My sister is looking for some assistance for a friend. The friend needs to drive from Ottawa to the west coast to get to her aging parents. She'll be towing some sort of camping trailer , with two dogs and a six year old. Because no camp grounds are open this time of year she needs someplace to stop overnight. No need for any contact, just needs a place to park and plug in . Can anyone lend a hand?
In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :
I'm not but you'll need to be more specific, Ottawa is south eastern Ontario almost Quebec, northern Ontario is massive. If she's far enough up we're talking days of driving just to get to "southern Ontario"
Apparently she's figuring three or four days to get to Winnipeg, depending on where she can stop and how well each day goes. Towing a trailer will keep her daily mileage fairly low, I would think. She'll be going along the Trans-Canada through Sudbury and the Sault. The long gap is the Sault to Thunder Bay. Anyone along that route that could accomodate her can let me know and I can pass along contact info through my sister.
Walmart parking lots where she can find them. North Bay, Sudbury, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay - substitute Timmins for SSM, if she goes the north route (which is better). She needs to be ready for any weather at this time of the year. Still winter up there.
Skip the trailer and stay in hotels??
I understand not wanting to be in hotel rooms, but man the trailer is going to kill gas mileage, and daily average distance. Plus a travel trailer in the snow, unless you are REALLY experienced driving one could be deadly.
She really should stick to the Northern Route (HWY 11, not 17). From the Sault to Thunder Bay is a long distance with damn few people. The semi's tend to stick to the North route, so if you get into trouble there's always help around.
There's also a Walmart in Kap.
I also feel HWY11 this time of year is a safer bet. However, if they go along Lake Superior during daylight hours and the weather forecast looks reasonable, they'll be totally fine. That is IF the vehicle/trailer combination doesn't mind the hills.
I'm in Winnipeg, so I can't offer much assistance.
I did go to Thunder Bay and back in one day recently, and advise that fuel range may be an issue after 6pm as all the small stations close, probably even more so with Covid. Plus a trailer doesn't help mileage. Plan stops carefully and bring a Jerry can. I didn't and almost got stranded.
In reply to Run_Away :
I'll pass that on. Thanks
If she's going up Hwy 11, we have a parking lot she can use near Burks Falls but there's no power and it's kinda off the main route. More importantly, if she only gets as far as Burks Falls from Ottawa in one day she's never going to get to the west coast! Come to think of it, I don't know if the lot was plowed over the winter so it may not be accessible.
Might be worth packing a little generator so she's not dependent on shore power.
I've done this same drive myself in a Miata in late April, and there's definitely a lack of campgrounds. We were staying in a tent so it was a bit easier to find a place to stay. We hopped at least one closed gate and camped in a campground that never knew we were there...
In reply to Keith Tanner :
My sister offered to send her money for a generator and she refused, hence the need for shore power. Apparently she's pretty independently minded.
It would seem that the generator option is the independent option, but that's just me :)
Keith Tanner said:Burks Falls
Screaming Heads!!! 
In reply to DeadSkunk (Warren) :
Warren bc211 has been extended to all BC, available by phone in BC also available online, they'll try and match seniors and local community members who will volunteer
In reply to Rons :
Thank you for that! I'll pass that on ASAP.
Any idea where the folks are Warren?
You'll need to log in to post.
