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Conference kaosws::canada

Title:True North Strong & Free
Notice:Introduction in Note 535, For Sale/Wanted in 524
Moderator:POLAR::RICHARDSON
Created:Fri Jun 19 1987
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1040
Total number of notes:13668

547.0. "De Vancouver � Montr�al" by BALZAC::COULON (Even if it works, ask why) Thu Feb 27 1992 11:42

Hi all,

I'll be in Canada in July for two weeks. What we (including family, kids...)
intend to do is to drive from Vancouver to Montr�al (single way only!) which 
should, I hope, give us a good idea of what Canada really looks like... 
So, I have a bunch of questions for you who know the spot:

	1. Would you do it? Meaning, is it crazy, too long (distance), too
	   short (time), too crowded (summer), boring...?
	2. Else, what would you rather do to "see" Canada?
	3. Last but very important: We would like to rent a mobile home
	   (something we call "Camping Car" in France...!!) but we don't
	   have any mobile home rental addresses in Canada (it seems that
	   "traditional" car rentals don't offer this kind of cars).
	   Any "local" car rental names and addresses in Canada would be 
	   very helpful, by mail if necessary.

 Thanks for your help et � bient�t.

Serge
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
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547.1It's a big country!RDGE44::ALEUC1Thu Feb 27 1992 12:4617
    Vancouver to Montreal in two weeks!
    
    Yes it is possible, but you won't experience too much. ( Would you
    drive from Paris to Moscow in 2 weeks? - about the same distance ).
    
    Scale down your ambitions. Try Vancouver to Calgary or vic versa. There
    should enough to keep you occupied between the two cities.  You don't
    want to be spending all your time driving. After all, you are on a
    holiday.
    
    For very good tourist info, contact the nearest Canadian High
    Commission/Embassy/Consulate.
    
    Bon Voyage!
    
    Philip
     
547.2no problem...WARIOR::BURDEN_D'24 Stude - The only way to TourThu Feb 27 1992 14:4112
Let's see, that's about 3000 miles or so right?  2.5 days tops, assuming
you keep the camper up around 75-80 mph and only stop for gas, food and
restrooms.

In support of -1, you'd have to average 250 miles per day to make the 
3000 mile trip in 12 days.  That could be up to 4-5 hours a day on the road.

Dave

ps - a friend an I recently made a trip from Atlanta to North Dakota *and
back* in 2.5 days - 22 hours up, stay overnight and 22 hours back.  It
was 2800 miles round trip.  
547.3COVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertFri Feb 28 1992 15:3812
>    Yes it is possible, but you won't experience too much. ( Would you
>    drive from Paris to Moscow in 2 weeks? - about the same distance ).

You Europeans really don't have a very good idea about geography.

Vancouver to Montreal is roughly TWICE AS FAR as Paris to Moscow.

I suspect the biggest problem is going to be finding a company that will
rent you a vehicle that you don't have to return to the original renting
location, or the cost of having someone else drive it back for you.

/john
547.4It quite farCGOOA::LMILLERhasten slowlyFri Feb 28 1992 20:3316
    I think that 2.5 days for 3000 miles is a little under estimated.  We
    did that same drive but opposite (Montreal to Vancouver) and we were
    motoring!  It took 4 (12 hour) days.  It takes about 9 hours from Calgary to
    Vancouver alone.  Don't forget there are some rather large mountains
    in the way.  However, it is very flat between Calgary and the border of
    Ontario.
    
    I would recommend stay either west or east if you only have two weeks.
    If you have a motoring association - you should contact them and they
    maybe able to help you.  If you definately want to stay out west -
    contact me offline (VAXMAIL) and I might be able to help you.  I helped
    someone from the UK last year, who is renting a motorhome this year
    and driving around the west.  
    
