Fresh out of them and told it's a good road & lots of traffic on it this time of year. It was suggested we check in at the hotel in Churchill Falls for one (which was on our route).
Labrador city is about 15 km east of the Quebec/Labrador border. Labrador west is an iron-ore mining centre. Both Labrador city & Wabush were built in the 1950's because the local iron-ore deposits are the largest in the world.
The notorious Hwy 389 left behind gladly! Although a motorcyclist's dream due to the large number of curves, Pat described it as "the Dragon", vs "the tail of the Dragon - the southern tip of the Blue Ridge Parkway.
I was tempted to buy a T-shirt, hat or decal saying "I survived Hwy 389" but they were all in French.
Hwy 500 is what we are on now to Goose Bay/Labrador. It is a really well constructed road with sweeping curves, long, straight sections & (dirt) pull-offs used by workers who service the hydro lines that follow along the highway.
Haven't seen too much wildlife. A squirrel & rabbit ran across our path, a lovely red bird glanced off my helmet (I hope anyway).
It smells divine as we coast along at about 100 km/hr in a posted 80 km zone. No police out patrolling the roads here either.
When we stop every 100 km or so for a break, the quiet is breathtaking, only nature sounds & the occasional car/truck passing by.
The clouds are continually shifting, light rain showers hit for 10 min or so and then stops & our riding gear dries off quickly.
The headsets have been giving Pat grief....sometimes they work, sometimes they charge up, sometimes they don't....one time mine works, his doesn't and vice versa.
We knew today was going to be a long one with over 500 km (on pavement). Regular breaks are essential.
Churchill Falls on our route to stop at to check for a satellite phone (again none available) and to get gas. It is the site of one of the world's largest underground hydroelectric generating stations.
The signage to get to town poor & being a company town, no need for signs about what buildings are where.
We found the hotel, housed in a large, multi-use building, along with the library, post office, grocery store, etc. by asking a local.
The housing is all pre-fab, box style housing in Churchill Falls
Leaving Churchill Falls. Heading to Happy Valley/Goose Bay
Entering Happy Valley/Goose Bay
We stayed at a local B & B in HV/GB. The town is the main service centre for central & northern Labrador. More recently, the local airbase was a training centre NATO.
Labradorite coasters at the B & B. Labradorite is a kind of granite
All 3 of our Labrador accommodations were booked months ago due to black fly season. We haven't done any camping yet due to wet weather conditions.
It's been so cold & wet, very few bugs. In fact they had frost up to just a few weeks ago. The mornings have been cool on the bikes. We saw snow numerous times by the side of the road today!
Tomorrow will be our most challenging day on the Trans Labrador Highway....400 km, most of it dirt, remote with no satellite phone.
Total mileage - 540 km
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