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Canadian Maritime - To Caravan or NOT Caravan?

Yahoo Message Number: 29856
We have been planning to do a 49 day caravan in the Canadian Maritime of approximately 2800 miles this summer. We have not done a caravan before.

We are now wondering about the pro & cons of being part of an organized caravan (Adventure Caravan), or doing it ourselves (with possibly another couple).

Herb & Melitta

2007 40' Allure #31466

Re: Canadian Maritime - To Caravan or NOT Caravan?

Reply #1 –
Yahoo Message Number: 29858
Quote from: Herb & Melitta Strandberg
> > We have been planning to do a 49 day caravan in the Canadian Maritime > of approximately 2800 miles this summer. We have not done a caravan > before.

We are now wondering about the pro & cons of being part of an > organized caravan (Adventure Caravan), or doing it ourselves (with > possibly another couple).

Herb & Melitta

2007 40' Allure #31466
Asking whether or not to caravan is much like asking whether or not to have a washer/ dryer installed in a coach. There's no one in the middle. It's either a strong yes or no. Bev and I did a Maritime trip a number of years ago solo. It was a great adventure! We just like the flexibility of traveling independently by ourselves or with another couple. Your planned trip will provide incredible things to see and do, none of which requires being a part of a caravan to participate in if you do good research before traveling. In fact, being a part of a tour could cause you to miss out on certain opportunities. For example, while in Baddeck, Nova Scotia we were informed by a local about a barn dance. Music is a staple there and barn dances are regularly held on the weekends. We attended and experienced a wonderful part of the local culture that probably would have been missed on a tour.
What a hoot! On another day we were driving the towed along the Cabot Trail and happened on a music/dance festival featuring bagpipers and dancers from throughout Canada and the British Isles. It was being held at a pavilion with the Atlantic Ocean as a backdrop. We unexpectedly spent the entire afternoon at the festival and drove the Cabot Trail the following day. We would be delighted to share some "must sees" should you decide not to caravan, but an even better source would be Pat and Lowell Scott. You might remember them from the CC Texans rally in Las Cruces. They just made a very thorough trip to the Maritimes last summer and could offer great insight. Although I do not believe they follow this forum, I have their contact numbers if you wish to speak with them. Call anytime. I'm excited for you.

Greg Cowgill #31310
`06 Allure

gbrvn@... 936.328.3713

Re: Canadian Maritime - To Caravan or NOT Caravan?

Reply #2 –
Yahoo Message Number: 29861
Herb & Melitta

I think you would be fine doing this trip on your own. I say this because if you "think" you can then I'm sure you can. I am an independent contractor for Fantasy RV T ours and they are really great but as someone else mentioned, not necessarily for everyone. I have done trips to Mexico numerous times and am getting ready to accompany a group to Alaska this summer on a 48 day trek. If you have any questions don't hesitate to email me at schonny@... or you could give me a call at 303 670 9771.

Ron 98 Allure 30185

Re: Canadian Maritime - To Caravan or NOT Caravan?

Reply #3 –
Yahoo Message Number: 29864
We did it last year for 3 months with just our 40 footer, and had no problems.
The bigger the group, the bigger the need to book ahead. No problem getting diesel, but the Canadian price is higher, though the American dollar can negate some of the cost. Change your money to Canadian dollars soon after arrival in the country. They will accept US $, but the exchange rates may vary from station to station, or store to store, campgrounds, etc. Stay off the back roads in Nova Scotia... your coach will love you for it. Nova Scotia also does not allow ANY parking in Walmart stores anywhere. Prince Edward Island is beautiful.

Bob Leger, a Canadian full-timer

Re: Canadian Maritime - To Caravan or NOT Caravan?

Reply #4 –
Yahoo Message Number: 29867
Herb,

We did a similar trip with another Washington State CC couple, Lowell & Pat Scott, 40' 2001 Intrigue, in August - September 2005. We joined up in Kingston, Quebec on August 1,for the International Fireworks Show in Quebec City, did the Gaspe' Penninsula, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, Newfoundland, a "toad" trip over to Labrador, and were back in Maine on September 27. Lowell put together a trip plan with info from the caravaners' brochures and what we could gather from other sources. We also had Byron & Dianne, 40' 04 Foretravel, with us for portions of the trip. We liked the flexibility we had by not going with a caravan. We were in several campgrounds with "Tracks to Adventure" groups. It is nice to have another coach with you in case you have any mechanical or other problems. It was a great trip, but be prepared to drive VERY SLOW on many of the roads in Newfoundland. We were constantly dodging potholes and they evidently have not figured out how to transition the highway surface to their bridges. All were very rough.

