Newfoundland

[jobythebay]

Hi we are planning a trip for about 5 weeks from MA. I've read the posts but have a couple of questions. I called and was told that we could stay in the MH with out dogs. If we take them out they have to be muzzled!! No way. They are wee wee pad trained when they can't go out so that isn't a problem. Anyone with experience with dogs?

Any info about phones? i.e do we need a special phone or plan to go to that part of Canada. BTW, we have done Nova Scotia, PEI, etc. and didn't want to come home!!

Any other tips would be great. We just got a Frommer's book out of the library - they are something like $24.00 to buy (: so I know we'll get info there but it's always better to hear from RVers. Thanks:W

[Little_Kopit]

TCH/Trans Canada Highway is mostly 100 km.

Others 80 km.

In spring after heavy ice in surrounding waters frost heaves will last longer, possibly into June.

People who live in Port aux Basques figure the drive to St. John's is 12 hours - that would be with 2 meals.

Now, when you drive back to the Port aux Basques ferry make sure to see different things en route.

:C

[jobythebay]

Thanks everyone. Well I have a definitive answer NO we cannot stay in the MH. So we think we will spend the extra 500 hours driving to go back and take the shorter ferry.

Having said that the roads: hubby is nervous (This is our first MH and we've only been on one trip and it was to FL.) re: TransCandada 1.

What kind of a road is this? We were in Ireland and if it is a narrow even one lane each way, I don't think he wants to drive it. Those roads were nuts even with a tiny car. So what is that road like. Thanks in advance.

[trailerbikecamp]

Check out NLcamping.com. You can book your sites ahead of time to make sure you get a site. Of course you will also have to plan ahead.

[JordanH]

Hope you have a great trip here, lots of beautiful sights to see! Terra Nova National Park is a nice place to visit, and it has lots of activities during the summer.

[bguy]

jobythebay wrote:

bguy wrote:
Passengers are not permitted on vehicle decks while the ferry is travelling. I don't think they would permit a crewmember to escort you. I've heard of people forgetting medicines and not permitted to retrieve them. This may have changed as the incident I referred to was quite awhile ago.

I totally know that. Our thought and what I thought she was telling me on the phone was that we don't have to get out of our motorhome.

Either she didn't understand what you were asking exactly or you misunderstood what she said. If it's a dialect issue an e-mail may garner a more exact understanding.

That being said, the new ferries have open vehicle decks so they may very well let you stay in your MH.

[soos]

we took the ferry last year. cat had to stay in the trailer, we could NOT. they do have kennels where u can board your dog if u want, but with very little visitation. also, you have to shut off your propane, so plan accordingly. we just put a couple of bags of ice in the refrig to maintain temperature. the ferry to Port Au Basque is much shorter and you can get a daytime passage. ferry to Argentia sails overnight.

[jobythebay]

bguy wrote:
Passengers are not permitted on vehicle decks while the ferry is travelling. I don't think they would permit a crewmember to escort you. I've heard of people forgetting medicines and not permitted to retrieve them. This may have changed as the incident I referred to was quite awhile ago.

I totally know that. Our thought and what I thought she was telling me on the phone was that we don't have to get out of our motorhome.

[bguy]

Passengers are not permitted on vehicle decks while the ferry is travelling. I don't think they would permit a crewmember to escort you. I've heard of people forgetting medicines and not permitted to retrieve them. This may have changed as the incident I referred to was quite awhile ago.

[jobythebay]

VTLee wrote:
I agree with the above. We went there in 2009 and are going back next month. The only time that your dog will need a muzzle is on the grounds of the ferry company. The person that I talked to on the phone said that we could also use a "Haltie" I would check with them as they are pretty strict with their rules.

I will have to call again because the woman I spoke to was really clear that we could stay in the mH with them.

[loulou57]

You have been given lots of great info.
Make sure you spend some quality time and get " screeched in"...
Enjoy your trip, folks will make her feel right at "ome"

[Little_Kopit]

Puppy pit stops either side of ferry.

In my time,
- Newfoundland a gravel pit on your right 25-35 km north of the ferry.

- Nova Scotia. At the very base of Kelly's Mountain, take a right on gravel road before bridge. There will be some place to pull over on that road.

:C

[VTLee]

I agree with the above. We went there in 2009 and are going back next month. The only time that your dog will need a muzzle is on the grounds of the ferry company. The person that I talked to on the phone said that we could also use a "Haltie" I would check with them as they are pretty strict with their rules.

[chiefneon]

Howdy!

We spent three and half months in Newfoundland last summer and had a great time. We took the short ferry both waysbecause of our pets. Our pets stayed in our 5er the entire time. They do not permit you to stay in your RV during the ferry crossing. We have Verizion service and our phones worked well much of the time there. We contacted Verizion before crossing into Canada and for I beleive $10.00 or $15.00 a month added 1000 minutes talk and unlimited text "NO DATA", we have a share plan. Data is expensive so be very careful with it in Canada. We used McDonalds, Tim Hortons, public library etc... for internet. Most of the Campground that say they have internet only have it in the office never at you RV site. We were able to get internet at the RV by using a WiFiRanger mobile signal booster.

"Happy Trails"
Chiefneon

[Little_Kopit]

I lived on Newfoundland for 24.5 years.

The ferries are new ships since I moved away in 2008. In my day your dogs could stay with your vehicle, you couldn't. If you take the shorter route you have two chances to see more of the island. Just see different places going each way.

You can buy a card for your cell phone at a convenience store. That can have prepaid options. If you use the one on the US plan likely you will get very expensive 'roaming' charges once in Canada. & given the sparsity of NL's population you may find towers far apart. Google up Telus Cell Phone and Rogers Cell Phone for comparisons of cell phone coverage.

This is a heavy ice year. Lots of ice will still be floating off NL shores in June. & probably frost heaves still in the roads too. Go to http://www.icebergfinder.com/ to find where bergs are.

Some suggested places:
- Codroy Valley
- Burgeo and islands
- St. Georges Bay
- Bay of Islands and Marble Mountain
- Bonne Bay, especially both visitors centres for Gros Morne National Park*
- Theatre Newfoundland & Labrador, especially for Cow Head, http://www.theatrenewfoundland.com/ Tempting Providence is about the area and ia world award winning play.
- L'anse aux Meadows Viking Village, world heritage site. & Norsted locally created Viking village.
- St. Anthony

- St. John's
- Cape St. Mary's Bird Sanctuary
- Trinity Pageant.

* As with Bay of Fundy, there are features of Gros Morne National Park which are 'one of a kind' for the planet.

Go to: Newfoundland and Labrador Tourism

Do all of your searches for Canada via the 'ca' domain option www.google.ca


Memorize this: http://www.roads.gov.nl.ca/cameras/ It has many very useful links while you are on your trip.

Have fun

:B

[accsys]

We frequently do a search at My Trip Journal when researching a trip to places we haven't been. Many other people have done this trip and wrote about it so seeing their comments can be useful.

The Newfoundland portion of our trip in 2010 starts here.