Tour du Nord IV - February 2008

[MinorRoadsKill]

Calais is only a 7.5 hour drive from the ferry, which we have to be at by 10:30pm AT, or 9:30pm ET. Given 2 hours for meals, that means we likely have 3-4 hours available for play time, provided that the weather is good for traveling.

Therefore, we should plan some activities.

I propose the following.

First, there's a quick photo op and leg stretch at Reversing Falls, as we cross the St. John River at Saint John. Since it will be low tide, it will look like a normal rapids, but on the return trip, it will be going up.

Second, I know that in previous years, much interest has been expressed in seeing the tides of Fundy. Unlike in 2006, the tides this year will be low during the day on Friday, which is perfect for getting down to the shore. So I suggest that we take the scenic loop through Fundy National Park and check out Cape Enrage and the Hopewell Rocks. This adds 75 minutes of driving, and we'll need about 1 hour at the Rocks.

Third, in Baddeck, after dinner but before boarding, we could arrange for a 1 hour stop at the AG Bell National Historic Site Museum. Besides a telephone or two, the museum holds many of the lesser known inventions of the famous Scottish-Canadian who made his summer home on the shores of Bras d'Or Lake in Cape Breton. These include hovercraft, hydrofoils and the Silver Dart.

How it might work is detailed in the proposed itinerary..

[Oldpaint]

I thought we saw some enrage and rocks last time. Will this be different?

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From the rocks website.....

Our Mission Statement:

To ensure a safe and positive experience for all visitors and staff
through self-sustaining stewardship.

[NoNo]

NOOOOOO!!!!!! I wanted to see Fundy!

[ravioliworld]

Well, it's official, my UK trip came through, so there's no way I could go on this trip. But in a way, my trip will be like the Tour du Nord. Going to Sumburgh, on the Shetland Islands. So, basically middle of nowhere. Won't be as cold probably, but it'll be dreary. And, while you guys are puking on the ferry, I'll probably be puking out of a helicopter. So, have fun. I'll have to shoot for the next trip.

[Oldpaint]

TCH Stephenville Access Road to Port aux Basques Jan 28, 2008 2:32:13 PM Snow Covered Good

Advisory: Wet and slushy and slippery sections. Use extreme caution in Wreckhouse area, avoid if possible; high winds, E70-80, gusting to 100km.

[uptick]

Quote: Originally Posted by MinorRoadsKill (original)

Calais is only a 7.5 hour drive from the ferry, which we have to be at by 10:30pm AT, or 9:30pm ET. Given 2 hours for meals, that means we likely have 3-4 hours available for play time, provided that the weather is good for traveling.

Therefore, we should plan some activities.

I propose the following.

First, there's a quick photo op and leg stretch at Reversing Falls...

Second, ...seeing the tides of Fundy...

Third, in Baddeck,...

How it might work is detailed in the proposed itinerary..

I'm all for some photo ops!

The itinerary looks precisely planned. Thanks!
I remember last time at Port aux Basques, NL, prior to queuing to board the homebound ferry, every vehicle had to go through some quarantine/inspection station (...I only wish they'd give us car washes as well there, besides scraping clear our license plates). We may wish to give ourselves more time to clear before that 22:45 cutoff.

[NHRef]

Shawn, the Irish dance studio owner in Saint John's (and now on Iceland, too), is arranging for us to be interviewed on local television. Stay tuned . . .

(NoNo, now we really need you ~ to make us look good!)

BTW, Shawn was in Boston and was invited by the American consulate to perform for the Red Sox and Jon Papelbon last November. No doubt Jon could have used the lessons:

You Tube

[MinorRoadsKill]

Quote: Originally Posted by ravioliworld (original)

Well, it's official, my UK trip came through, so there's no way I could go on this trip. But in a way, my trip will be like the Tour du Nord. Going to Sumburgh, on the Shetland Islands. So, basically middle of nowhere. Won't be as cold probably, but it'll be dreary. And, while you guys are puking on the ferry, I'll probably be puking out of a helicopter. So, have fun. I'll have to shoot for the next trip.

OK, that really is the middle of nowhere, especially compared to a city of 100K+.

At first, I thought you had overestimated the warmth of the Shetlands. But no. Their February average high is nearly 5C, while St. John's is -2C. 5C is St. John's' mean for the whole year.

That's surprising, given that the Shetlands are located at 60N, compared to St. John's at 47'30''. In fact, the Shetlands are more than 6 degrees north of the most northerly of all the ArcticMINI runs (2005, on the road to Chisasibi, QC).

Clearly, we've got to find a road to the Shetlands...

[MinorRoadsKill]

Quote: Originally Posted by uptick (original)

I'm all for some photo ops!

The itinerary looks precisely planned. Thanks!

Your welcome.

Of course, it might be for naught. Something about itineraries surviving contact with the weather.

Quote: Originally Posted by uptick (original)

I remember last time at Port aux Basques, NL, prior to queuing to board the homebound ferry, every vehicle had to go through some quarantine/inspection station (...I only wish they'd give us car washes as well there, besides scraping clear our license plates). We may wish to give ourselves more time to clear before that 22:45 cutoff.

I believe the inspection is after checkin, so arriving 75 minutes before departure, our reservation would be safe.

In any case, given the weather-dependent travel nature of winter travel we'll be keeping an eye on the clock.

[MGB Boy]

Once spent a week on Grand Manan Island at the mouth of the Bay of Fundy. Interesting place. Crazy tides, of course. Only way to get there is by an hour and a half ferry ride on what can be really really nasty seas (as you know). Good times being on a 231' RORO ship getting bounced around like a toy in the bathtub...

YouTube - Rough trip for the Grand Manan Ferry

-Ricardo

[MinorRoadsKill]

First, watch this video:

Suliven, in 13m swells off NZ

Seem familar? That's the Suliven, a sister ship to the Leif Ericsen, Marine Atlantic's transport-truck freighter, and substitute vessel when the Smallwood or Caribou break down.

And the swells in 2006? 11m, not much less than the 13m waves seen in the video.

[Oldpaint]

Will Nono be able to resist these enticing videos?

[MGB Boy]

Send her a few of those scopolamine patches to stick behind her ear...

-Ricardo

[NoNo]

I can resist the videos because YouTube is blocked here at work! HA!

[MGB Boy]

What isn't blocked at your work, besides M2 and eBay (which actually surprises me a bit)?

-Ricardo