in the morning.
Thursday August 23, 2018:
Sitting in Clarenville, NL today ("F" on this map). Got an email response, now looking forward to an
appointment in Paradise (near St Johns) for Friday. Also word on the club here is that it may have fizzled out a couple years back, but the web page is still there, and we still have some hopes of contacting the webmaster. We may take a couple of days to wander around the Avalon Peninsula, since 92% of the province's population lives on the island of Newfoundland (and its neighboring smaller islands), of whom more than half live on the Avalon Peninsula.
Friday appointment changed to Saturday. Nice sunny day, so we had plans to be tourists for a day. Ran 66 miles south through overcast, then turned left at Holiday Hill, intending to take coast roads up the peninsula to Grates Cove, one of those end of the world places. Immediately ran into increasing rain that didn't look like it would let up. If we stopped to sit out the rain we wouldn't have time to complete the loop, so we made a U-turn and headed back directly to the St John's area. Sometimes discretion is the better part of valor. Maybe we will do Cape Spear tomorrow morning before an early afternoon appointment.
Friday August 24, 2018:
Give us half a day off with no appointments, and we can turn into tourists temporarily. This morning we were on a mission to the end of the earth (which we are commonly prone to do). Having come this far, we needed to take the final step. It was a 17 mile half hour trip to Cape Spear, NL, which is the eastern most point in North America (road or no road). The GPS misdirected us once for a shortcut on a service road which was closed 20 years ago, but we did finally get out of town. We had to run a few second gear hills along with lots of twisty roads (and working through road construction along the way), but finally arrived at the desired destination.
Looking across the ocean (at least in diagram) we have Greenland (1), Iceland (2) and Ireland (3). Just beyond Ireland there is Scotland and England (think MG), and then France across the English Channel. The primary landmark here would be the lighthouse, which has an odd story. I climbed about 150 steps to visit the lighthouse up close, just to find that I wasn't really there yet. I turned around long enough to snap another picture. If you can spot it, the MGA is just left of center in the car park.
The light was transferred to the white concrete tower in 1955. The frame building nearby is a visitor center and museum. Skipping the trail, I took a hike up the rock ridge on top of the cliff. The original support was on a stone tower surrounded by a frame residence building. This is currently nearing completion of restoration (at least as a museum). I don't know if they intend to return the light to its original perch.
Turning around again for another picture, yes that car park is where I started. Now I get to hike back there, and that much farther again toward "the beach" (like as if there was one). Skipping the trail again, I took a shortcut down the rock ridge a bit away from the cliff. When you get all the way down there is a very irregular rocky shore line at the bottom of a cliff, the kind of barrier that likes to kill people. There is no convenient trail to water's edge, so I may have to wait for another opportunity to get my feet wet in the North Atlantic Ocean. There were lots of information signs here about sea birds and whales and fishing and shipping.
And there was the large gun emplacement from WW-II. Two 30 foot long guns weighing 30 tons or so that retract to hide behind the bunker barrier, then pop up to fire, and then duck down to hide again.
Fun time over, back to town for lunch and a bit more WiFi work. In mid afternoon we were off again to visit John Stevenson in Paradise (yes, that's a city near St Johns). Right off things began popping up British all over the place. There was a Jaguar XK-R (V8) and a Rover 75 wagon (V6). Inside we found an MG TD and a Land Rover Discovery.
Beside those was an MG ZT (V6 quad cam) getting bumpers painted and some preventative maintenance, like new timing belts. Now this was jolly good fun, seeing some cars we don't get in the States. The guy has more British cars at a different property about 100 miles from St Johns, around the bottom of the bay and up near top of the next peninsula. Pity no one has plans to go there soon, so we get to miss that. After a few hours of chat our host had other commitments, so back to work.
Saturday August 25, 2018:
A day of plotting and planning, trying to make contacts with not much success (yet). Just had a walk-in who knows a guy down the road from him a few miles away who may have a TR4 and may know the club guy we have been looking for. Worth a try, on our way out of town. Will let you know how that works out.
