07/05/2018

Manic 2 Power Plant Campgrounds

Somewhere on Hwy 389

We reached Baie-Comeau about 4 pm. To early to stop but too late to set off towards Labrador City, Labrador. We decided to start up Hwy 389 and find a campground nearby.

Rick giving directions. Me trying to follow them. We take off and end up down this very good gravel road looking for this campground that was supposed to be just 9 kilometers off 389. We ended up out in East Tooly Nowhere about 10 kilometers in the deep woods when the technology went dead and no camping grounds were found as we passed the 9 kilometer mark. What to do??? Being tired, hungry and ready to stop we backtracked to 389 and turned North.

We did get a glimpse of what is to come on the gravel roads. We learned two important things about dust and speed. We had a local in a pickup truck pass us on the way 'in'. Within 2 seconds the dust blowing up totally blinded us. We could not see the front bumper. I braked to a dead stop and waited a couple of minutes for the dust hanging in the air to settle enough to proceed. 35 MPH is about as fast as we could go on the gravel with all the up/down and curves. If the gravel roads between Happy Valley to Blanc-Sablon are the same type we were just on that part of the trip is going to be slower than we had planned.

Anyway, another 30 kilometers down the road we find this campground Manic 2. Relief swept over us as we pulled in because we saw empty camping pads. If only that feeling had lasted.

We pull up to the 'front gate' to find a rope pulled across it and a portly late thirties early forties lady standing in the middle of the road. We park, get out and her first word in French were "Do you speak French"?

Our first assigned parking spot was in the middle of a gravel field. No water or power and we are grateful!!!!!! (-; After a dinner of bologna, cream cheese and cheese bread sandwiches, I approached Jean the road lady. Carrying my camper power cord with me as an AV, II asked for a space with 30 amp power and to my delight she understood. We were located with the big drive through campers and near the toilets / showers. Joy! Joy!

After getting all settled in we took a walk around the lake and enjoy the chill of the evening setting in. It started to rain during the night. What a soothing sound on a roof. Until you realize you have a leak around the side window seal. (-; Fortunately it was small and a minor adjustment of the mattress allowed us to sleep well until morning.