Driving home from work this evening I had a fresh idea...driving in NY/NJ during rush hour sucks. Not very challenging, hot, humid, too much traffic and, horror of horrors, I have been passing MINIs lately that don't wave! (Can you imagine that?)
So I thought, what better way to remedy this then another ROAD TRIP
That was the fall. It was very colorful, and just a tad cold. Now, I am thinking FEBRUARY, 2004.
Anyone want to come along? As of yet (4 hours into this plan) the details are, eh, sketchy. I thought Feb so I can bring my son as a co-pilot (school vacation.) We can do a long weekend (my last trip was just over 60 hours), maybe take 5 days and not do the same roads twice (ie, return another way), actually CAMP (there's a novel idea), or, I'm open.
This place should be outrageous this time of year. The road is plowed and maintained, but I would imagine there would be 6-8 feet of snow to drive through.
I was giving serious thought to the ALCAN 5000 this winter but work prevented that. This idea really excites me.
If you are remotely interested, that's ok, you are normal. Here are a few sites. http://jamesbayroad.com/
Now I know that isn't a commitment that's firm, but if even several of us thought it doable, well, CodFather, watch out! This could be the next big East Coast event!
Anyone else interested, even in passing?
I've emailed the town up there for more information. So, step up to the plate. Let's get a MINI caravan
And oh, I forgot, when there is no snow, there is, for all intents and purposes, NO SPEED LIMIT! The police radios don't work, so they don't go there. 650 km of full throttle. Just watch the frost heaves. They will send you airtborne.
Yeah but you got to take into account that the Mini has got about a 600Km with +/-50Km range. So at speed we eat up more gas, also in the summer, the bugs are horible. We may have to have support vehicles with us with Gas Cans just in case. Also at those gas stations expect to pay a good amount, and at some places credit cards might not be taken. This is something that is do able, but got to be planned.
Winslow
1996 Discovery Series 1 SD - 2" lift
2005 Discovery Series 3 (LR3) SE V8
a) it is VERY doable. See my site for my last trip.
b) there is civilation all the way to Matagami, and a little past that actually. We showed up after midnight and still filled the tank.
In fact, for those interested, you pass thru Quebec's gold mining region, as well as the ski areas. Gas all the way.
c) half way up the James Bay Rd is civilation. Food, gas, Cree Indians:
A company gas, I think truckers lodging, and a restaurant, etc. There is gas at the other end too. This is the top of the road:
It's in the middle that there is naught.I recall the gas not being overly more expensive. Company town, so they zing the works a bit, but they don;t screw them.
d) good old American coin of the realm is taken everywhere. Oh, and cash too.
I would do this road trip, but not in February. You guys may like snow and exteme cold, but remember the Donner Party and those dudes in the Andes. Choose a more reasonable time of the year and I could be in! How about this fall or maybe an MOT2005 warm-up? If you do go in February, have fun!
1) this is a relatively VERY traveled road. There is only one way to get to the power plants, and that is this road. In fact, when I got to the mid way stop, I was very surprised at how many people where there. So, it's not like we would drive off the road and 10 days later eat each other...
2) I REALLY wanted to do ALCAN. Timing at work prevented it but I am still, to this day, upset at missing the winter run.
I was thinking of starting Friday, and maybe wrapping things up Monday of Presidents week. That would be one day off from work for those who had a time contraint. Two if it ran late and we got home Tuesday. Again, EVERYTHING is tentative since so far it's just me!
Paul, I do have to tell you that winter should be totally different than non-snow driving there. Driving on dry road was a blast as it is basically speed-limitless, and the occassion frost heave ads a touch of excitement you just don't get down here in the states
The trip will be an event you will remember all your life.
Thinks about changing your mind. People (a lot of them) live up there. It's not like we'd be blazing the trail to Thule!
Feb is good as Winter is winding down, and it is before Mud and Bug season. Also, lets keep this away from MOT, as that is a separate Beast. As this is not something we can have 100+ cars to do. This is for a few nuts who don't know any better to go out an have a good time and put a few thousand miles on their Minis in the span of a couple days in the Canadian Wilds at the end of Winter.
Winslow
1996 Discovery Series 1 SD - 2" lift
2005 Discovery Series 3 (LR3) SE V8
You would be surprised to find that sometimes we get more snow than they do up there. Has to do with the Jet Stream and what it brings to us. The one thing to really expect is COLD COLD COLD weather. Being 1000 Miles closer to the Artic Circle makes things just that much colder (Remembers subzero temps on our scale in Edmonton, AB, Canada in December) We will need to be prepaired for below zero temps and high wind chills. Not going to saying that is going to happen but if your prepaired for it the better things will go. And even if a snow storm blows in this road has to be open so there will be plow trucks out there.
Winslow
1996 Discovery Series 1 SD - 2" lift
2005 Discovery Series 3 (LR3) SE V8
Cold is good. We used to vacation in Feb. in northern Maine, up on the Golden Road north of Greenville. Typical mornings were 10-20 below, which made for a brisk walk to the outhouse by the cabins (really).
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Here are a few sites. 