Map to right shows the general configuration of roads in Newfoundland. There is a lot of "can't get there from here" stuff, especially along the south coastal area. From A to X is nearly 3000 miles, but we're not tourists, and we started from U five days ago, so I recon we won't do that. Having just about run out of contacts and ideas here, we will likely just take the most direct route from A to X, about 600 miles, and connect with the ferry heading for Labrador.
Well, we didn't get out of town yet. We wandered down the street a few miles looking for the house of the guy recommended by our walk-in. After a bit of mucking about, no luck, so we went back a mile to visit our walk-in friend. Say hello to Bren Hanrahan Sr in Paradise, NL. He in turn gave me a ride down the street for the search, and had to poke around a bit and ask a neighbor, after which we did ultimately find the right place. Sometimes it pays to be persistent.
That would be A. Robert (Bob) Evans in Paradise (on the left). Okay, so he's a TR guy, but he was good for some information. We got possible street intersection (approximate) for the car club guy, now knowing that the club has been defunct for maybe four years, but still no phone number. We also got the name and address for a local car shop, which happened to be one of the names on our Friends list where we had not received a return from a voice message. Yahoo! One phone call and we were off.
Several miles along we stopped to visit Steve Hicks in Torbay, NL. Not just a new friend, but also a shop to add to our Shops list working on German and vintage British cars. He restored the VW Westfalia some years ago, and it has been getting a good work out since. Off to the back lot to check out the toys in storage.
The Rabbit Cabriolet is a good runner. 1964 MGB is a beautiful restoration job, as well as the 1974 TR6 and the 1991 (I think) Austin Mini.
Heading back up front, oops, his daughter did a number on that one yesterday, now guess who gets to fix it. In the workshop a current restoration on a TR7. Good to have another service shop out here at the end of the world.
Sunday August 26, 2018:
Staged in St Johns this morning ready for a tour with something (or someone) called Sports Car Tours. We normally wouldn't, except someone told us there were sometimes British sports cars involved.
When you don't have enough cars and people for an MGA club, you have and MG club.
When you don't have enough cars and people for an MG club, you have a British car club.
When you don't have enough cars and people for a British car club, you have a sports car club.
Met in a shopping center in St Johns, NL this morning. Here's a new encounter, solar powered parking meters. Turned out to be free overnight and free on Sundays, so no feeding needed today. Someone counted 36 cars. Don't want to bore you with all the Beemers, Miatas, VWs and Mustangs, but there was one TR4 in the group to meet and greet, and at least one Mini.
We began about 6th or 7th in line. It took a while to muddle through local city traffic, but eventually we began
to find some less traveled and more scenic roads. Lots of mountains here, so plenty of hills and twisties to negotiate. There was supposed to be a convenience stop about half way through the tour, but the road was torn up there, so one loop of the tour was scratched off the route instructions. As we were approaching that area, three Beemers stopped on the right shoulder, a Miata turned left onto a dusty gravel road, and a Mustang went straight when we turned a prescribed corner. That left us alone following along the water front for much of the rest of the tour. It was a nice casual cruise after we got out of the elephant parade, about 57 miles total I recon.
Looks like we were the first to finish, so I suppose everyone else took a mid-tour pit stop somewhere. I think the Pontiac Solstice and the Mini were resident here. The rest of the tour cars began to roll in en-mass about 20 minutes later until they were blanketing the side lot and roadway. It was a nice party, pretty much the same friendly folks as most of the British car club meets, and many of them were particularly interested in the long distance MGA. Guess I was busy eating and chatting, because I wasn't taking pictures of the crowd (sorry), but I did get a walk around later to find more storage and shop space out back.
When the party was over, it dawned on me that we were sitting at the base of the peninsula we had missed due to rain a few days earlier. So we pointed it north for another 60 miles (B to C) going to Grates Cove on the northern tip. All the roads up here have 50-kph speed limit (30-mph), and there was moderate traffic, so it took a couple of hours to get up there. As we were approaching we were looking at the tall bluffs, then picking our way through some steep hills and twisties with pot holes. This place was definitely not catering to tourists, and traffic was nil in the final couple of miles. At the end of the last street there was just a gravel turn-around and no parking in front of a few homes, and just a 4x4 rocky drive up the last hill. So I parked on the side of the deserted street and took a hike up the rocky bluff.
