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Roadtrip through Eastern Canada sawtooth
sup /trv/

I'm planning on taking a 5-day road trip through eastern Canada (Ontario and Quebec) next month, but I know pretty much nothing about the region at all, other than it can get very remote and isolated in places. Attached is a rough breakdown of the route I'll be taking; I'll be flying out to Minneapolis and then driving back east through Canada. I live in Maine and I'm taking the trip as the second half of a cross-country road trip I did last September (flew to Seattle and drove back across the U.S. to Minneapolis then flew back home) and I'm trying to find some people with knowledge of the area/the route I'll be taking who can give me some tips on what to expect and what to see, etc.

Another thing is, I'm trying to take the trip at the peak of spring so that everything is blooming and green and alive instead of still being brown and dead from the winter. Where I am here in Maine everything is still very brown and dead and it usually remains this way until mid-May, even though most of the country south of here is in full spring by mid-April. Anyway, since most of this trip is going to be further north than where I am now, I'm trying to figure out about when the best time to go would be.

So, Ontariofags and Quebecfags (or other travelfags who are familiar with this area), help me out. What should I know about this part of the country, when is the best time to go (in the springtime), what in particular is there to see along this route, etc?
>> Anonymous
You left out Ottawa.

It's probably the nicest area in Ontario. Especially on the Québec side, Parc de la Gatineau, which looks especially nice in the spring and fall. Since you've picked such random locations, I don't know anything that would be of help...

You probably want to wait a bit going into northern ontario. Like, don't expect to go there in March/April. It'd probably still be cold with snow lying around.
>> sawtooth
>>23375

Well, I left out some of the places along the more traditional route because I've been to southern/central Quebec and Ontario several times before (particularly the Montreal and Ottawa areas) and am looking for something different and an area that I haven't traveled to already, etc

Also, I'm a nature and wildlife photographer, and from what I understand there is plenty of both in northern Ontario and Quebec, so that's another reason to go that route.

And yeah, I was planning on going in either May or June because I figured there would still be plenty of snow around before then and everything would just be either cold and frozen still or brown and muddy while it thaws, and I want to go after both of those periods are over but also before the summer wave hits.
>> Anonymous
Well, there's all sorts of small communities, but it's mostly a "pack your bags and just drive" sort of situation... Other than the "X's largest Y" type places, there's not all that much to see other than wildlife, and to find wildlife you need to explore. :)
>> Anonymous
Why don't you take a rustic trek through western Canada, and have a real adventure.
>> sawtooth
>>23401

That's next on my to-see list.
>> Anonymous
>>23368
I live in Maine too and plan on doing the same thing exept by bus starting from Montreal. Thought about taking a bus to Montreal, Quebec City then to Halifax, all by Bus. Then Take the Cat back from Nova Scotia.

Just Remember in Quebec they speak French.
>> Anonymous
>>23424

Yeah, some of the communities along the route you'll taking in Ontario are francophone as well; expect to see and hear a lot of French throughout the whole trip. Also expect to see things measured in kilometers instead of miles, and have Canadian money handy.

Not sure about the Spring thing, though; I've seen interactive maps of certain areas in North America that show you when the peak of Fall and when there's the most foliage, but I've never seen anything like that for other seasons; maybe someone else will know more.
>> Anonymous
>>23424
Also remember that the chicks in bars in Quebec are not necessarily legal to fuck.
>> Anonymous
>>23378
I think the mosquitoes can be rather bad in the north at that time of year. If that concerns you, August would probably be preferable.

>>23865
Age of consent = 16
Drinking age = 18

Therefore, they should be fuckable.
>> Anonymous
>>24011Therefore, they should be fuckable.
Take it from someone from a bordering provence. I would never call girls there "fuckable" unless you like hard booze.
>> Anonymous
>>24021
I am golden then!
>> Anonymous
another mainefag here....

who flies out of augusta?? lulz

portland ftw!
>> Anonymous
too bad you are not going to PEI, they have coke in glass bottles there (cans are illegal)
>> Anonymous
>>24034
It would be so much less expensive to drive from Augusta to Portland. Hell, I drive from Brunswick to Manchester or Boston to save money. It is 200 dollars less to fly from Boston to Minneapolis than from Augusta. save 5 hours too. I just looked it up.
>> Anonymous
>>24049
And delicious mussels!
>> Anonymous
>>24011
If fuckable girls are what you're going for, then extend that trip a bit farther to Nova Scotia
Age of consent is 14, so you're EXTREMELY unlikely to end up in a "LOL TEE HEE I'M UNDERAGE BTW" scenario also there's a surprisingly large proportion of hot chicks around.
>> sawtooth
OP here:

>>23865
>>24096

Fuckable girls = really not what I'm looking for or expecting on this trip. And since when are there girls under the age of consent (15 and under) in bars, even in Canada? And I've been to Nova Scotia four times already, usually via The Cat, so I'll save another trip there for another time, even if the age of consent there IS 14.

>>24034
>>24054

I'm not flying out of Augusta, that's where I'm returning the rental car to at the end of the trip. I'm flying out of Manchester, New Hampshire, arriving in Minneapolis, renting a car and driving back across Canada. The map shows the trip back, not the trip out there. In fact, I didn't even know there was a legitimate airport in Augusta to begin with.

