Toronto - Cabot trail - here I go!

Prologue:
Ever since I bought my 308 I've wanted to take it on an extended road trip. With two young children, however, no opportunity presented itself, until very recently when my wife asked to change our summer holiday plans (visiting friends in Europe) to visiting her sister in California... again. I suggested she might consider taking the girls down on her own this time so I could go on an extended drive. As she knew I've been itching to do this for years, she went for the idea!
First up was a full service and inspection of the 308. To make a long story short, new brakes were fitted, every hose was replaced, the points were swapped for an electronic ignition, a full major service was done, and a few other odds and ends were taken care of to make the car ready for the trip (a 1000 'thank-you's to Rocco and Peter!). I picked up the car this afternoon and headed out for the Cabot Trail.

 

Today was a bit of a short drive as I left Toronto around 3:30. To make up for lost time, I drove the 401 and called it a day here in Brockville. No pics yet but I will take some tomorrow.

 

Best of luck Mr. Cambre!

 

Say hi to my family... Basically any point you step out of a car around the cabot trail the odds are good the next person you see will be related to me... make time to go to the Alexander Graeme Bell Museum in Baddeck...

Also there are some great roads there take many pix

 

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^^ cool icon!

 

Congratulations on a GREAT TRIP!!! I have no doubt that you will make many wonderful memories on this journey. Thank you as well for keeping us posted on it.


PDG

 

Start of Cabot trail 2005
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Today started off a little bumpy as there was a small emergency at home. As I was less than 3 hours away and I had forgotten a few things, I went back to Toronto early this morning then started the trip all over again after lunch. This time, though, I took hwy 401 to Port Hope, then continued east along hwy 2 to Kingston where I hopped back on the 401 to Brockville again to make up the lost time.
Travelling on the rural 2-lane highway was so much more enjoyable! The drive is much quieter and more relaxed, though I enjoyed the occasional downshift to overtake slower traffic periodically. The car ran like a clock and the weather was perfect - sunny and hot enough for shorts and a t-shirt but partly cloudy and cool enough to keep my back from sweating against the leather seat. All-in-all I've put just over 620 miles (1000km) on the Fcar in the past two days. Tomorrow I cross Quebec.

Pic 1. After a short cat nap at a comfort stop on hwy 401 west of Port Hope
2 Interesting cars for sale just west of Cobourg on hwy 2
3 Hwy 2 in Trenton
4 Hwy 2 in Trenton (other side of the bridge)
5,6,7 Springside park on hwy 2 in Napanee
8 Look who joined us for dinner in Kingston
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!Che! Llamame Esteban por favor (o maestro si prefieres ) Saludos a tus padres y un abrazo a Veronica.

 

Will do. I'll just say "Otto says 'hi'" and see what they say. I'm guessing they'll say "Otto who?", to which I'll reply "Otto with the Ferrari" of course!
The museum is on my must-do list. Any tips on good spots for seafood?

 

Fixed. Stay tuned for more.

 

Don't forget the Villenueve museum in Quebec... I believe the Mondial may be there... it wasn't when I visited

 

Hi Esteban,
I'm back from abroad since yesterday and just looked at your thread right now.
Wow! Cool trip.
Are you planning on stopping here?
Let me know.
PM sent.
Francois

 

+1

 

Today was eventful, including two 'must occur' Ferrari moments. I continued along hwy 2 (which follows the St. Lawrence river) towards Quebec. While stopping for gas a woman, complete with cigarette hanging out of her mouth, comes to me and asks, "is that a Corvette?". I was so stunned I forgot to take a picture of her; something I promised myself I would do if this would ever happen to me. Things got worse when I was pulled over for not having a front licence plate, ironically about an hour outside of Quebec, where front licence plates are not mandatory. Slapped with a $110 fine. Montreal was complete gridlock but I eventually found my way to hwy 132, which follows the south shore of the St. Lawrence. The road was less than spectacular, really, so I turned off and followed the Yamaska river. What a sensational drive! I lost several hours exploring the back roads, of which many are freshly paved. Note to all you Montrealers: check out hwys 235, 239, and 224, as well as the back roads around there. They're great!
The last few hours were spent on the TransCanada making good time towards the final destination. Tomorrow I explore New Brunswick.
Pic 1. Downtown Brockville is beautiful
2. Brockville's Statue of Liberty
3. Bridge to USA by Cornwall
4. Busted!
5. St. Lawrence river along hwy 132
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Great pics! Thanks for sharing.

I love threads like these.

Please keep us updated

 

Fantastic, just you, your Ferrari and never running out of road. Thanks for taking us along!

 

Living the dream! Take care and drive safely

 

Today was spent on the TransCanada highway as I needed to be in Nova Scotia tonight, so I covered a lot of ground - over 500 miles (800 km) from Quebec City to Amherst. I did manage a detour to the longest covered bridge in the world and snapped a video of the 308 revving high while on it. That was fun. Tomorrow I meet up with fellow Fchatter Clamont for a drive, then it's off to the Cabot trail. Can't wait!

Pic 1 Entering New Brunswick
2,3 Longest coverd bridge in the world
4 lots of water in the maritimes
5 lots of road on the TransCanada hwy
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Ah - the good old road trip! You see quite a few threads like these on European roads, not many on the other side of the Atlantic. Looks like a fantastic trip - enjoy!!


Onno

 

Today was another good day. I started by meeting up with local Fchatter 'Clamont' and Heather, together with 'Gina', his Mondial convertible (spyder?). What a super nice guy. Thanks for meeting up with me, Curt, and sweet Mondial. We went for a spirited drive on rural hwy 2, along the Bay of Fundy, famous for having the largest tides in the world. After a typical maritime lunch I took my leave and headed up coastal hwy 6 along the Northumberland strait, making my way to Cape Breton and ending, finally, at the Cabot Trail. Rain is forecast for the afternoon tomorrow so I called it a day early for a fresh start tomorrow as I was losing daylight anyway. The locals say 4 hours minimum are needed to do the trail properly. With an early start I hope to be okay. For those who are not familiar with Cabot trail, here are a few links to give you a better idea of what it's like, then today's pics.

PS I hit the 2000 mile (3200 km) mark today

National Geographic "Drives of a Lifetime"
http://traveler.nationalgeographic.com/drives

Geocities "Trails and Scenic Drives"
http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Heights/7304/trails.html

Cabot trail's own site "Come for the drive. Savor the journey"
http://www.cabottrail.travel/

Pic 1. The 308 and cousin 'Gina'
2. Driving with Curt and Heather
3. 'Gina' up ahead'
4. Typical maritime lunch - seafood
5. Lovely lines of the 308 with the Bay of Fundy as the backdrop
6. Entering Cape Breton
7. The beginning of the Cabot trail
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pics 5-7
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Holy Smoke, thanks for the tip, Glen. That is a MUST DO for this type of trip!

 

Wednesday would work PM sent.