Okay, the drive and the hike up was worth it. The view from the bluff was spectacular.
A last look back at the town before climbing off the bluff, and then heading south again. The sunset dropping down through the clouds was better than the fuzzy picture can show. We were heading 40 miles (C to D) back to Carbonear for a WiFi connection with 4 miles to go when the GPS tried to take a shortcut, 2-1/2 miles, that didn't quite work out. But we did make it there to bring you these photos and notes.
Monday August 27, 2018:
Cruised south back to TCI-1, then west into Clarenville where we managed to get the oil changed (just a few hundred miles overdue). Back on WiFi, and surprised to find we had a cell phone connection, so we made a few phone calls along with email. Got a message through to a friend in Gander, NL (finally), and some contacts in Nova Scotia, looking forward to some club meetings about a week in advance. In the evening we were heading northwest to stop in Gander for the night.
P.S. (27 SEP) Looks like we have been "found out" again. Another news article was published in The Packet, news release in Clarenville, Newfound and Labrador, Canada (September 20th). Read about:
"Life on the road: The MGA Guru makes pit stop in Clarenville".
It is a pretty good summary on the purpose and scope of this road trip.
Tuesday August 28, 2018:
Morning in Gander, NL. No cell service here, but email works okay. Shot a couple of messages back and forth to our local friend, then toddled over to his house at 1-pm. Meet Andrew Proudfoot with his 1978 MGB which has been converted to dual HS4 carburetors. Very nice job of that with fuel vapor recovery and anti-run-on and crankcase ventilation still functional (but the cooling fan mounted backward). Had a nice chat before he had to get back to work. He is an air traffic controller at Gander International Airport. We had contact with this guy 15 years ago in 2003 when we were discussing some possible assistance for the MGA in Cuba.
Mid afternoon, heading southwest a few hours along the western side of Newfoundland. Fueled up in Hampden, then 30 miles farther for another short WiFi stop in Deer Lake. Still a little daylight left so we headed north from there up the western peninsula. Nothing much to do here (or to see after dark), so we just kept driving a few more hours (keeping a clear eye out for moose which we fortunately never saw). Stopped in Plum Point, less then 10 miles from our next ferry ride.
Leaving Newfoundland, could not contact Craig Fowler who we think is in Conception Bay South, NL. He was the prime motivator of Newfoundland British Automobile Association, which seems to be now defunct (even though there is still a web page).
Wednesday August 29, 2018:
Fueled up first thing in Plum Point, NL, followed by a short 10 mile drive to Black Duck Cove where we intended to catch a Ferry out of St Barbe. Good that we drove up the night before, because this morning the wind was up and it was raining enough to discourage driving. This would also allow is to catch the morning ferry and gain five hours on our travel schedule. There was a slight delay while they were deciding if the ferry would run or not (close eye on the stormy weather), so we had time for breakfast in the port cafe (Dockside Motel Inc). We did finally get the ticket, and the 10;30 ferry launched an hour late. Figure 90 minute crossing to Blanc Sablon, QC, estimated landing 1-pm. Not sure yet when we get out of Newfoundland time zone and back into Atlantic time, but we get a half hour back whenever that happens. The monster with the open beak finally swallowed us up, and I found a nice spot in the aft lounge to prop up the computer do a little grunt work.
Goodbye Newfoundland. Mid way across the channel we had a pretty good rock and roll going on, enough for the soda bottle to slide off the table. So far so good, not getting seasick. Someone reported a whale sighting, but I didn't see it. Hello Quebec next.
Immediately off the ferry we hung a right to cross the provincial line back into Newfoundland And Labrador (Labrador being the mainland part of the province). From there we headed north a few hours to Port Hope Simpson for another fuel stop and a late lunch. Hey, who's idea was this anyway? The ratty gravel road was a rude awakening to get us started in Labrador.
