Gagnon Ghost town

Yesterday was such a beautiful day with the sun shining, the blackflies biting, and a nontravel day. Today we start our trip encountering a nasty hill and gravel roads. It is significantly cooler and it’s raining. The one good thing about rain, it keeps the dust at a minimum. I have no idea how cool it is, none of us have heard the news or weather in 3 days. I don’t even know who won the Ontario election, not that I really care. 

Like I said our first challenge is climbing the hill to get over the dam. We are camped at the base and have to get to the top. Fortunately I took the truck up yesterday to see the view and knew what was coming, Susan did not. What goes up must come down, it’s an 18% grade know matter how you see it. Part way up we have pavement with steep drop offs to the gravel.

18% grade are you kidding me

Now that's a road note the upper portion, it got worse...the lower portion was easy

Wow was that a challenge but Precious came through again. Once on top the gravel road was pretty good due to the grader being 5 miles in front of us. As we passed him the road got even better. How can that be? I would have rather driven on these roads then on the pothole paved road to Manic 3.

When Manic 5 dam was built, a man made reservoir was created in the Manicouagan Crater. This crater was formed about 214 million years after a meteorite hit earth with the impact 40 million times greater than the atomic bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima. The crater with the lake and island in the middle is visible from space and is often referred to as “the eye of Quebec”.  This reservoir feeds Manic 2, 3, and 5. As we continued down the gravel road we got our last glimpses of the lake 80 km later.

"The eye of Quebec"

As we approached Relais-Gabriel which is the halfway point to our next destination we stopped for diesel. When gas or diesel is available you have to take advantage of it. On these desolate roads you never know how far away the next station is and if there is a gas station they might not have diesel. There are S.O.S. phones every 50 to 75 kms apart. Could be trouble if you’re caught half way in-between.

Curt fueling up at $1.89 per liter

Leaving the gas station was joyous because we are now on a wonderfully paved road. How little things make us happy. We all take paved roads for granted but here in the north they are a luxury. Looking off in the distance we could see the Groulx Mountains. The Innu call these mountains Uapishka or “white mountain” because they are snow-capped nine months of the year. These mountains include some 30 peaks and over 1000 meters (3500 ft.) in altitude.

Little patch of snow on the front side...lots on the backside

A short distance down the road we encountered our first narrow bridge. One lane, hopefully no traffic is coming the other way. A stop sign controlled the bridge. I stopped to take pictures of the river and waterfall. A very recent forest fire devastated the area.

Our first narrow all wood bridge

The forest fire did not cross the river here

The forest fire team was still on site in a couple of locations putting out hot spots. You could smell the recent burning of wood as we passed the area.

As we crossed our 2nd narrow bridge we stopped to take in the scenery and the sounds of the rushing river. I watched a transport truck driver cross the bridge with my eyes shut. She didn't even slow down for the stop sign. She drove across the bridge at full speed. No policing up here. Come to think of it, I haven't seen a police officer since Baie Comeau.

All wood, very narrow, stay on the boards

Arriving at Gagnon ghost town shortly after lunch time we chose a place on concrete to ensure some levelness.

Yeah concrete pad with no hookups how often do you get that

Gagnon was once a thriving community of iron ore workers. When the bottom fell out of the market, the town closed up shop, everything was dismantled and toren down. All that is left is the concrete where the buildings once stood. Chris, Curt and I decided to drive up the dirt road to see what is on the other side. Another forest fire occurred. This one long ago, they are clearing the area and replanting.

They were cutting and replanting this area

On the way back down we saw some evidence of bear. I didn't have any bear spray so we didn't venture far from the car.

Bear Poo...my first

There’s nothing like sitting around a campfire discussing the day’s events.

Larry making a campfire

Man, it is cold all of us had our winter jackets on. The people from Florida and South Carolina are freezing. It's cozy up around the fire time with a cocktail.