Tour du Nord IV - February 2008

[benzamg]

I've got him in Newfoundland getting ready to board the ferry back to Nova Scotia



And in Halifax at MINI

[NHRef]

Heard back from Abba:

"We can give you 7 beds at 131 Bond in three rooms and 2 beds in one room at 129 Bond at $65 per room ............... (or) 9 beds 4 bedrooms, full living room and ktichen with breakfast foods provided on a self serve basis, each with cctv, wirless interent.
Total (7 beds) equals $260 per night ........... 4 bedrooms 3 bathrooms .......... full kitchen ............ "

Individually, that comes to $32.50 per person per night, plus taxes.

Since that's just under $20 per night less than the Courtyard and because it's local (you can stay at a Courtyard anytime, almost anywhere), I recommend we stay at the Abba.

Anyone think otherwise?

[MinorRoadsKill]

Quote: Originally Posted by NHRef (original)

Heard back from Abba:

...snip...

Anyone think otherwise?

Abba is much preferred over any Marri-rot.

Having 4 rooms together is a better configuration, but in my experience, the served breakfast is half the fun of a 4-star Newfoundland BnB. If we could have the 4 rooms together AND a served breakfast, I'll be happy to pay more than $32.50 a night - hell, I'm happy to pay extra for everyone's breakfast.

If that's not possible, I'd go with the 3 and 1 rooms in adjacent buildings that I presume come with the full breakfast.

[MinorRoadsKill]

Ann has given birth 17 days early to another mini: Cynthia Skye Trusler.


mandatory cute photos

Skye was born yesterday at 2am, weighing 6lbs 9.5oz. Her delivery was quick, natural and without complications. Mother and daughter are both well.



The important news is:

Skye's early birth and good health clear the way for me to abandon Ann with the tykes for the assault on St. John's in February. You gotta have your priorities straight, after all.

[Oldpaint]

Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. MinorRoadsKill!

Will we get to see everyone at the meet up point?

Get some sleep now.

[NoNo]

OOOOH! Melting over the mandatory cute photos. She's a cutie! I really want to reach through the monitor and pinch those chubby little cheeks. Congrats to you, Ann, and Quinn!

[geowit]

Definitely Abba.

[NHRef]

Quote: Originally Posted by MinorRoadsKill (original)

Ann has given birth 17 days early to another mini: Cynthia Skye Trusler.


mandatory cute photos

Skye was born yesterday at 2am, weighing 6lbs 9.5oz. Her delivery was quick, natural and without complications. Mother and daughter are both well.

Outstanding!

And what a great name (although at first I misread it and thought, oh, no, Skype is too geeky . . .

Congratulations to the MinorRoadsKill Family!

[NHRef]

I've made reservations at the Abba Inn for Saturday and Sunday nights.

I like the "local" atmosphere, plus the amenities (breakfast, wireless, cctv, etc.)

[NHRef]

Quote: Originally Posted by Oldpaint (original)

8>< snip

The Calais was fine, very friendly.

We should try to get there earlier this year before the sidewalks are rolled up and so we won't keep the restaurant staff up.

Agreed!

Calais is about 5 hours drive time from Portsmouth NH.

How about we meet at the state liquor store where Rt 95 and NH Rt 16 come together? In addition to booze, there's plenty of restuarants in the vicinity if anyone wants lunch.

Plan to meet in Portsmouth at 12:30 and leave by 1:00, getting us to Calais about 6?

[Oldpaint]

One month to go!

I was cleaning up my office yesterday and came across last years equipment list. If Squid doesn't go we will need a second tow strap so two minis can pull at the same time.

Rollie's Wharf for dinner on Feb 15th?

[geowit]

Quote: Originally Posted by NHRef (original)

Agreed!

Calais is about 5 hours drive time from Portsmouth NH.

How about we meet at the state liquor store where Rt 95 and NH Rt 16 come together? In addition to booze, there's plenty of restuarants in the vicinity if anyone wants lunch.

Plan to meet in Portsmouth at 12:30 and leave by 1:00, getting us to Calais about 6?

Um-m-m, since I'm planning on having Rob ride shotgun, it looks like I'd have to leave at 5:30 AM to even have a shot at making that timetable. I definitely want to get there earlier than last time but it looks like I'll have a 2.5 hour drive just to Toms River, NJ. I would like to have some flex in the schedule if possible.

[Oldpaint]

Geowit,
Last time did you meet us in Portsmouth?
- my pictures from there aren't clear enough to see.

If you meet us at the Calais Motel late, just make sure to have dinner before you get anywhere near Calais.

NHref or MRK,
Where are we meeting MinorRoadsKill?

[MinorRoadsKill]

Quote: Originally Posted by Oldpaint (original)

Geowit,
Last time did you meet us in Portsmouth?
- my pictures from there aren't clear enough to see.

If you meet us at the Calais Motel late, just make sure to have dinner before you get anywhere near Calais.

NHref or MRK,
Where are we meeting MinorRoadsKill?

Good question. I may fly to Halifax, or drive to NH or ME in search of a MINI. Flying saves a day each way, but I've never been to NH.

Driving hinges on whether I put up my beloved '99 Accord for sale, which in turn depends upon whether I reel in a contract next week that requires traveling out of town more frequently in 2008.

[MinorRoadsKill]

Quote: Originally Posted by geowit (original)

Um-m-m, since I'm planning on having Rob ride shotgun, it looks like I'd have to leave at 5:30 AM to even have a shot at making that timetable. I definitely want to get there earlier than last time but it looks like I'll have a 2.5 hour drive just to Toms River, NJ. I would like to have some flex in the schedule if possible.

One benefit of staying in Calais is that (barring terrible weather) it buys us about 2.5 hours of potential activity time on Friday, which we could spend visiting the Bay of Fundy, or seeing something in one of the cities of Saint John or Moncton. [Saint John, NB is not to be confused with St. John's, NL, our ultimate destination]

For those who find Calais is too far a trip on Thursday, I would suggest trying instead to get to Bangor, about 2 hours short of Calais. This permits a later departure from your origin on Thursday, while still catching up with the pack somewhere in New Brunswick. The downside is that if the weather is really bad, you'll have to get an earlier start on the Friday.

MinorRoadsKill