EXPEDITION 51°: 46 Days - The Trans Quebec/Labrador Highway and Atlantic CANADA 2026

This Is US

 LOAFin Around & KANOE Tripping

KANOE Tripping... on the TESLIN and YUKON Rivers  2018

We periodically, share our travel posts to Facebook groups and some personal pages. Those posts are brief; just a few photos and some supporting text.

We also publish a blog, on our personal website. It covers the same travel period, but with a different audience in mind; you'll require an interest in how and where we travel, much more of your time and a favourite beverage.

This BLOG

Is presented as a journal and documents 46 days of slow, road-tripping. 

 It contains daily entries and personal observations, a large number of photographs, links to other information websites and includes our custom glossary (see end)  ... in short, it's very long. 

If you prefer a speedier experience ... skip all the text, click on any photo and scroll through the photo gallery miniatures that will appear on the bottom of the page ... or, go directly to our final photo gallery; here's a link.

All text and photography is by us, unless credited. We use the tag 'Stock Photo' and the 'Courier' font for other writer sources.

This Is LOAF 

A 2021 NORTHERN LITE 8-11 EX LE DB cabin On A 2011 FORD F350 Lariat 4x4 CC SB SRW truck

Keeping us safe, secure and comfortable, while we explore.

Together We're ... LOAFin Around

EXCURSION: NEW BRUNSWICK: Miscou Island, Kouchibouguac NP - "Running from Hurricane Lee"

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Our first post for this adventure ('A Road Trip Around QUEBECs' Beautiful GASPE PENINSULA'), documented travel for CAMPs 01 to 12. We're into the province of New Brunswick now; major stops at - Miscou Island and Kouchibouguac National Park. We had anticipated a much longer stay at Kouchibouguac NP and then a trip to Fundy NP; also for a lengthy stay. 

 Hurricane Lee changed all that ... we're on the run!  

If you prefer to see our complete photo gallery without reading our blog from this adventure, then go here or come back to the link later. 

And, as always, if you're interested in additional information or detail; click on any of the blue links we've provided.

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 OUR ROUTE 

___  Campbellton New Brunswick > Saint-Michel Quebec

8 days / 932.5 kilometres

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 JOURNAL

CAMPs 13 - 15

A BIG Bog & A Lighthouse

Route: Campbellton NB > Camping la Vague, Miscou NB 

Distance (cumulative / daily): 2007.3 + 250.3 + 53.6 = 2111.2 kms

We drove to the ends of all the roads (there aren't many) on Miscou Island; certainly not a difficult task - the island is only 18 kms long x 7 kms wide. Walked some of the Grande Plaine (the BIG bog) and visited the Miscou Island Lighthouse National Historic Site. We did get rained out near the end of our stay here.

SUN going down ...

Fishing for Atlantic salmon, sea (striper/striped) bass and (apparently) bluefin tuna. This fellow fished most of the time we were here and was also successful at foraging for wild mushrooms. He and his wife went for a long bath, swim and snorkel one day at the same spot ... I would have died!

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Out and About

Shippigan Harbour

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LA GRANDE PLAINE

 

Cover as much skin as possible, use copious amounts of bug spray, walk faster than your hiking partner (notice how I'm out front); run if you need to, pray for a strong breeze ... other than that it's a great walk!

There are 8 bogs on Miscou Island, all in their natural state and covering an area of 3,225 hectares (almost 8000 acres), which is almost 45% of the surface of the island.

Pitcher Plant

Bohemian Waxwing

Stock Photo

If you visit in mid (to late) October these will be the colours you'll see.

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MISCOU ISLAND LIGHTHOUSE 

Miscou Island Lighthouse National Historic Site

"The heritage value of Miscou Island Lighthouse lies in its critical and longstanding role as a lighthouse as embodied by the tower’s function, setting, and composition. In 1856, the lighthouse was constructed by the Province of New Brunswick to reduce the number of shipping accidents in the region. Subsequently, it became a major coastal aid, providing safe navigation for ships entering the Chaleur Bay and for coastal traffic between the Atlantic Provinces and Quebec." (Parks Canada)

Next 3 photos are taken from an 80 foot elevation on the top deck of the lighthouse.

