Day 14 - How it was made possible...

Last night's Day 13 post I did sitting in McDonalds... After, I went back to U-Haul  truck and took power nap from roughly 11:30PM till 2AM... Woke up, went to use McDonalds' restroom to brush teeth and wash face, nope, door is locked.. OK, went around the drive-thru to get coffee - system is down for another 45 minutes...

So, went back to the truck and went to nearby gas station where I did what I needed. No, not showers... Rub my eyes with cold water... So I drove for an hour and felt like I'm stil haven't woken up yet. Was passing small mountain village and pulled into information center parking...

I think another hour was sufficient as, when I opened my eyes at 5AM, it's was already early dawn, but foggy...

Most of the roads between Baie-Cameau and Quebec City is through the mountings, plus morning fog on top, really slowed me down. Despite road condition...

Half way there was a 10 min ferry, which is free and pretty well organized... 

I arrived at Quebec City Triumph dealership at 9:30AM and found door locked...

Thursday night, when I talked to them, Dave, the coordinator for Service Department told me he will try have a technician on Saturday, as only Sales work through weekends.. I found they open at 10 and went up nearby McDonalds for breakfast...

When I returned, probably seeing big truck parking, Dave met me and, after grabbing the technician Alex, went inside cargo to assess...

As I though, we all figured what's needed. At that time, Alex pulled sales tag from a brand new bike on the floor and went comparing parts between two different VINs... Match...

After short conversation with Dave, Alex waved me to go ahead unload my bike while getting showroom bike rolled into the shop as well...

Once this was sorted, I had to pack and reorganize alli had scattered throughout the truck, living in it for 24 hours.. Then drove to drop it off... Using Uber App got the taxi back...

Upon arrival I got to see the dsmage...

So, now I'm in Schenectady, New York at Bombers bar eating dinner. Tomorrow is gonna be the final 700-mile push back home...

There isn't going to be a "Day 15" post, but an Epilogue of the Expedition to explore and discover, - really, not a vacation...

By the way, some of the pictures that haven't made to blog yet due to unforeseen circumstances, from the day the drive shaft broke...

Met Mike Bueller at Churchill Falls an hour before drive shaft attak.. He is a known member of Adventure Riders' community on ADVRIDER forum... He I'd from Newfoundland, but works at the Hydro company in Churchills Falls...

He is the guy I gave telephone number of to passing by travelers on Trans-Lab highway, and who dropped work, grabbed company truck and a few ramps and rushed for rescue once he received the phone call... 

This is the last picture I took before leaving Churchill Falls...

Day 14 - back on schedule...

Quebec City Triumph dealer, Moto Vanier Quebec brought technician on his day off, took needed parts from new bike off of showroom and put on mine...

Details later...

Day 13 - "...by any means"

After few considerations and phone conversations decided that economically hauling bike is the best joins...

Ordering parts, even if they were redily available to ship, takes still 3-4 days, as only planes come to Lab City are from Gander or St John's Newfoundland... To those cities, only flights from Ottawa or Montreal/Quebec City... So, fair is ridiculously high with not much outcome... Mechanic at local Yamaha shop said, sometimes regular post comes before express.

But, not all the parts redily available...

Secondly, only same make dealer authorized to perform inspection and submit claim - closest one is in Quebec City... Called, spoke, they are closed tomorrow... But, he will come to assess and get the bike for storage till Monday...

In the meantime, I was working on alternative, and, the tow company owner also manages U-Hauls (his father does actually), had to call Halifax depot and arrange the box truck... 

I'm in Baie-Cameau, Quebec Province, all the way to the east - nobody speaks English... I'm having McDonalds, power nap and push on to Quebec City into the night...

I plan to check in the truck and check back out to Cary, NC

I wanted to change reservation just after I placed it, but lady at the depot recommended just that, as cost from Lab City is considered rural area, and from Quebec City it's gonna be cheaper...

366 miles, 40% is gravel, 30% paved ok, 10% paved smoothly, 5% paved, then explosives planted and road blown out, 5% paved, blown, patched - should've just left gravel on...

Day 12 - broke down, towed to Labrador City

I'm OK, drive shaft u-joint broke (as far as I can tell without disassembling)... I chose nice spot to break though, 60 miles west of fog Churchill Falls and 90 miles west of Labrador City... I will explain details later, but, by this post I would like to personally thank Stephen Townsend and Mark Brown for promptly contacting Royal Newfoundland Constabulary and Cst Justin Day for entertaining me in his Police car while waiting for tow truck... I broke down 1:30PM, Police came 3:30PM and tow truck arrived 5:50PM... Aldo, thanks Mike Bueller, ADVRIDER member for dropping work and driving all off way down Trans-Labrador Highway to check on me...

Update later..

Day 11 - I've reached my destination...

Last night at the Pimware River Provincial Park was a nightmare… Well, due to those Black Flies, I didn't do anything, but talked to neighbor and went to bed… Inside tent was OK… Woke up 4AM, then got up at 6:20AM… Quickly packed as those flies won't leave me alone standing still - had to walk back and forth…

Finally, had about 12-13 stings, which actually a bites… Once they bite, they bite off a piece of skin and you bleed instantly..

Couldn't wait to get on bike moving, so I did… Stopped by Port Hope Simpson for gas, which was last gas station for 252 miles or so..

Stopped to change time back 30 minutes…

Here is where road splits

About 50 miles before Goose Bay road improved...

I was short about 20 miles of full gas tank to reach another gas station for refueling...

Bridge just before Goos Bay had large truck load coming through…

Good night…

Day 10 - I'm in Labrador

Woke up 5:40AM, had my usual noodles and coffee and went on to St. Anthony to see if there were any icebergs or wales, - there were either…

Arrived at the Labrador ferry terminal at 10AM, some three hours before departure and bought the ticket for $12.70 canadians - one way…

Once on board, had a lunch with soup, cheeseburger and famous Canadian Poutine (regular fries topped with cheese and gravy). Bye-bye Newfoundland, the Big Rock...

Hello Labrador, the Big Land

In Quebec province, where ferry arrives, some 3 miles before Labrador ferry

I'm camping in Pinware River Provincial park, being eaten by Labrador famous Black Flies.