If you have a question you don't see here, feel free to ask.
General Questions
Where are we going in 2007?
Churchill Falls, hydro-electric company town in the middle of Labrador.
See the route maps.
When are we going?
Thursday, February 15 to Tuesday, February 20. It's the President's Day Weekend in the US. See the itinerary.
Who are we?
A bunch of MINI owners and their co-driver and/or passenger. You do not have to go in a MINI, but it is encouraged.
Why Labrador, and why in February?
Why not?
What Should I Bring?
We have The List.
How much will it cost?
Well, it's cheaper if you don't flip your vehicle, that's for sure. See budget estimates.
Other Questions
Will my cell phone work on this trip?
Maybe. See Detailed Cell Phone Coverage and Maps
Where will we be staying?
| Night | Location | Lodging |
|---|---|---|
| Thursday (Feb 15) | Vieux Quebec, QC | Auberge de la Place D'Armes |
| Friday (Feb 16) | Baie-Comeau, QC | Hotel Le Manoir |
| Saturday (Feb 17) | Churchill Falls, NL | Churchill Falls Inn |
| Sunday (Feb 18) | Churchill Falls, NL | Churchill Falls Inn |
| Monday (Feb 19) | Matane, QC | Quality Inn Matane |
Ferry? What ferry?
We will be taking 2 ferries on this trip.
The first ferry crosses the Saguenay River and fjord at Tadoussac, between Quebec City and Montreal. It is free and runs constantly, often on demand. We will use this ferry on Friday. If for some reason it is not operating, the Saguenay is crossed 100 miles upriver at the city of Saguenay.
The second ferry crosses the St. Lawrence, between Baie-Comeau and Matane, QC. It costs about $30/car and $13/passenger, and most days departs around 5pm on a 2h20min sailing. If we miss the boat, we will have to go upriver to Quebec City, some 6 hours away. In this event, we will likely stay overnight in Tadoussac, and reach Quebec City the following morniing.
US/Canada Border Issues / Travelling in Canada
To cross the Canada/US border, it is best bring a passport, if you have one, although it is not required.. Proof of citizenship will do if you do not have a passport. (birth certificate, residency card, etc). Note that a driver's license will not get you across the border any more. If you don't have a passport, consider getting one.
See this page for info on what you can bring into Canada and return to the US in terms of duty free liquor, tobacco and other products.
Possession of handguns is largely illegal in Canada, and bringing them across the border is definitely out.. Radar detectors are also illegal in some provinces, including Quebec.
The unit of currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD, or C$), but USD are accepted at many merchants at horrible exchange rates. Save your money, get C$ using ATMs, which are ubiquitous.