>>24049
>>24055

Never been, but I'd like to visit all the Canadian provinces in the next few years (already got down Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador) so I'm sure I'll end up there sooner or later.

>>24011

Well, where I live in Maine the mosquitoes don't usually come out until halfway through summer...the big problem is the black flies. But even then, I don't think they come out until late June. I'm not so much concerned about the mosquitoes as I am about timing the trip wrong and getting up there to find everything still dead, cold and brown from the winter or going too late and finding everything hot, humid and full of summer tourists. I'm thinking either May 14 - 18 or May 22 - 26, but I could push it back later if necessary.
>> Anonymous
Current weather conditions for some of the towns you're going to be going through: (April 25th, 2008, 8:04PM)

Minneapolis, MN = 39°F, raining

International Falls, MN = 30°F, snowing

Thunder Bay, ON = 41°F, snowing

Hearst, ON = 28°F, snowing

Timmins, ON = 50°F, raining

Val-D'Or, QC = 59°F, overcast

Chibougamau, QC = 51°F, cloudy

Chicoutimi, QC = 50°F, cloudy

Quebec City, QC = 46°F, partly cloudy

---
Just based on those temperatures and some of the current winter weather conditions in some of those towns, I'd give it more than 2 weeks before you do the trip if you want to avoid snow, frozen ground and brown and dead landscapes from the early thaw. That being said, I'm not sure when the ideal time to go would be if you want to hit it right in the peak of springtime there, but I'd say late May/early June would be a good bet. However, I'm not from the area so I have no idea what it's like there this time of year or over the next few months, so don't put too much stock into my opinion.
>> sawtooth
OP here once more;
Does anyone know of a number or e-mail or anything for any sort of travel or information services on northern Ontario/Quebec?
I've found this site describing travel and various things to see and do in northern Ontario, but no number:
http://www.northernontario.org/

I'm trying to get a hold of a live person to talk to who either lives in or is familiar with the area. Halp?
>> Anonymous
>>24486
Have you tried the CAA? (Canadian Automobile Association) One of the things they do is plan out road trips. If you're a AAA member maybe they can help? Check out the old town, port, and st catherine street in montreal, the old town and castle in quebec. There's a bunch of quaint villages along the st laurence. If you haven't seen the niagara falls or gone up the space needle, you should check those out.
>> Anonymous
>>23414
In Western Canada, go to the south. See the Cypress Hills (only if forced to drive through the shithole that is SK), Waterton Lake International Park, Jasper, the Rockies, etc.

Just thought I'd put that out there ahead of time.
>> Anonymous
>24034 here

>>24054obv didn't know what i was saying
there is an airport in augusta dudes
but augusta is a shithole, amirite??

btw, i work for a car rental company...i don't know if you have already booked your rental car, but don't expect it to be cheap if you plan to pick up in minneapolis, travel to canada and drop in fucking augusta lmao...i'd guess you will pay $300-$500 just for the drop charge, good luck anyway

ps where in maine does OP live?
me, portland obv
>> Anonymous
When you're going through Quebec (and ontario too) try some of the microbrews. Unibroue has good beers. Boreale has pretty tasty beers too, though I hear they give you a nasty hangover. I've never drank that much boreale, so whatever.

My favourite beer is from Quebec and it is McAuslan Oatmeal Stout, drink it, it is great.
>> sawtooth
>>24493

OP here;
I'm about an hour and a half north of Portland, outside of Augusta/Waterville.

And I already did the rental car thing once with my first trip; I flew out to Seattle, rented a car there, drove it back through 3 national parks and all kinds of other places to Minneapolis and returned it, then flew back. The rental ended up being fairly cheap in comparison with the plane ticket and the rest of the travel expenses, but that's probably because I didn't buy the plane ticket until 6 days beforehand.

Also, I'll try the CAA. I'm an AAA member, so that should be enough for them to help me.

Thanks for all the tips/advice to all the above posters btw, and keep it coming if anyone knows anything more about the area.
>> Anonymous
>>24600

OP are you from Winslow or Wtvl??
>> Anonymous
>>24493
Augusta has an airport. Mostly private planes but U.S. Air does have flights from there.

http://www.augustaairport.org/index.html

I think it only flies to Boston and Rockland. Yes, Rockland has a small shitty airport too.

Also Yes, Augusta is a shithole.
>> Anonymous
Wait until June.
>> sawtooth
>>24606

OP here;
Neither, I'm from Vassalboro.

>>24838

This is what I'm thinking as well. I'm thinking maybe June 4th - 8th or somewhere around then. Let me know if this is too late/early, though.
>> Anonymous
>>25528
>Vassalboro.

I'm sorry. Everyone I met from there have been total fags.
>> Anonymous
>>25528

OP where did you go to high school then?

i'm from winslow (class of 2002) although i now live in portland...just curious as to where another mainefag is from

maybe we know each other
>> sawtooth
>>25529

>Vassalboro.

>I'm sorry. Everyone I met from there have been total fags.

Well, if it helps, I didn't grow up in Vassalboro, I just moved here at the end of 2003. I grew up in Albion but went to school in China (the town).

>>25532

I went to high school at Erskine Academy in China but left halfway through the sophomore year to be home schooled through the rest of high school because I couldn't stand that place and wasn't getting anything out of it.
I knew a few people from Winslow High School and also Waterville High but I don't think any of them were from the 02 graduating year. I could be wrong, though.