Let us know if you want any details.

Brad & Sharron Ward
2000 36' Magna 5916

Quote from: Herb & Melitta\[br\
Strandberg"]

Re: [SPAM] [Country-Coach-Owners] Canadian Maritime - To Caravan or

Reply #5 –
Yahoo Message Number: 29873
Dianne & I have never been on an organized tour but do know people who have been on more than a dozen and wouldn't travel any other way. They just love the camaraderie and ease of tours.
As Brad & Sharron Ward mentioned, we did part of the Maritimes with them and the Scott's and had a great time. Some of the time we were together and other times some us would move on or lag behind depending on our individual likes. It worked out quite well and allowed each of us to customize our individual trip.
If you are interested, we have a 20 page journal we would be glad to send you (outside this forum). It describes the wonderful things we saw and people we met in the Maritimes. Also have a record of which campgrounds we stayed in and our rating of each.
No matter which way you decide to go, you will have a great adventure.

Byron Knight

2004 40' Foretravel

Re: Canadian Maritime - To Caravan or NOT Caravan?

Reply #6 –
Yahoo Message Number: 29878
Herb:

You have already gotten some great replies, most of which I agree with. We did what sounds like the same trip you are thinking about last year with Adventure Caravans. Contrary to Greg's thinking we are in the middle - we see advantages of the caravan, but there are a lot of negatives too. Here are the key advantages:
1) being with a group and having some support if you experience trouble. In Mexico, I would think this an overwhelming plus; not so in Canada.
2) having a tour guide. This is great IF they focus on what you want to see. Our leaders tended to focus on the historical, military and cultural attractions (lots of museums and city bus tours) to the exclusion of outdoor, nature and wildlife sightings.
Newfoundland in particular is extremely rich natural environment and if outdoor experiences are to your liking, you will be frustrated on the caravan. We ended up doing as much research as we would have done were we on our own.
3) Contrary to another post, I think we had several unique activities that we probably would have never discovered on our own. At Burncoat, N.S. we camped on private property around a neat pond, and the town ladies prepared dinner and breakfast the next day for us. This is one place to see the highest tides in the world. Had a similar experience and tour of an operating muscle farm near Botwood, NFLD. Also fascinating evening presentation and steak dinner at Gander by the campground owner who was also an air traffic controller on 9/11 when the US air space was closed and all the transatlantic flights were forced to land at Gander.
4) The caravan takes care of campground reservations, ferry reservations and all arrangements.

The disadvantages:

1) being on a schedule. Even your "free" days will in all likelihood have a "drivers meeting" or something else at sometime during the day. If you are on your own and it happens to be raining on the day of your hike in Gros Morne, you can usually wait for a better day. Not so on the caravan. If you travel in a motor home so you can have maximum flexibility, you will give that up on the caravan. The flip side is you will cover maximum ground in the time you have.
2)The group can be a plus or a minus. If you know
others in the group it is better. We did not and some of the members in our group had travleed together before. In addition our group was more physically challenged than we expected. The group can not travel any faster than its slowest member. If you get lucky and you are well matched, you will meet new and interesting people and make new friends.

No matter which way you go, there will be days when you wished you did the opposite! On balance, we did not regret going on the caravan, but really want to go back and fill in some of the things we would have liked to explore more.

Bob and Sandy Amory
2002 Allure 30760

--- Herb & Melitta Strandberg
herbyahoo@...> wrote:

Quote
We have been planning to do a 49 day caravan in the > Canadian Maritime

of approximately 2800 miles this summer. We have > not done a caravan
before.

We are now wondering about the pro & cons of being > part of an

organized caravan (Adventure Caravan), or doing it > ourselves (with

possibly another couple).

Herb & Melitta

2007 40' Allure #31466
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Re: [SPAM] [Country-Coach-Owners] Canadian Maritime - To Caravan or

Reply #8 –
Yahoo Message Number: 29897
Herb,

If you decide to do the trip on your own, send me an email at sno4us2@..., and I will send you a couple of tips about the ferries to/from Newfoundland & PEI.

The only reservations we had when we started the trip were for the campground & the Int'l Fireworks Show in Quebec City, and the ferry reservations to & from NFLD. We ended up changing the ferry route and date back from NFLD.