    Linda
    
547.5Say what?HABS11::MASONExplaining is not understandingSun Mar 01 1992 10:0318
    I fail to follow the arithmetic:
    
    2.5 X 24 = 60
    
    4   X 12 = 48
    
    You took more time than was suggested! Since the reply was based upon
    getting the travel out of the way, I don't expect that driving was
    limited to � day per day. Besides...you had the jetstream (sorry)
    against you 8')
    
    In 1960 we did Washington D.C. to LA in 2 days, 18 hours...in a brand
    new pickup truck (0 miles), towing a Ferrari race car on a trailer. I
    would hope that roads in Canada have improved somewhat during that
    time, even if not quite apace with the "great US paving experience" of
    the intervening years.
    
    Cheers...Gary
547.6Besides, you didn't do any touring along the wayCOVERT::COVERTJohn R. CovertMon Mar 02 1992 11:535
Montreal to Vancouver is somewhat further than Washington, D.C. to L.A.

L.A. is signficantly east of Vancouver, and Washington is somewhat west
of Montreal.

547.7Suggested ItineraryPOLAR::ROBINSONPQuantum mechanicMon Mar 02 1992 17:1714
    A Canuck suggests the following:
    
    Fly to Montreal -stay 2 days
    Drive to Ottawa -stay 2 days
    Drive to Toronto -stay 2-3 days
    Fly Toronto to Calgary -stay 2 days
    Drive to Vancouver through Rockies (!!!)
    Stay on west coast for remainder of trip-rent camper and tour around.
    Fly Vancouver to Montreal and then home.
    
    Next time over do Prince Edward Island and Maritimes and travel down
    coast to Maine and eastern US.
    
    Cheers!
547.8TaCGOOA::LMILLERhasten slowlyTue Mar 03 1992 11:435
    re: -1
    
    Thank you.  I was trying not to answer as I was thinking about
    SHOUTING.  Mutter, mutter mummble. Enough said.
    
547.9train from Calgary - OntarioVAOU02::BOTMANPieter Botman - Vancouver EISTue Mar 03 1992 14:3223
    I agree with the previous notes, its a long trip to cross the prairies
    (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) by car.
    
    I suggest you drive/camp from Vancouver to Calgary, take the train from
    Calgary or Edmonton to Ontario, then drive/camp around Southern Ont.
    (Toronto, Lake Huron, Algonquin Park, Ottawa, Montreal, Kingston,
    Thousand Islands, Toronto.
    
    By doing the prairies on the train, you can "see" the countryside,
    and relax.  You also don't have to pay large fees for dropping off
    your Van or Camper vehicle on the other side of the country!
    
    You have some flexibility in Ontario, you can get off the train in the 
    Northern part of the province and continue your road journey from
    there.  Remember that an approximate circle would be North (say Sudbury
    or Parry Sound / Lake Huron) -> Algonquin Park -> Ottawa -> Montreal
    -> Thousand Islands -> Kingston -> Toronto
    
    Bon voyage
    Pieter
    
    
    
547.10Photographers Dream !MAJORS::ROWELLBoink !Wed Mar 04 1992 06:0314
>    I agree with the previous notes, its a long trip to cross the prairies
>    (Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba) by car.
    
    Yeah, but the scenery is fantastic !
    
    There are the wheat fields, the wheat silos, the fence posts, the long
    straight road disappearing into a golden sea of wheat, the occaisional
    town !
    
    Ah what memories of the time we drove from Ottawa to Winnipeg. What fun
    we had playing I Spy !   ;)
    
    Wayne.
          
547.11towns??OASS::BURDEN_D'24 Stude - The only way to TourWed Mar 04 1992 09:456
You actually saw some towns??  Sounds exactly like my trip to ND, fields,
new barns, old barn, collapsed barns, fences, exit ramps.  The only good point
was seeing a sign for a major city 155 miles away and realizing we'd be there
in 2 hours.....

Dave
547.12Long Trip IndeedBOOVX2::FRITZMon Mar 09 1992 07:5812
    A few years back, I drove with friends from Sydney, NS to Victoria, BC.
    A very long trip indeed.  I was helping them move cross country.  With
    three drivers, driving ~10 hrs/day...took SIX days.  We attributed the
    longness because of the poor highways and the fact we had a truck
    pulling a car too.  
    
    re .3  I agree...the most difficult part is going to find a RV rental
    that's one way.  I work p/t at a car rental agency....this is a major
    issue with renters.
    
    rf