Quote: Originally Posted by LePew
Ross,
The Bay of Fundy, Cabot Trail, PEI and other attractions along the way, I figure that the only way to enjoy them is to allow for an alternative itinerary, where people take an extra day at the beginning or the end of the trip, if they want. [NB for NoNo: this would mean booking off either all of the preceeding Thursday, or the following Wednesday] For instance, in the posted potential itinerary, the Tuesday 16.5 hour drive could optionally be split up into two 10-hour days, allowing for people to take in the Cabot Trail and spend a night in Fundy National Park. That way, people who aren't interested can skip it.
Quote: Originally Posted by LePew
Sunday's itinerary seems a little light -- but maybe that's a good thing?
The idea is to provide for a 'day off', as we did in Radisson last year. We as a group need to decide if we want this again. As a demonstration in the potential itinerary, I split the 'day off' into two half days, half going to visiting an outport on the Saturday, the other half to be spent doing anything we want in St. John's.
There are lots of possibilities for the day off. We could say hello to the sun at dawn as it rises over Cape Spear (easternmost point in North America). Or tour the Avalon Peninsula looking for caribou. If we did a whole day off in St. John's, we could fly the short jump to St. Pierre, although we'd have to stay the night because of Air France's schedule. (St. Pierre et Miquelon is a small overseas but genuine département of France, just like Hawai'i is a US state)
Quote: Originally Posted by LePew
Also, what does "ferry to outports" mean?
This is just a sample idea. Ducttape for one would like to be on a ferry during the day, and being a bit of a ferry fan, I know it beats being on one during the night. We can do this one of two ways: take the big NS-NL ferry during the daytime instead of overnight (in place of our break day in Saint John's), or take one of the shorter ferries to visit an outport (as a half day).
But to explain more fully, an outport is a Newfoundland fishing village, unconnected to the road system. Outports were numerous until the Trans-Canada Highway was built in the 50s, swiftly followed by the switch from salt cod to fish plants in the 60s. Now, there are only a few dozen outports left, mostly on nearby islands and a handful remain with ferry connections, the traditional means of travel in Newfoundland.
As it happens, I've been to a picturesque outport about 45 minutes offshore by auto ferry, called Little Bay Islands. It's possible to put the MINIs on the local ferry, then drive around the tiny (but hilly) island, spend a little time checking out the town and/or its residents, walk up the overlooking hills, etc. and then get back on another ferry that takes us back to the mainland a little further along our route.
Quote: Originally Posted by LePew
P.S. Will you have a MINI to drive this year?
I won't have one to drive this year, unless I win a lottery worth $30K or more before February. I am planning a trip that will take me through Vegas in January, so you never know.
