Below is a description of the proposed sections of our trip. broken down into five parts. Each section corresponds with a coloured path on the map above.
South Bay, Georgian Bay - Coboconk, Ontario July 2010 (Yellow)
This was the first section of our trip, comleted summer 2010 as published in the Georgian Bay Today. This trip was a big inspiration, showing us what was possible when two people put in an honest days work and do what they love to do most. After 164km we arrived at our destination, Coboconk, Ontario.
Coboconk, Ontario - Quebec City, Quebec (Red) 932km
Starting from where we finished our previous row boat trip, we will travel through the historic Trent Severn Waterway for 264km when we will arrive at Trenton, Ontario. From Trenton on the Bay of Quinte we will row east through the eastern end of Lake Ontario and into the St Lawrence River and Seaway. Draining the great lakes, the St. Lawrence river is one of North Americas largest rivers by volume. It was also a vitally important route followed by the likes of Samual De Champlain and the courier du bois in the historical development of Canada. The St. Lawrence river will carry us past Montreal, the second largest City in the country and one of Canada's busiest ports. After rowing 932km we will arrive in Quebec City and the ocean. This is where our rowing section will end and we will switch to our bicycles.
Quebec City - Churchill Falls (Purple) 1239km
Although we have never been on a serious bicycling adventure we are firm believers that amazing thing are possible if you can work away a little bit at a time. After sitting in a row boat for nearly a month our legs will undoubtbly have a hard time adjusting to the rolling hills of the Eastern Townships in the province of Quebec on the north shore of the St. Lawrence Gulf. Upon reaching Baie Comeau we will head north on Highway 389 past the Manicouagan Reservoir. The Manicouagan Reservoir is the remains of an asteroid impact, large enough it is clearly seen from space. Once past this significant geographic feature our route will take us up and onto the Labrador Plateau. Once past the communities of Wabush and Labrador City we will arrive at the place the Grand river falls off of the plateau in a remarkable waterfall, Churchill Falls.
Churchill Falls - Goose Bay ( white) 328km
The churchill river of Labrador goes by many names. To the ancestral aboriginal people it is know as Mista Shipu, at one time it was named the Hamilton river which eventually was changed to the Churchill river, named after Winston Churchill for his role in developing the hydro-electrical potential of the river. To this day it is referred to, by the locals, as the Grand river. A route that is often over looked by adventure seekers travelling to the wilds of Labrador, the Grand River offers pristine wilderness, unmatched beauty, cultural values and a historic river course that may be lost in the near future to further development of hydro-electric power. The need to document this section to the Grand river before it is gone forever is important to us.
Goose Bay - Blanc Sablon (Purple) 625km
The section of road that connects Goose Bay to the south east coast of Labrador was finally completed in the spring of 2010. Our trip through this section will be a unique opportunity to travel a route that few others have at our pace. Our route will take us through Taiga on our way to the coastal lowlands. Communities along the way will include Cartwright (with a detour), Mary's Harbour, Port Hope Simpson and Red Bay before reaching our expedition destination in Blanc Sablon, Quebec.
Note:
Blanc Sablon is the formal ending of our expedition, however it being in a less then ideal place to cheaply travel home from we will continue south onboard the ferry that will take us across the Strait of Belle Isle. Hopefully a kind soul or two will help us to Deer Lake, Newfoundland so we may fly home from there.