Looking easterly ... good boondocking site!

There are some very good opportunities for dry camping / boondocking near the Miscou Island Lighthouse and north along the shoreline from there.

We always search out camping spots that offer activity based opportunities for us; walking, hiking, biking, paddling. These sites here at Miscou Island satisfy our particular criteria; there's privacy, beach walking, paddling opportunities, fishing ... and, you can safely have a campfire! 

Additionally, and in the case of this particular location, (a National Historical Site of Canada) ... if you do camp, visit here and pay the entrance fee to the site ($6/senior), you contribute to the upkeep and maintenance of one of Canada's important historical locations ... and that's a good thing ... EH!

Looking more easterly ...

Looking north-westerly ...

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Beach Walking 

I suspect there aren't many parts of the shoreline of Miscou Island where you cannot walk. This walk was in front of our campsite and we could still see forever in both directions when we ended and turned back.

Wild Asters

CAMPs 16 - 18

A   Short Stay this Trip

Route: Miscou Island NB > Site #306, South Kouchibouguac Campground, Kouchibouguac National Park NB 

Distance (cumulative / daily): 2111.2 + 212.1 + 16.8 = 2340.1 kms

We kept close to the coast and followed highway 11 most of the way today. At camp around 4pm, emptied and filled all tanks (black, grey, fresh, gas), lunch out, groceries.     

Heavy rain here but we were able to get in a few short walks thru the dunes (Barrier Islands) on our last day. We spent 9 days in Kouchibouguac NP in 2019 and we were able to hike all (but one) of the trails and cycle most of the paths; this is a wonderful park for both those activities. Fortunately for us; we've only booked 3 nights this time ... because! ... BIG storm coming our way! So, we're going to change plans and head inland instead of towards Fundy NP; that'll keep us out of the predicted path of hurricane Lee over the next few days.

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KOUCHIBOUGUAC NATIONAL PARK

Site #306

Salt Marsh Trail

Wild Asters

Great Blue Heron

Piping Plover

Common Merganser

What nice folks! We bumped into Conny and Simon a couple of times travelling around New Brunswick and finally got together for a campfire, snacks, drinks and of course ... an exchange of information regarding each of our countries. A Swiss couple, this is their 15th trip to Canada and they expect to return again in a couple of years. This time they arrived in May and will be returning their Class B Van in Halifax at the end of September and returning to Switzerland. I have a feeling we may see each other again.

' Journeymakers  are those people who elevate your travel experience with the passion and enthusiasm for the place they call home and for the interest and kindness they give you, the traveller. '

CAMP 19

 Escaping and Hiding from Hurricane LEE ... Today!

Route: Kouchibouguac NP NB > (backtracking northwest to) Miramichi > (west to) Grey Rock Casino, Edmunston NB

Distance (cumulative / daily): 2340.1 + 328.6 = 2668.7 kms

Fuel Economy: 19l/100kms; extremely rough (and sometimes slow, 40kms) drive along hwy 108, some mild grade, very little wind.

Change of Plan: "A tropical cyclone information statement has been issued across all three Maritime provinces and parts of Quebec, warning that the intense system is likely to bring heavy rain and wind in the days ahead. 

Western Nova Scotia and southern New Brunswick stand to see the most wind while western New Brunswick northward into parts of the Bas-St-Laurent and Gaspesie regions of Quebec are at risk of the heaviest rainfall.

High waves and elevated water levels will be more widespread due to the large size of the storm – the most impacted areas likely covering much of the Atlantic coast of mainland Nova Scotia and the Fundy coast of New Brunswick.”

CAMP 20

Back to Quebec 

Route: Edmunston NB > Camping Parc Saint-Michel, Saint-Michel-de-Bellechasse, QC 

Distance (cumulative / daily): 2668.7 + 271.1 = 2939.8 kms

Fuel Economy: 21.7l/100kms; head wind early on, massive road construction project on hwy. 85, some long grade changes

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Where To Next ? ... we're making our way to the Saguenay region of Quebec, another area where we have not spent much time.

