Gaspe Trip

[Bananas]

Me and my crew are in the planning stages for a trip to the Gaspe Peninsula this July/August. Any suggestions as where to go , things to see, places to stay etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Bananas!

 

[FJRPierre]

If you are biking it, and have the time (2-3 days), think about doing some or all of this loop:

-from Riviere du Loup, cross via ferry to St Simeon on the north shore of St Lawrence ;

-go up/down Hy381, 172, & 170 towards Chicoutimi in any order (you'l have to do one of the roads twice, make it 381 or 170 sweet!);

-then west on over Hy138 to Baie-Comeau;

-then the great Hy389 north 212km to Manic5 dam,

-visit dam and return to Baie-Comeau (another sweet 212km!);

-recross St Lawrence to Matane;

-carry on to Gaspe.

Hy 132 around the Gaspe Pen. is very busy in the summer!

 

[Bananas]

Thank you FJRPierre for responding. I took a look at the road map and highlighted the route that you suggested.

How far up Rt. 389 is the dam? Is it as far as Manicougan? Are there fuel stops available along the way? Does it tend to rain alot during late July early August? We are hoping to do some primitive camping to help keep the lodging costs down. Are there places along the way to camp?

Bananas!

 

[gasman]

The Feb '06 Cycle World has an article on the Gaspe. It's called New France at long last. Good read. JB

 

[markjenn]

The Feb '06 Cycle World has an article on the Gaspe. It's called New France at long last. Good read. JB

Done by and reported by writer extraordinare Peter Egan no less. Took his wife Barbara. But you have to put up with discussions of the nasty FJR competition, in this case a R1150RT.

Definitely a great read and makes me want to visit the area. I just wish it wasn't so damn far away from the left coast.

- Mark

 

[FJRPierre]

Thank you FJRPierre for responding. I took a look at the road map and highlighted the route that you suggested.
How far up Rt. 389 is the dam? Is it as far as Manicougan? Are there fuel stops available along the way? Does it tend to rain alot during late July early August? We are hoping to do some primitive camping to help keep the lodging costs down. Are there places along the way to camp?

Bananas!

The Manic 5 dam is up 389 from Baie-Comeau at mile 212km, thats just to the southern tip of the Manicouagan Reservoir. There is gas/motel/rest at Manic 5 and another gas place midway if I remember. It's all paved to Manic5. The dam is just a little bit bigger than it looks...To go further to Gagnon, Labrador City and Churchill Falls etc, its mainly gravel.

There is all sorts of proper pretty camping areas on the routes bordering the Saguenay River. On 389 though you are deep in blackfly country (so much so that they have a daily bug index). I don't think camping up along 389 would be a good plan. July Aug is prime summer weather in the whole area.

 

[Mr Bill]

Me and my crew are in the planning stages for a trip to the Gaspe Peninsula this July/August. Any suggestions as where to go , things to see, places to stay etc. would be greatly appreciated.
Bananas!

Stop in Perce

Get a picture of the big rock in the water.

There are campgrounds in town and a three star restaurant - can dress casual:

La Normandie Dining Room, 221 Rt 132, They won't speak english here, but anything you order will be fine French food.

IIRC there is a provincial campground at the very end of Gaspe. Provincial parks are very nice with water and electric. I think Canadians all go on vacation at the same two weeks so you could time it later August and see no one up here. Of course a lot of places will be closed too.

 

[gypsy]

Definitely a great read and makes me want to visit the area. I just wish it wasn't so damn far away from the left coast.
- Mark

Hi Mark,

I read the same article but I felt just the opposite. I had the impression the author didn't really care for it that much. It didn't make me want to ride the area and I'm not even that far away. I have seen a number of reports in magazines over the years regarding riding the Gaspe and they were very hit or miss. That is with regard to people thinking it was worth the effort. Of course each to his own. What a terrible thing it would be if we all wanted to ride teh same roads.

gypsy