Bah Humbug…

June 3rd, 2008 Paul

So, as you probably know, if you have also been reading Sarah’s Blog, some gypsy is living off of our money in Lyon, France. Why is he talking about that, this is about the adventure, I hear you say. No reason really but to give the news that I will be waiting a couple of weeks until the money is returned before I buy the tickets for the train. In the mean time, please feel free to click on the adverts at the side so we don’t have to eat cheese on toast for the next 3 weeks…

Anyway, on to better news. I looked into the journey up to Sept-Isles. It will take about 21hours to drive there. Looks like a stop around Quebec will be in order. That is about 12 hours into the journey, making a two day journey fine. The second leg will be along roads that aren’t so good so the journey will be slower. The other option we have is a 31 hour journey up to Labrador City with a shorter train journey. Either way, the drive will be over two days and will not be too bad. I wonder if I will be allowed to play some techno music in the car…hhmmm. Sarah says that will keep him awake in order to read the map so I guess we shall have music.

The other thing I have looked into is flights over to the States. Cheapest option is Nortwest Airlines via Detroit. I would have snapped this up already but I have no idea what either NWA are like or Detroit. The biggest thing is Detroit. I have heard rumours, malicious I’m sure, that the airport is a bit of a dump and not an easy transfer to/from international flight. There will be no time to nip out and visit the Ford factory though Anyone out there got any informed opinions on Detroit or Northwest Airlines?

So, next time I shall tell you how the gun club application is progressing and about the funny looks my work mates gave me when they saw my latest choice of reading material.

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Quick Update

May 31st, 2008 Paul

I just called QNS&L to book the train tickets but the office is only open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5pm.

I did however find out that the train departs Sept-Isles at 9am Monday and Thursday and departs Schefferville 8am Tuesday and Friday.

Posted in Hunting, Schefferville, Trains | No Comments »

The Train…

May 20th, 2008 Paul

So, here is a quick video of the train from Sept-Isles.

There are more if you go here.

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Just where are we going?

May 20th, 2008 Paul

So, tonight I called, sorry, tried to call the Iron Ore Company and Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway. I would link to them but they do not seem to have a web site. So little technology this will be easy I hear you say…..how wrong you can be!

Anyway, I called the number supplied, 1 709 944 8400 and was confronted by a Canadian voice message. My options were to press one to use the voice recognition system, press two to enter the extension of the person you want to speak to or…….you get the drift. This is perfect if you want a job or anything related to the Iron Ore Company.

I listened for a while and thought, yes naively, the train will get a mention soon. Just information of booking would be fine. Nothing but silence. I now start thinking “Great, the operator will come on and help” but no the voice recognition system comes on. Again I listen and get told to say the name of the person I wish to talk to but still cannot make the connection to trains. At the end I get told I can say “Department List” so I give this a go. First option went past in a Canadian blur and into the list of iron ore related things, like tool shop or furnace. but nothing.

I give up and ask Sarah to listen, maybe it is a language thing and the words Train or Information are different in Canada. So, Sarah listens says nothing also and gets put to someone’s voice mail!?!?! A quick conference later and we are at the conclusion I need to call the outfitter for the non-comedy number. Before I do this though I think about the Canadian blur and think, “maybe that was an abbreviation for Quebec North Shore and Labrador Railway. I give it another go and sure enough the first department is QNSnL. Several attempts at saying that later, yes I even tried a very bad Canadian accent, it gives up on me and decides to put me through to the reception. Finally, a human. Sorry, no, another recording. This one sympathizes with my difficulty and tells me to try again, Click….

One more try before Sarah has to speak to the machine…. Success, I get put through to the station Happy days. “Hello blah mumble” says the voice. “Hello,” replies I, what did he say? Am I through to the furnace room I wonder. “I’m after some information about the train from Sept Isles to Schefferville.” “No problem, I will give you the number.”

So, the number to enquire about trains is 1 418 962 5530. I know what you are thinking now….418, that isn’t 709 so just where is it? French speaking Quebec is where.

Stay tuned for part 2 where I am faced with non-native English speakers…..

Posted in Hunting, Schefferville, Trains, Travel | No Comments »

The Great Adventure Begins…..

May 18th, 2008 Paul

So, the Caribou hunt has now been booked and we have received the official list of what to take.

Sarah’s father (my father-in-law) asked me a while ago if I would like to go to Canada with him to hunt Caribou in September. I said yes and will now be going on my first ever hunt. Apparently this is a bigger deal than a local deer hunt but living in London anything like this would be a big deal.

We have booked with Drover’s Labrador Outfitters and need to get to the middle of nowhere (Schefferville) in mid-September. Just try to get Google maps to plot a route there for you….

The list of things to take is particularly useful….I need clothes, well, layers of clothes because the temperature could be anything from warm to sub-zero. Seems like we are guaranteed rain though. They also recommend a hat and outer shell of blaze orange. I am thinking of trying to get something like this. It will cover me for cold and wet weather and is also the required colour. What do you think, Roger? As my mentor in this I will await your conformation before buying one. Do you want me to get one for you while I’m at it?

We are also told to bring our sunglasses, camera and binoculars. Just where are they taking us that I need my orange suit, sunglasses and a camera?!?! It really isn’t a cool look, maybe it is a joke against us foreigners and we will be on YouTube.

I have now applied for membership at my local gun club. this will get me the required safety certificate and also make sure I can hit something other than my foot. I will post more later about what you need to do to get a gun license over here and also some information about deer hunting over here in the UK.

Keep checking back to find out how the preparations go. I will also post a picture of me in my suit as soon as I get it

Posted in Clothing, Hunting, Shooting, Travel | 1 Comment »