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  We're LOAFin Around 

... follow along, if you like.

  

Refer to our Trip161 gallery for all the photography.

Cameras: Nikon Coolpix P610

 DSLR Canon EOS Rebel T8i

Unless noted, all content is by LOAFin Around. 

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Featuring: Cape Breton Highlands National Park & Meat Cove

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We were first on Cape Breton Island in 1996 (23 years ago) with Helen's parents. At that time, we were only here long enough for a quick drive around the Cabot Trail; we were on our way to Newfoundland. This was yet another beautiful region of Canada that they introduced us to ... thanks again, Mae and Earl.

EXPEDITION North of 60° 2018: CANADA "Driving to the Arctic Ocean"

This is our eighth drive on the DEMPSTER Highway 

It will be our first drive on the new INUVIK to TUKTOYAKTUK Highway

Engineers Creek

Helen's parents first introduced us to the Dempster Highway on a road trip in 1988. We were enamored with the landscape and remoteness of the region then and we still are today ... thanks Mae and Earl!  

DOWN UNDER: An Old Indian, Ancient Trees & A Sea Cave - To Curio Bay

' We Saw An Old Indian  & Some Really, Really, REALLY Old Trees '

We've come as far south as you can on mainland New Zealands' South Island ...

... and, Invercargill was just a town we had to drive through to get here. 

A brochure told us about this place, we needed groceries and supply and had the time to stop in. The World's Fastest Indian is on display at E Hayes Hardware Store . Remember the movie, starring Anthony Hopkins

For my riding friends ... Tom, Gerry, Gord, Bob, Rick, Mark, Don & Doug.
 

Fate Intervenes

DRIVING the DEMPSTER HIGHWAY

My brother Tom & his wife Peggy arrived in Whitehorse, from Ottawa on August 8th. They rented a truck camper and were planning on travelling around Yukon with us for a few weeks. That same night, our sister Lianne phoned to tell us that our mother in Ottawa had become critically ill. We were scheduled to be on the Dempster Highway August 11th or 12th. Because of our mother's poor health, we changed our travel plans, stayed near Whitehorse for a couple of days and arranged return flights to Ottawa on August 11th.

Had we begun that Dempster drive as originally intended, we wouldn't have made it back to Ottawa. We would have been stranded and isolated by a series of road closures; all caused by heavy rains and flood conditions that washed the road out in several locations along the first 275 kms or so. And, we would have probably missed our mothers' funeral ...

Sometimes fate intervenes; but in this case, I believe it was ... MOTHER.

Road closures along the Dempster on August 12th ... 

Homer

The sign reads 'Halibut Fishing Capital of the World'.

We spent four nights in the area. We had a mechanical issue with the Ford checked-out to our satisfaction, cycled along the Homer Spit and wandered around the harbour and marine graveyard there. The whole Kenai Peninsula is nick-named Alaska's Playground. If you're a 'Fisher of Any Stripe' you won't be disappointed in this region ... ' It Caters to You '. 
 

Less Stuff, More Life

My Favourite Direction is North

Well no, maybe I should have said ‘my favourite direction is remote’, instead. 

I haven’t been to the extreme southern latitudes, so I can’t really comment with any authority. I would probably like the southern tip of South America as much as I like the north of North America (NA). 

This current road trip through Labrador took us to North West River a few days ago; a small, fishing village at the junction of Grand Lake and Lake Melville. It’s the most northeasterly place in NA that you can drive to. Population a few hundred, small tidy homes, place smells like fish, old HBC outpost, it’s a friendly spot. Clarence, the resident town greeter informed me that he often relaxes by watching sea trout jump out along a nearby point at the towns' shoreline. Clarence is in his early 60's and has lived here all his life. He fished commercially for 25 years, worked janitorial duties in the local Grenfell Hospital, was stationed as an armed polar bear security guard in a government operated camp further up the Labrador coast at Nain and he is an authority on the history of the town.