Tour du Nord IV - February 2008

[NoNo]

We don't have to learn Irish dancing, do we? I'm pretty sure that's grounds for disownment in my family.

[uptick]

We can do Irish Car Bombs.

[MinorRoadsKill]

Been away from the computer for 2 weeks, but now recovering. I'd like to say the interlude was spent enjoying the new babe, but instead I've been busy entertaining the stream of encamped friends and family (in-laws finally left today...).

It's like we just got through a successful Christmas, so someone decided that we needed a sequel that is twice as long.

Anyway, I'm still undecided on whether to fly or drive to a rendezvous. Flights cost twice as much as two years ago, thanks to less competition, fuel costs, more security theatre, etc.. I would prefer to drive to NH and fly back home, but somehow it doesn't work that way.

Budget: Yes, this will be more expensive than 2006. The most important factor by far is that the US$ is worth almost 20% less. Also, fuel prices are higher than at any time except briefly post-Katrina. It's just under $1/L here in Ottawa ($3.70/gal), which means about $1.10 in the Maritimes and $1.20 in Newfoundland. By my calcs (C$1 = US$0.98, 1USgal = 3.78L), that makes for about:

US$4.25 / gallon.

And that's for regular. Not quite Europe, but half-way there, in more ways than one.

A couple lurkers have thanked me for posting budgets for previous years. arcticmini.com, so I'll try to update that soon for 2008.

With all the co-pilots disappearing, participation this year appears to be hitting a new low. Fortunately, many new people have expressed interest in going in 2009, which is promising. Hopefully, they'll convert into actual trip-goers. I'd hate to see participation dwindle any further.

[NoNo]

Stop trying to guilt me!

[Oldpaint]

Quote: Originally Posted by NoNo (original)

Stop trying to guilt me!

That's why I haven't suggested that you get The Cod to raise money for you, he seems good at it.

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In other news I purchased a second tow strap so we can use 2 cars to pull out anyone who gets stuck. Don't forget your tow eyes.

I finally had some good results uploading kml files to google maps!! I still want to experiment further with the log settings so I can reduce the file size to accommodate the whole trip. As things are now I can have about 2,000 miles worth on google maps (rough estimate).

[Cape Cod MINI]

Quote: Originally Posted by Oldpaint (original)

That's why I haven't suggested that you get The Cod to raise money for you, he seems good at it.

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.

True. But I only fund raise for worthy causes.

[NHRef]

Quote: Originally Posted by MinorRoadsKill (original)

Been away from the computer for 2 weeks, but now recovering. I'd like to say the interlude was spent enjoying the new babe, but instead I've been busy entertaining the stream of encamped friends and family (in-laws finally left today...).

8>< snip

Anyway, I'm still undecided on whether to fly or drive to a rendezvous. Flights cost twice as much as two years ago, thanks to less competition, fuel costs, more security theatre, etc.. I would prefer to drive to NH and fly back home, but somehow it doesn't work that way.

8>< snip

From the time of the post, I thought the little one's been keeping you up!

When you say drive to NH, in whose car and to what town/city?

[NoNo]

Quote: Originally Posted by Cape Cod MINI (original)

True. But I only fund raise for worthy causes.

Who invited you in here? And what's more worthy than shipping me off to the Great White North for a rematch with my nemesis, the Smallwood? Don't you want the chance of me barfing into a paper bag again?

[uptick]

Quote: Originally Posted by Oldpaint (original)

That's why I haven't suggested that you get The Cod to raise money for you, he seems good at it.

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In other news I purchased a second tow strap so we can use 2 cars to pull out anyone............

Maybe we should use that second STRAP to tow-hook NoNo along.

[NHRef]

Folks,

PM me with your MINIs make and year so I can approach MOP about a few spares, "just in case."

Do we need more tow straps?

[AntiqueCarNut]

Folks:

I cannot tell you how disappointed I am, that I cannot partake in the adventure, this year. Maybe next year.

Now - you've gotta check this out... You think you're roughing it in your MINI? Nah...

Trans Labrador Highway, Winter 2008 - ADVrider

We really lucked out last year. This guy wakes up in Lab City and it was -55°C, that's -61°F. Yikes!!!

[AntiqueCarNut]

Hey, y'all:

If there's anything from last year that I can loan you for the trip, just say the word.

Check out the list of stuff that I brought - Pete has the link to last year's spreadsheet. Tools, Cruisecam video mount, whatever...

[MinorRoadsKill]

Quote: Originally Posted by NHRef (original)

From the time of the post, I thought the little one's been keeping you up!

When you say drive to NH, in whose car and to what town/city?

Mine.

I figured my car could provide snow-shade for a driveway with a missing MINI.

Alternatively, I could go straight to Calais and see about leaving my car at the Inn. The direct route is quite a bit shorter, and on smaller roads (mixed benefit in winter).

Check out my nearly-due-east route to Calais, and then imagine the big V required to dip several degrees of lattitude to Manchester. Yet the route through Manchester only adds 2 hours of driving. Freeways are impressive.

from: 129 Cavanagh Dr, Carp, ON, Canada to: Calais Motor Inn, Calais, ME - Google Maps

[NHRef]

Quote: Originally Posted by MinorRoadsKill (original)

Mine.

I figured my car could provide snow-shade for a driveway with a missing MINI.

Alternatively, I could go straight to Calais and see about leaving my car at the Inn. The direct route is quite a bit shorter, and on smaller roads (mixed benefit in winter).

Check out my nearly-due-east route to Calais, and then imagine the big V required to dip several degrees of lattitude to Manchester. Yet the route through Manchester only adds 2 hours of driving. Freeways are impressive.

from: 129 Cavanagh Dr, Carp, ON, Canada to: Calais Motor Inn, Calais, ME - Google Maps

Well, you're certainly welcome to leave the car at my place in Milford NH, about 30 minutes west of Manchester NH.

Google indicates that a drive from your place to Calais ME by way of Portsmouth NH is 12 hour 15 mins (excluding a side trip to Milford)

from:129 Cavanagh Dr, Carp, ON, Canada to:I-95 N @43.070463, -70.786448 to:45.179133,-67.2789 - Google Maps

[MinorRoadsKill]

Quote: Originally Posted by NHRef (original)

Well, you're certainly welcome to leave the car at my place in Milford NH, about 30 minutes west of Manchester NH.

Google indicates that a drive from your place to Calais ME by way of Portsmouth NH is 12 hour 15 mins (excluding a side trip to Milford)

Exactly. Only 2 hours extra, despite the big dip south. All thanks to faster roads (and Google's major handicapping of secondary highways).

The more I think about it, the less interested I am in flying, despite the fact that it decreases time away from the family. Murphy's Law says that if I fly, the weather will be bad and I would miss the rendezvous again. If I drive, the weather will be perfect. So, it's much better if I drive.

The offer of a parking space is appreciated. On second thought though, leaving my car in NH means having to take the long way home, and spending the extra day doing the return leg.

Instead, I could route outbound through Calais but park my car in Moncton., the first place that I could branch off during the return trip. Taking the TCH home from Moncton saves me a couple more hours beyond the so-called Atlantica shortcut (linked in my last post), thanks to the Fall 2007 completion of the TCH freeway through NB. Indeed, the freeway completion now makes the Atlantica shortcut a bit of an oxymoron.

Alternatively, if I plan to take the Atlantica shortcut home, I could leave the car earlier, in Bangor or Calais. I'm assuming that there aren't any legal or insurance issues with me leaving my car in another country while I return to Canada.

In either case, the outbound option of dipping south via NH remains, although I admit that since it requires a very early morning start, I'm less likely to bother.