2CVs To Tackle the Trans-Labrador Highway

Of all the Citroën Clubs in North America the Citroën 2CV Club Quebec organizes the most outings. With over a dozen happening this year, their next one is a trek through Northern Quebec and Labrador covering 3,500 kms of wilderness.

Alain Grégoire and Nicole Sheinck have mapped out a route that will start on on August 25 in Victoriaville Quebec and they will journey for 3 days to Baie-Comeau on Quebec’s North coast of the Gulf of St. Lawrence where the primary portion of the trip that they refer to as Expédition 51 will commence.

A group of 8 people (2 women and 6 men from different regions, Ottawa, South Shore of Montreal, Victoriaville, Magog, Coaticook and a person from France) wanting to discover the beautiful landscape of Northeastern Québec and Labrador will pile into 4 2CVs for the trip. During the course of their adventure, they will stop at Tourisme de la Côte Nord, the massive Manic 5 power dam, Arcelor Mittal Mines located in Fermont, take guided tours of Fermont and Labrador City, visit of the Churchill Falls power dam, go to each end of Route 138, and take the Bella-Desgagnés ferry for a portion of the trip where is no coastal road.

They plan to dine with the local folk of Labrador who are pleased to share their stories and tell how they appreciate life there.

Starting in Baie-Comeau on Route 289, the drive is 1,700 km long and will take at least 26 hours. It crosses Labrador from west to east on Routes 500 and 510 then continues down to the Lower North Shore on Route 138, about 220 kms to Blanc-Sablon. From there they will take the M/V Bella-Desgagnés ferry that brings supplies to the Lower North Shore’s coastal villages. From the ship’s deck, they will watch some 500 km of scenic coastline glide by and stroll through picturesque fishing villages that are only accessible by sea. Arriving in Kegaska, the first place where you can pick up Route 138 again, they will take a 650-km, 8-hour drive along the north shore of the St.Lawrence and passing back through Baie-Comeau on Sept. 13 and eventually returning to the start location in Victoriaville on September 16.

Fortunately all roads they will travel on are now paved, although some are only surfaced with gravel. The steep and narrow roads have tight turns and no shoulder, and road conditions can change abruptly depending on the weather. Vigilance and prudence are required for there are many trucks driving fast and wildlife like bears, deer and moose that be be crossing the road at any point.

If all of this seems like a daunting trip — it is. However you can follow Alain, Nicole and the group virtually on their Facebook page at this link: https://www.facebook.com/groups/expdition51endeuxchevaux

Update: January 3, 2023: Alain Grégoire has created this Facebook page to memorialize the Expedition 51 trip: https://www.facebook.com/groups/expdition51endeuxchevauxresume/