Okay, the roads weren't all this bad. In few hours we were docking for fuel again at Penny's Pit Stop in Port Hope Simpson. Fuel getting a bit pricey up here. I think that works out to $4.50/gal USD. At least we found some sandwiches and one table, and there was a WiFi connection here.
After a very short WiFi session we headed west on the Trans Labrador Highway, destination being Happy Valley-Goose Lake, NL, 254 miles away. Yes mostly gravel, but not too bad as we were making about 45-mph (when we were moving). Kill time for a few road construction stops, and then off again. Just past half way (135 miles) we had a slight delay to assist a stranded semi truck. The trucker had been sitting there from 2-pm to 8-pm waiting for his help to show up by 7-pm. Long story, but just a broken fuel hose, not too hard to fix. By now you should know the magic trailer has fuel hose and clamps and tools.
Another hour and a half of gravel road, with darkness falling visibility was getting marginal, so we made a 4-minute stop to clean mud off the wind screen. 200 miles from Port Hope Simpson the gravel turned into pavement with bright stripes, and the last 50 miles was a breeze. Landed 10:15-pm for third fuel fill of the day in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, only 420 miles for the day, but it seemed like a lot more. This road was first opened (with minimal gravel and bridge conditions) in 2009.
Thursday August 30, 2018:
Car was hard starting in the morning, even though it ran okay last night. Ran on 3-cylinders at low speed, better above 2500 rpm, then cleared up after a few minutes driving. After a long lunch break, it was hard starting and ran bad again, so time to fix it. Just ignition points out of adjustment, barely opening at all, easy fix.
From the past two days driving effort we managed to gain a day on our travel schedule, and we found a good WiFi spot in Happy Valley-Goose Bay, Labrador. Good time and place to take a day off and file our monthly trip report for the CMGC newsletter (more than a little late) while we monitor email for appointments next week. Truth be known, the only reason we're up here is because, well, there's a road here, and of course someone said it couldn't be done. We have just done 5500 miles in the past five weeks, and not slowing down any time soon.
Needing to make tracks, drove another three hours west on pavement to Churchill Falls by 11-pm.
Friday August 31, 2018:
Destined to be an epic travel day, up early but had to wait for fuel stop in Churchill Falls to open at 8-am. Then a few hours farther west on pavement to Labrador City where we found WiFi during an extended lunch stop. Looking ahead, needed to make a ferry reservation, have to call it in by phone because we have the trailer. No cell service for us in Labrador City, but it was a toll free number, so found a public phone in a shopping mall to make the call, and pay a non-refundable $20 deposit (so then we were committed).
Early afternoon heading out, get second fuel fill for the day 15 miles west of Labrador City, and keep going. Then in Quebec heading generally south, mostly paved (sort of) with 42 miles of fairly ratty gravel road with some cobblestone, hills, twists, repeated rough railroad crossings, then back onto (rough) pavement.
Had to make the next fuel stop in a little place called Relais Gabriel where petrol was $1.779-CND per liter). I recon that's $6.75/gal-USD, take it or leave it, 7 gallons please. Topped up and enough to get
where we were going today, it was time for dinner. The lady whipped up lasagna to die for, and there was a WiFI connection, so we stayed longer than anticipated. Noticed the trailer was missing a bearing buddy again, right side this time, with some dirt in the hub bearing grease. No parts available here, and not much we can do about it other than clean and re-lube the bearings, but the wheel was still secure, so soldier on.
Losing the light by the time we were rolling again, and immediately onto gravel road. 62 miles of gravel
with twists and hills, washboard and potholes, top speed about 40-mph in the dark (sometimes slower). After a tight and steep down hill switch back series into a valley we crossed a dam
(hydro-electric plant), through a small town, and then (thankfully) back onto paved road for another 160 miles. Still lots of twisties and many 10% to 12% grades up and down. Car having a little grip problem in the turns near the end, so slowed it down a bit to be safe. We finally hauled into Baie-Comeau, QC on the St Lawrence River a few minutes before midnight, and tanked up the petrol for the fourth time in one day. 524 hard miles logged in 16 hours today.
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