Truck stops or rest stops in Northern Ontario or Northern Quebec?

[Quebec Gen]

I definitely did not plan staying overnight on James Bay road, wouldn't want a bear to wake me up.

That's pretty unlikely. If you wake up and a bear have ventured close to your car, chances are it'll be more scare then you are when it sees you are awake. Unless you put a box full of food just outside your car and my bet is that other animals will get there before any bear (squirrel, deer, groundhog, porcupine, mice, etc.).

Yes, going to see Robert-Bourassa staircase.

Ah, you're lucky! Wish I could join you!:-)

This might be a Quebec thing about car rental companies restricting driving to the James Bay area.

Actually, I have no idea about the James Bay area, but I know for a fact there was a restriction for the TransLabrador Highway with almost all the renatl companies. I believe a part of the James Bay Road is still unpaved, I guess it depend on how far you plan to drive.

Thanks for the suggestions.

My pleasure. It's pretty unusual for people to ask about such remote places. I'm delighted to learn I'm not the only one who's interested in off the beaten path (in both senses) roadtrips.:-)

[Mark Sedenquist]

... companies like Enterprise, Dollar, etc. may and often do charge for extra mileage outside of province. Hertz and Alamo do not.

Excellent point -- sorry I should have addressed that too. Companies like Enterprise and Dollar which advertise on average, a lower per day cost, seem to ALWAYS add additional fees. I generally rent from National -- I have driven their rental cars in all sorts of places and conditions that were never intended or described in the rental contract -- I have never been charged an extra fee for anything.

I do know they have different rates for km/day in their system

In addition to the geographic differences I have seen differences in rental rate based upon the country of origin of the renter. One time in Italy, I rented a rental car for pick-up in Germany and received the "Italian" price -- when I arrived with a USA passport the desk nearly refused to deliver the car unless I paid the going USA rate -- I "negotiated" a compromise....

Mark

[raven]

That's pretty unlikely. If you wake up and a bear have ventured close to your car, chances are it'll be more scare then you are when it sees you are awake. Unless you put a box full of food just outside your car and my bet is that other animals will get there before any bear (squirrel, deer, groundhog, porcupine, mice, etc.).

I guess that rules out taking pictures with the bear as the goal of the trip...lol

Ah, you're lucky! Wish I could join you!:-)

That would definitely help with French. But I am not sure if that's gonna go well with my gf :-)

[Quebec Gen]

I guess that rules out taking pictures with the bear as the goal of the trip...lol

You might see a bear or two, but as soon as you get out of the car to snap a picture, it's probably going to run away. Been there, done that.

That would definitely help with French. But I am not sure if that's gonna go well with my gf :-)

Don't worry about the language. If people can tell you're making an effort to speak the language and you're not being a smart-alecky, they'll be much more friendly. Just stick to the usual polite formulas (bonjour, merci, s'il vous plaît) and it should be ok. Plus, there are plenty of English-speaking workers in the James Bay area.

As for the gf issue, I wouldn't worry, we're not playing on the same team anyway ;) lol

[raven]

Don't worry about the language. If people can tell you're making an effort to speak the language and you're not being a smart-alecky, they'll be much more friendly. Just stick to the usual polite formulas (bonjour, merci, s'il vous plaît) and it should be ok. Plus, there are plenty of English-speaking workers in the James Bay area.

French wasn't much of an issue. One thing I forgot that it was North, so people are friendlier there in general.
jamesbayroad.com and the forum there covers the road pretty well. The road is fully paved (except for the last 10km to the bay itself). So, when you get a chance, go for it. Just a word of warning: on the way back, take it is on the gas pedal once you get back to civilization, the road seems too easy south of Matagami.

Now, going back to those bears, on which road did you see them? I only saw a couple of dogs, about a dozen of rabbits and 5-6 foxes.

[glc]

If you are going up the James Bay road in winter, I'd recommend you rent an AWD or 4WD SUV. I'd also rent a satellite phone. There is absolutely nothing up there except emergency phones about every 40 miles. The only services of any kind between the beginning and Chisasibi are at the 381km marker, it has fuel, food, and rudimentary lodging.

[Quebec Gen]

French wasn't much of an issue. One thing I forgot that it was North, so people are friendlier there in general.

Hey, nice to hear from you. I'm glad that people were friendly to you there!

Now, going back to those bears, on which road did you see them? I only saw a couple of dogs, about a dozen of rabbits and 5-6 foxes

I saw the cutest little cub on the TransLab about 5 km east of Churchill Falls. As soon as it saw the car approaching, it ran back to the forest -- and possibly to its mother.

[raven]

If you are going up the James Bay road in winter, I'd recommend you rent an AWD or 4WD SUV. I'd also rent a satellite phone. There is absolutely nothing up there except emergency phones about every 40 miles. The only services of any kind between the beginning and Chisasibi are at the 381km marker, it has fuel, food, and rudimentary lodging.

I've already gone there, but SUV is definitely needed in the winter. I have seen locals driving only SUVs, minivans and pick up trucks. There are quite a few trucks on the road (especially in the evening), so a satellite phone isn't that much of a necessity if you just stick to the road without driving like a stole the car. Although in the winter things might be very different.
My GSM cellphone wasn't working in Matagami, and I did not check at what point past Amos it stopped working.

Hey, nice to hear from you. I'm glad that people were friendly to you there!

Hey, I even had tires filled up with air for free in Radisson autoshop, which was very nice of them. My own air compressor stopped working >1000 miles away from home, when it was needed the most...good timing, isn't it?

I saw the cutest little cub on the TransLab about 5 km east of Churchill Falls. As soon as it saw the car approaching, it ran back to the forest -- and possibly to its mother.

So you've done Trans Lab, that's great! I looked into Trans Lab for next year but >1000 km on gravel once they complete the road and taking ferry back to civilization...will have to wait :)

[Quebec Gen]

There are quite a few trucks on the road (especially in the evening), so a satellite phone isn't that much of a necessity if you just stick to the road without driving like a stole the car. Although in the winter things might be very different.
My GSM cellphone wasn't working in Matagami, and I did not check at what point past Amos it stopped working.

Whether you buy one or rent one, a satellite phones is very expensive. Plus, it can cost you up to 5-10$/minute to use it. I suggest you borrow/buy/rent a low frequency radio next time you're thinking about heading up north. They're cheaper and usually reliable.

My own air compressor stopped working >1000 miles away from home, when it was needed the most...good timing, isn't it?

Hehe. Reminds me of my trip to Labrador. I drove for more than a thousand miles on gravel roads and as soon as I hit the pavement : boom! Flat tire! LOL Murphy's Law I guess. I expected it to happen in the middle of nowhere so I'd be stuck with all the bugs and other such god-awful huge flying creature buzzing around my head while I jacked the car and changed the tire. But nothing of the sort. I had to change my tire in the parking lot of some local bar in Blanc-Sablon.

So you've done Trans Lab, that's great! I looked into Trans Lab for next year but >1000 km on gravel once they complete the road and taking ferry back to civilization...will have to wait :)

Aw, come on. You know you want to do it!;-) Actually, most of the gravel parts on the TLH are in better shape than a lot of our paved highways in Quebec! Anyway, if you decide you want to go, please drop me a note so I can tell you all about all the magnificent places I've been and the less magnificient ones (which were scarce).

Cheers!
G.