Day 4 – Mid 1 (Manic-5, Camping)

I started early out of Baie Comeau, excited to get going on the first leg of QC-389, the famous highway that connects with the Trans-Labrador 500 (Which I just realized doesn’t have Streetview) just west of Labrador City. A quick stop at Tim Horton’s for more substantial breakfast and off I went, first stop, Manic-5.

The Manic-5 hydroelectric project is massive. Unfortunately, we weren’t allowed cameras inside (“Industrial Security) but the outside was an impressive amount of concrete mixed with design. Close to 3,000 MW of capacity, fed by the Manicouagan Reservoir, also called “The Eye of Quebec”, an ancient impact crater. I did the tour (The only English speaker so I had a dedicated presentation room with presenter and my own personal guide, all for free, reservation required)

I arrived about 2 hours early and feeling peckish walked (Yes walked!?) to Motel de l’Energie after being told it was just 900m away. Lacking internet, I trusted directions, my watch however told me it was almost 3km each way.

Back on the bike after chatting with a few of the other bikers there (Bunch from Toronto) I headed North along the 389 to find a campsite. Traffic really became sparse, the road turned to gravel and standing on the bike reminded me how much cooler my suit (See Blog Title Picture) is when standing up. More of the vents face the headwind.

I turned down a small gravel road, headed to the end of it and found a quiet spot to camp, next to a small river and lake to splash some water on myself. This is why I call them Mid (-1, -2, -3) since they’re just there so I’m not spending 6+ hours riding each day. There are trips like that, but I endeavoured to not let this be one of those unless mechanical trouble or something else eat a day and I need to make up time.

Dinner (Pad Thai, cooked in a bag) and emergency coffee (I missed my mid-day coffee and felt the headache start) and setting up camp took the rest of the daylight. The ground was soft enough for me to wipe out in my little camp chair (one leg would sink in and I’d go flying) twice, but not soft enough to put tent pegs down. I’m glad I brought a mosquito net for my head. The rest was covered and the 275 species of bugs were by far more interested in my head than my hands.

All the running water has a rust/reddish colour, dissolved iron apparently. I asked my guide would he drink it, the answer no. Asking about swimming in it, he also said no, but we were looking at the outflow from the hydro power plant so that might have been because of the turbulent water instead.

I did leave the 360 cam on all night taking some video, attached below.