Newfoundland, Argentia or Port aux Basques

[gwwing2]

Just getting some thoughts on suggestions on travel to NFL mid September. Could be 6 or 14 hours to get to the island from North Sydney and about $300 difference of Port aux Basques vs Argentia. I plan on visiting the former US base at Argentia either way. I will be taking the RV (much to the relief of my wife!) instead of the motorcycle. It will be a solo trip. Don't think she likes the thought of Reno, Nevada to NFL and back. Not sure why? 🙂 Also thinking about making the run to France (St Pierre Island) but heard I could be insulted anywhere in the US as there, and at a cheaper rate. Usually have had great experiences wherever I go (except for return from serving in Vietnam and our friendly Jane Fonda US residents) I am really excited about making the run to NFL and know it will be great! Have been researching so much my eyes are crossing. Guess when you get closer to 100 than 40 years old that could happen. Anyway suggestions and thoughts are welcome.

Thanks

[dcason]

Please tell wife she is missing out on a great adventure...Especially since it will be via motorhome and not sitting on a motorcycle for all that time. I sincerely doubt she would regret going!

We do the Port-aux-Basques ferry since I don't really want to be on a ferry for that many hours...the 6+ is long enough. If you are pressed for time maybe it makes sense/cents?
Our explorations are planned and spaced along TCH1 so we are not driving uberlong distances each day.
Donna
We go every two years and boondocks much of the time.
PS We have considered going to "France" at a future time just need to research it more...highly recommended by one of the lighthouse keepers we talked to.

[trailerbikecamp]

Check the Argentia ferry run, it ends sometime in September. You may find that your decision is made for you, deoending on your dates. My parents were here summer of '14 for a minth and both said it wasn't long enough.

There will still be lots to see, but many parks will be closed, so you may end up boondocking, but there are lots of places to pull off.

I have lived here fir about 6yrs near the east coast. Enjoy your trip. If you need any ideas about where to go send a message, i'll help where I can.

[alfredmay]

Make sure you go to Gander and see the Silent Witness Memorial to the American soldiers who died there in a plane crash.

Fred
Alpha 16 Actual
1-506 Infantry, 101 Airborne Div
Vietnam

[junmy3]

DW and I went to Newfoundland and Labrador in 2013. It is probably the best trip we ever had. We took the short ferry over so we could visit Labrador and western Newfoundland. The long ferry was down so we were planning the trip back after visiting eastern Newfoundland. While on the eastern side the ferry started to run again. We decided to take it even though for us it was more expensive than driving back to Port aux Basques. We enjoyed it, however we did not have rough seas. Whatever you decide you should have a great trip.

[NCWriter]

Short ferry both ways.

Even though it is a big island, it doesn't take all that long to drive back across since the highway is good. Just heed all the warnings seriously about moose on the roads.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

We spent the Summer in Newfoundland three years ago and it was one of the best trips we have had as fulltimer's. We stayed until mid September as some of the RV places start to close down. We also talked to the folks that summer there ever year and they advised to leave then as its can start to get cold after that (snow and ice). Make sure you bring some warm close as the weather can change quickly any time of the year up there.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

[Tripalot]

We have been to NL a few times. Once we did the long ferry and said never again!
As pointed out by someone else, if the seas are rough - it is a long boat ride!

There is a lot to see while crossing the province. Exploring the various penninsulas is the way to do it. You will be going rather late in the season which is unfortunate as you probably will not see any icebergs. I would also check ahead of time to see if any of the tourist attractions you are interested in are still open.

It is too bad your wife does not want to go with you - a decision she may regret after hearing of your experiences. Would she consider driving one way and fly the other. Maybe she could meet you in St. John's, Cornerbrook or Gander and then drive back home with you. I have never met anyone who has not enjoyed going to NL.
Allow as much time there as you possibly can as it is a big province and there is lots to see/do.

[Crowe]

With us it was the time factor and less risk of long duration bad seas.

[The_Texan]

gwwing2 wrote:
Just getting some thoughts on suggestions on travel to NFL mid September. Could be 6 or 14 hours to get to the island from North Sydney and about $300 difference of Port aux Basques vs Argentia. I plan on visiting the former US base at Argentia either way. I will be taking the RV (much to the relief of my wife!) instead of the motorcycle. It will be a solo trip. Don't think she likes the thought of Reno, Nevada to NFL and back. Not sure why? 🙂 Also thinking about making the run to France (St Pierre Island) but heard I could be insulted anywhere in the US as there, and at a cheaper rate. Usually have had great experiences wherever I go (except for return from serving in Vietnam and our friendly Jane Fonda US residents) I am really excited about making the run to NFL and know it will be great! Have been researching so much my eyes are crossing. Guess when you get closer to 100 than 40 years old that could happen. Anyway suggestions and thoughts are welcome.

Thanks

If this is your first visit to NS Argentia since your VN days, you are in for a huge surprise, it doesn't exist. There are a couple of the buildings left but it is now a civilian town and just like Placentia. Enjoy your trip down memory lane.

[Veebyes]

Ferry rates, as you know, are charged by the foot. We did the short ferry route each way this summer. Did the math & even with extra fuel & time, which we had plenty of, Port aux Basques each way came out much cheaper.

[Little_Kopit]

A. The name of the province is officially Newfoundland and Labrador with the official abbreviation of NL.

& BTW I lived there for 24.5 years.

You see more, meet more people by taking the shorter ferry route.

:C

[Seamutt]

We spent five weeks traveling Newfoundland west to east with a trip over to Labrador. Ferry to Labrador very cheap.

Instead of a fast trip back to Port aux Basques from St. Johns considering fuel burn decided return from Argentia would not cost much more. But length of time you want spend on the ferry is a consideration, 6 vs 14 hours.