Cross Canada and Back, Part 33

Éole Wind Turbine in Cap-Chat and Gaspé Provincial Park, Québec.

It is the 31st of July 2011 and day 77 of our cross Canada trip. The plan for the day is to go and visit the Éole, the worlds tallest vertical-axis wind turbine, located close to Cap-Chat. The province of Québec has a lot of wind turbines and produces most of its own power from water and wind. For more information on the Province of Québec, have a look at our website www.WeDiscoverCanada.ca

View Cap-Chat and Gaspé Provincial Park, Québec Canada in a larger map

The tour of the Éole is very interesting and informative. The Éole is no longer in operation since the early 90's. It was originally a research project. The wind turbine was operational for some time but the maintenance costs became prohibitive.

Liz at Cap-Chat Wind farm

Anders in front of Éole, the worlds tallest vertical-axis wind turbine

As it is, it is a white elephant and a tourist attraction, but Québec learned a lot, they now have the expertise to build and improve their own smaller wind turbines. 

Éole

Inside, under Éole.... it's massive.

At the beginning of the project all parts came from Europe. Now Québec makes most of the parts themselves and export the expertise and know-how. The company that runs the Cap-Chat wind farm sells the power to Hydro Québec.

Cap-Chat wind farm

Cap-Chat wind farm

Éole

After lunch the plan is to head in-land on highway 299 to Gaspé Provincial Park or Parc National de la Gaspésie, located in the heart of the Gaspé Peninsula. The park is 802 km² with plenty of things to do. Very beautiful with rolling treed hills.

On our way to  Gaspé Provincial Park

Nature show.

The visitor center is great, including the restaurant. Here you can rent cabins, hotel rooms and complete tents. 

Liz at the Visitor Center

We hiked in to "Lac aux Américains", a three km hike. Wonderful scenery with trout in the rivers. Next time we will spend more time here for sure

Liz hiking in to Lac aux Américains

Liz at  Lac aux Américains

Anders at  Lac aux Américains

Lake trout

Lake trout

Lake trout

For more pictures from this part of our trip, click on the picture below or go directly to the slide-show here

éole windturbine & Gaspé Prov. Park, QC

Cheers, 


Anders and Liz

Here are some shortcuts to all the blogs from our Cross Canada Trip. Just hover over the number to see where it will take you

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60,   61,  62,  63,  64,  65.

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Cross Canada and Back, Part 32

Tete D'Indien to Cap-Chat along the St.Lawrence River, Gaspésie, Québec 

It is the 30th of July 2011 and day 76 of our Cross Canada Trip.  We break camp and we are on our way toward the north coast of the Gaspe Peninsula in the province of Québec. 

Tete D'Indien Rock

Tete D'Indien Rock

Tete D'Indien Rock

Before leaving we shoot a few pictures of the Tete d'Indien rock and off we go. The weather is a mixed bag, rain, cloudy and some sun for ten seconds at the time.

View Tete D'Indien to Cap-Chat along the St.Lawrence River, Gaspésie, Quebec, Canada in a larger map

We decide to take the long way around, Hwy 132, then 197 and back on the 132 again at Riviere au Renard close to the mouth of the St. Lawrence River. We are driving west along the St. Lawrence River towards Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and it is a beautiful country side. 

Beautiful Country Side

The road is up and down with lots of curves.

The road.... Well, my knuckles are a different colour, the temperature of the motor is up a few degrees, not hot but warm. The cause is the 8, 10 and 13% grade, up and down we go and the truck gets a good workout. Not a problem, actually fun if the potholes in the road would have disappeared. I'm sure some of the potholes have had the odd Beetle or Smart car for breakfast.

Pit stop along the St Lawrence River

Then finally from around Gros-Morne (not Gros-Morne in NL) the road is fairly level and winds along the St. Lawrence River. Here, we encounter other problems: the river has taken its toll on the road, with wash-outs and lots of road work. All this aside, this part of the trip is worth seeing. The vistas are spectacular.

Town of Cloridorme, we are heading west.

Wonderful rest stops along the way.

From Gros-Morne the road is not as hilly anymore but the St Lawrence River has made its marks in places.

Eventually we arrive in Sainte-Anne-de-Monts. The campground is not what we were hoping for, so we make a big loop and head for Cap-Chat, Camping au bord du mer right on the St. Lawrence River. 

A nice young couple owns the campground. Service oriented is the motto here; you can even get fresh cooked lobster delivered to your RV. Just a wonderful setting. We take a nice walk along the beach before firing up the BBQ and the frying pan. 

Camping au bord du mer

A walk along the beach by the campground.

Liz on the beach with windmills in the background .

This area has lots of wind mills. The area is one of the top 20 places to visit in Quebec according to their tourist information. We make plans to go and see the Eole tomorrow, the worlds larges wind mill. More on this in our next blog.

More on the wind farms in this area in our next blog.

For more pictures from this part of the trip, click on the image below or go directly to the slide show here.