As others have said, it is a great trip

Brad Ward

2000 Magna 5916

Quote from: Byron and Dianne
>

Dianne & I have never been on an organized tour but do know people
who have been on more than a dozen and wouldn't travel any other way. They just love the camaraderie and ease of tours.

Quote
>

As Brad & Sharron Ward mentioned, we did part of the Maritimes with
them and the Scott's and had a great time. Some of the time we were together and other times some us would move on or lag behind depending on our individual likes. It worked out quite well and allowed each of us to customize our individual trip.

Quote
>

If you are interested, we have a 20 page journal we would be glad
to send you (outside this forum). It describes the wonderful things we saw and people we met in the Maritimes. Also have a record of which campgrounds we stayed in and our rating of each.

Quote
>

No matter which way you decide to go, you will have a great

adventure.

Quote
>

Byron Knight

2004 40' Foretravel

Canadian Maritime - to Caravan or Not

Reply #9 –
Yahoo Message Number: 29874
I am a native Nova Scotian. My husband and I have traveled from California to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia four times in our former 37 ft RV. We are going back this summer in our 40ft Inspire.
I would suggest that the first thing you is go online to
www.destination-ns.com/ You can order a Doers and Dreamers Guide and a Scenic Travelway Map. It takes about 10 days to arrvie. The Guide divides Nova Scotia into seven routes or trails. It gives you good infromation about RV Parks, historic sites and places of interest, etc.on these routes.

There are very good twinned highways throughout the province The problem is they are in the interior and what you see is mostly trees and farms. You have to get on the coastal roads to see the charming old towns, quaint fishing villages and spectacular ocean views.
These roads can be narrow and often have a lot of potholes. We have driven them in the RV with no mishaps, but some fazzled nerves at times. We like to find a RV park in areas we want to visit and stay for a few days and take the tow car and do day trips. The province is about 50 miles wide and 300 miles long. It is fairly easy to get around.

Just remember that Canada is on the metric system. So be prepared to buy fuel by the liter, driving kilometers, (6/10 of a mile)and if you are on smaller roads be prepared to quickly change heights of a bridge from meters to feet.

There is lots of history in the province. It was settled originally by the French, then the English and the Scots. On the south shore there were German settlements. One being Lunenberg which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Alexander Graham Bell Museum is in Baddeck, Cape Breton He had a home there which his family still owns. He and his wife are buried on the grounds. Acadians were the first settlers. There is a museum in the Annapolis Valley that tells about the Expulsion. Halifax, the capital city has built on a hill that slopes to the harbour. On top of the hill is a huge star shaped fortress hich was used by the British until end of World 1. The waterfront has been beaultfully restored. The old wherehouse from the sailing days are now restaurants, shops and offices and museums.
It is very much alive in the summer with music and buskers. You can dine out side on the best seafood in the world.
Try a lobster burger while you are there. Even MacDonalds serves lobster burgers during the summer. There are local festivals every where during the summer months.

Don't take your RV into Halifax or Dartmouth. It is on a steep hill with narrow streets. There is a good RV park outside the city of Dartmouth which is across the harbour from Halifax. It is about 10 to 15 minutes from downtown (by car not RV) Halifax by the bridges. The name is Shubie Campground. shubiecampground.com We have entered the Maritimes through Calais, Maine at St Stephens New Brunswick . Do not go back to the US that way as the traffic is very back up through St Stephens since 911 due to the inspections by US Customs and Immigration. You will have to go to Houlton, Maine to get the next border crossing. We have also entered through New Brunswick from Quebed. One note if you go to Newfoundland, you have to go by ferry. It is expensive. They charge by the foot, that includes the tow bar space and the tow car. I think it was about $1000.00 when we inquired a few years ago. You also have to make reservations in advance

It is now easy to get to Prince Edward Island from New Brunswick as they built a huge bridge to the Island. It was free to cross into PEI but it costs you about $45.00 to get back to the mainland. That was the cost about 10 years ago.

I could tell you more about campgrounds and places to see. We live here in Palm Springs. I think you do too. Please feel free to call if you have any questions. I think you'll love the Maritimes.

Susan Picchione
05 Inspire #51342
760 323-9455
 

Re: Canadian Maritime - to Caravan or Not

Reply #10 –
Yahoo Message Number: 29876
I can tell you that the return trip across the bridge from PEI is still about $40. Canadian. We did it just last summer. You can also get off by ferry at a different location. That would be much more expensive.

Bob Leger