Gaspe trip part deux...

bevans6 · September 21, 2014, 04:18:46 PM

We finished up our Gaspe trip and are on the way home. I went back to Pierce in the car to look at that road again, the hill out of town is 17% with a 25 mph speed limit at the start so you can't even take a run at it! Amazing.

We carried on, I did around 600km today, in a little over 10 hours of driving time, so the average speed was around 40 mph. That gives you an idea of the road - twisty, hilly, I spent more time in second gear than I ever have before, but the views were amazing. Leaves are turning but the succession of one fishing village after the other was inspiring.

My quest to find gravesites of my forebears was a bust, didn't find one. In fact didn't find many grave markers that were older than around 1880, which led us to think that maybe the old churches fell down and they built new ones slightly down the road... Regardless, walked the same ground and looked at the same sights as they would have seen.

Once in a lifetime trip. You do it once, you enjoy it and you know that you would never ever do it again. Beautiful to look at, crap food, no place to stop on the side of the road to take a break or a nap, seriously hard driving. Be home tomorrow. Ashamed of myself, I decided to take the main highway back - done with 12% grades and two lane roads that should have been resurfaced a decade ago.

Cheers, Brian

John316 · September 22, 2014, 05:06:35 AM

Brian,

That sounds like it was really something. I am not a fan of back roads in a bus. I will literally drive an extra hour, or two, to get to a highway. It always feels like it is still faster then the back roads, little town, slow moving vehicles, etc (unless I am out west, then it is all good).

I am glad you were able to take the trip. At least you have been there, and looked for the graves. The colors would be pretty. At least, we have a few more weeks before our fall hits.

Thanks for the report.

John

Oonrahnjay · September 22, 2014, 05:40:16 AM

Leaves were turning? What were typical daytime and evening temps like (and are these usual for this time of year)? My accordéon teacher grew up in Matane and I've wanted to go to Gaspé for a long time. I love the Côte du Sud along the Grand Flueve (QC/Levis past Montmagny to Rimouski) -- out in Maritime Gaspé must be amazing.
What was your route up? Monkton, Bathurst, Campbellton, and then coast road to Gaspé city and Forillon? What was your route coming home?
Great trip, keep the reports coming please. Any photos?

Ed Hackenbruch · September 22, 2014, 06:37:02 AM

Leaves are starting to turn in Montana......we have had frost a few times in the last 10-12 days. Once in Billings, once or twice in Helena, and twice now in Dillon.

uncle ned · September 22, 2014, 06:47:06 AM

Rode up to my beloved Blue Ridge Parkway yesterday evening. the leaves are taking on their fal look. not truly turning but you can tell it is coming. look for a early fall here.

The rally at palmetto cove rally will be right in the middle of the fall show. Look forward to seeing all there.

ed if you hurry you might make it.

uncle ned

Boomer · September 22, 2014, 08:22:46 AM

That's a trip we want to take, Brian. We have relatives in Tatamagouche and Truro, who knows maybe we are related. Several years ago, went to the International Gathering of the Clans and the relation took us all around to the cemeteries. I think our Scots came to NS in the 1700's. Beautiful province and great people. We will be traveling there in our bus in the future.

bevans6 · September 22, 2014, 11:54:55 AM

Boomer, if you come to Tatamagouche (who are your relatives, btw, I bet I know them, or my wife knows them, or we know someone who knows them) I have a powered parking spot for you. "My Scots" came to Toronto in around 1905 or 1910 or so, my mother's family is the branch that came to Gaspe in around 1775 or thereabouts.

Oonrohnjay, that was about our trip up, as you stated. Coming back we just carried on counter-clockwise, turned left at Matane and down to Campbellton, then Rte 17 to pick up Highway 2. Highway 2 is the main "Interstate" in New Brunswick, it runs down about 20 miles or less off the border of Maine.

Good trip, but yesterday and today both had high winds, various bridges were closed, some unintended lane changes happened. My air assist clutch seems to asking for some attention, glad I installed the turbo 8V-71, it was 4th gear all the way except for towns, and towns were third gear. MJy trans won't shift reliably without the double clutch, and I was saving that for stop signs and traffic lights...

Brian

Oonrahnjay · September 22, 2014, 12:52:39 PM

Sounds like a great - but "interesting" - trip. Hope the air assisted clutch is in fine fettle soon.

Boomer · September 22, 2014, 08:18:00 PM

Brian, we will take you up on that! We are part of the Matheson Clan (mother's side). Sure do like Nova Scotia.

Ed Hackenbruch · September 22, 2014, 09:09:13 PM

Ned, i barely have enough money left to get us back to Yuma for the winter. By the way, after you left the rally i took the wife up the hill to look at the view but the Chapel was closed again for some function so we never got to see it.

uncle ned · September 23, 2014, 05:12:22 AM

Ed still hearing rumors of another Blythville rally. May get to meet then.

I will check at the rally in october ,on the chapel and get you a picture.

Hope to meet up again sometime.

uncle ned

Ed Hackenbruch · September 23, 2014, 06:58:26 AM

Ned, would love to do Blytheville again but may have to curtail our travel next summer. Since we had to cut our trip short this summer and didn't make it to Wa. and Or. we kind of have to focus on getting there next summer and visiting with family that we haven't seen for a while......Have you ever done the GM rally at Quartzsite?

uncle ned · September 23, 2014, 09:20:52 AM

Ed that is on my wish list,which keeps getting longer rather than shorter.

So far my trip west has got me to western Kansas. That took about 2 months.

Huggys driver and his pocket book does not like interstate hy's.

50 to 55 on the back roads hit close to 9 to 10 mpg. interstate at speed may get 2 mpg
but the trucks get out of the way.

by the way the top of Grandfather mountain was 35 this morning.

hope to get your way some time.

uncle ned

uncle ned · September 23, 2014, 09:23:33 AM

ED the top of my wish list is to visit Wayne,Clifford,you and the bunch at the western GM club.

Still drink out of my red gm cup made out of corn.

uncle ned

billy6941 · September 23, 2014, 09:32:06 AM

My father's clan came from Scotland in the early 1700's. Most settled in western NC, but one brother moved north. I have family history back to 1200 in Scotland......Bill