Tete D'Indien to Cap-Chat along the St.Lawrence River, Gaspésie, QC

Cheers, Anders & Liz

Here are some shortcuts to all the blogs from our Cross Canada Trip. Just hover over the number to see where it will take you

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11,   12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20

21,   22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  29b

30,   31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36,  37,  38,  39,

40,   41,  42,  43,  44,  45,  46,  47,  48,  49,

50,   51,  52,  53,  54,  55,  56,  57,  58,  59,

60,   61,  62,  63,  64,  65.


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Cross Canada and Back, Part 31

Forillon Parc National du Canada or Forillon National Parc of Canada

It is the 29th of July 2011 and day 75 of our Cross Canada and Back Trip. Today we are driving to Parc National du Canada Forillon or in English, Forillon National Park of Canada in the province of Quèbec.

Drive to Forillon National Park

Drive to Forillon National Park around Baie de Gaspé

Forillon National Park or Forillon Parc national du Canada

 It takes us about 1.5 hrs to drive there around the Baie de Gaspé. The weather is overcast but warm.


View Bonaventure - Percé - Tete d'Indian, Québec. Canada in a larger map


We stopped in at the Parc Information Center. There was no boutique here just information, on the south side in Penouille. As we drive on toward the southern tip, one can see that there were fishing villages along the way. Some of these fishing villages are still active and outside the park, others are abandoned, and one is a museum,  like the National Heritage Side Grande-Grave.

Grande-Grave National Historic Site

Now that's a cod

Grande-Grave National Historic Site - drying cod

Grande-Grave National Historic Site - Dried cod as far as the eye can see

Forillon National Park is a large Park and covers 240 km² of wilderness and the shore lines go
on forever. 

We have arrived at the end of the road and have to go on foot from here on. The trail leading in, used to be a road called Boulevard de Grande Grave, but is now mostly a hiking trail, and the road is just used for park employees. The walk is about 4-5 km each way on mostly pretty good trails. 

Liz in Forillon National Park

Anders on the way to Cap Gaspe

We check our back packs and strap them on, with bear spray attached on our hips. We were stopped at the park gate and were told to watch out for black bears. There are lots of signs warning that we are in bear country.

You are in Bear country. Be aware.

The walk through the park is wonderful through forest, along the coast high above the water, through old meadows, and an almost dead forest. By the time we are arriving at the tip of the peninsula at the light house, we have worked up an appetite for some lunch. Our sandwiches taste so good.

Enjoying lunch at the cape

Cape Gaspe light house in the back ground.

After lunch we take a small trail down towards the water hoping to spot some whales. No luck this time, but there are plenty of shore birds.

Liz hiking a small trail down to a view point

It was worth the hike

On the way back we take a different route, a small gravel trail. Two cyclist stopped and warned us about a black bear ahead. Sure enough - up ahead there is nice looking black bear, probably 2-3 years old foraging for berries and other food along the trail and bushes. 

A 2-3 year old black bear is looking for food on the trail

Black bears need to eat tons of food to survive the winters

There is plenty to eat in the park for the black bear.

Liz is running the movie camera while I have my pepper spray ready, just in case. The bear takes one look at us, and mumbles to himself: "those guys are ugly, better leave" and promptly disappears into the under-brush.




We continue our hike toward the entrance, and we are warning the in-bound hikers as we meet them. We also tell the park warden on our way out, and show her our pictures and movie of the bear.

On our way back from Cape Gaspe

Nature showing off

What are you supposed to do if you encounter a bear? According to the information pamphlet we received at Forillon National Park it says:

Be Bear Smart

"Pay attention to the bear's behaviour and adapt accordingly. And in any case, stay calm, avoid making sudden movements and keep your children by your side. If the bear hasn't noticed you yet, make some sounds to avoid taking it by surprise. Then, back up slowly, making sure the bear still has a clear path to get away. In most cases, the bear will run off. If a bear does attack - something that happens only very rarely - defend your self! The idea is to impress the bear, to look strong and ferocious! Raising your voice, grabbing a branch or stick and waving it so you look bigger are all good solutions."

Plant life in Forillon National Park and Cape Gaspe are plentiful 

Forillon National Park and Cape Gaspe at is's best 

Almost back at the truck in the Cape Gaspe parking lot.

So beautiful, overlooking Baie de Gaspé

Percé Rock or Rocher Percé viewed from Forillon National Park

We drive slowly back to camp taking in the incredible scenery and views. We can even see Percé Rock / Rocher Percé in the distance. This was another fantastic day.

For more pictures from Forillon National Park, click on the image below or go directly to the slide show here.

Forillion Nat. Park, Gaspe, QC

Cheers,

Liz and Anders

Here are some shortcuts to all the blogs from our Cross Canada Trip. Just hover over the number to see where it will take you

 1,    2,    3,     4,    5,    6,    7,    8,    9,   10

11,   12,  13,  14,  15,  16,  17,  18,  19,  20

21,   22,  23,  24,  25,  26,  27,  28,  29,  29b

30,   31,  32,  33,  34,  35,  36,  37,  38,  39,

40,   41,  42,  43,  44,  45,  46,  47,  48,  49,

50,   51,  52,  53,  54,  55,  56,  57,  58,  59,

60,   61,  62,  63,  64,  65.


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