Packing for Canadian Road Trip

April 14, 2004 2:38 PM

I'll be driving across a rather large portion of Canada with my girlfriend in a little over two weeks: Vancouver Island to the southern portion of Ontario, a trip that covers roughly 4200km and should take the better portion of four or five days depending on how frequently we stop. My question for you, oh great teeming mass of Metafilterians, is what we should bring for the trip?
[there is inevitably more inside, although not an inordinate amount]

Luckily, we both have the same (impeccable!) taste in music, so we can pass a fair amount of time listening to mutually agreeable music and chatting. I'll be doing the majority of the driving, so she can also spend some of her time reading or engaging in similar activities. That's not really what I'm looking for, though. I assume a fair number of you have undergone similarly lengthy driving excursions, and I'm wondering what items you may have brought that were useful (a cooler with cold drinks and snacks is obviously beneficial), or what you wish you'd brought afterwards?

posted by The God Complex to Travel & Transportation around Canada (28 answers total)

Have you ever done this? Four days is brutal for that trip even in nice weather, and this time of year you're still likely to get snow in the mountains in places. Bring extra drivers.
posted by timeistight at 2:47 PM on April 14, 2004

What you bring isn't too important but it sounds like getting there is your main purpose (wherever there is). I love road trips and part of what I love about them is stopping in places I've never been before. I'm not talking about the McDonald's at the rest stop but at local diners in small towns, a barbecue in a community park or things along those lines. You meet people you wouldn't otherwise meet and I've had some really fun conversations (and I'm by no means an outgoing person). Heck, I even love the "He's not from around HERE" stares when you first walk in and sit down. Look for a few cool waterfalls, I'd imagine google would have to help you out a lot these days.
posted by substrate at 2:52 PM on April 14, 2004

Response by poster: Yeah, I figured it might take five days or more, depending on the weather. The majority of it is through the great white plains, however, so it shouldn't be that bad once we get into Alberta.

It's more of a moving-out-there-for-the-summer thing (my girlfriend lives out there while she's in school and can't come out here for the summer, as she's done the last few summers), so we don't have much choice, because I'd like to have my car out there in order to get around with greater ease, and so I can bring more things out with me. Unfortunately, given the circumstances, this means "more drivers" is probably not an option.
posted by The God Complex at 2:56 PM on April 14, 2004

Response by poster: We may have a couple extra days, so if the going is tough we can travel less and see more if need be. She has to start at a new job for the summer, however, so we can't take as much time as we otherwise might: we'll probably do that at the end of the summer when the weather is nicer.
posted by The God Complex at 2:59 PM on April 14, 2004

I've done that drive, and you're probably looking at about 50-60 hours behind the wheel (depending on where in Ontario you're ending up). So 4 days is definitely doable. Rough, but doable.

Here are some things I would recommend. Keep in mind that through the prairies and between Thunder Bay and Wawa, there is very, very little. So...

- Music (which you seem to have down)
- Gas can full of gas just in case.
- Usual car emergency stuff (candle, blanket, spare tire, etc)
- camera, to show all your friends that yes, Saskatchewan really is that flat
- Food and drink, so you don't eat at McDonalds 10 times
- trashy reading material if you feel like zoning out

Other than that, I'd say bring a good attitude and have fun with the drive.
posted by sauril at 3:41 PM on April 14, 2004

I suggest taking ear-bleeding evil vile music. It'll help pass the time on the interminable prairies.
posted by five fresh fish at 3:52 PM on April 14, 2004

Music is a huge help, as well as books.. a book you can read aloud is nice for both the passenger and the driver. I'd suggest leaving room in your cooler for some sandwich fixings and fruit (which you can replenish at grocery stores along the way), eating road food for that many days in a row can get very tiresome. Walk for a few minutes whenever you stop, your legs will thank you.

Driving across plains can be mind-numbingly dull. Read up on your route beforehand and stop in quirky places. Check out some of the random giant statues, for example (why? well, uh.. they're there.. and.. they're big, and, uh..). Gives you something to talk about and a chance to walk around.

A blanket is good, sunglasses and sunscreen can be useful (even if it's not hot you may be driving in the sun for hours). Lots of water. Towels, plastic bags, some sort of headache aid and something for stomach ailments. Comfortable layered clothes. Shoes that you can slip in and out of easily are nice. And of course the standard car emergency supplies.

Good company is the best thing to have, really, it makes the trip a lot more fun.
posted by jheiz at 4:04 PM on April 14, 2004

Aside from emergency stuff, take as little as possible. You're going to want to be forced to stop for a break while you get a bite to eat. If you want healthy, just stop at a supermarket.

Big help: take 1 or 2 days clothes and stuff in a daybag. then bring your daybag into the hotel room with you, and restock it every couple-three days. Saves loading/unloading hell.

Going to Toronto/Kingston/Sarnia/Windsor/London, it will almost certainly be quicker to go through the northern tier of the US. Shorter distance and (substantially) higher speed limits. The route mapquest suggests for victoria -- kingston has you passing through Bozeman, Montana, just a hop and a skip away from Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 4:28 PM on April 14, 2004

If you're ending up in the GTA, bring your maple leafs car flag, otherwise you'll get more "he's not from around here" looks than you'd get all trip.
posted by loquax at 4:29 PM on April 14, 2004

Don't forget, Winnipeg to TO is at least 20 hours solid. Northern Ontario goes on forever. Marathon, on Superior, is about the half-way point. I usually figure two days to Winnipeg.

Water, and stop (for pie) as often as you can. Food in the car is evil four days later.
posted by bonehead at 4:31 PM on April 14, 2004

Man, I don't envy you. I live in Southern Alberta, and grew up in Sask + Manitoba. Once you are out of the Mountains, the trip gets pretty boring.

I like books on CD for ultra brutal car trips like you are about to endure. You can listen uninterrupted, and it can be a nice change from the radio or music or whatever. Find something really long, or get a couple.

If you are driving through Moose Jaw Sask., make sure you check out the tour of the underground tunnels used by Al Capone to smuggle alcohol during abolition. Tres cool.

On Preview: It took me 16 hours from Calgary to Winnipeg once (following up on bonehead's comment)
posted by Quartermass at 4:34 PM on April 14, 2004

I know couples that swear by audio books (if your tastes in listening are as close as your tastes in reading). Depending on the weather, you might want some sunscreen. After four days of straight driving, your left arm can get crispy.
posted by samh23 at 4:43 PM on April 14, 2004

The best way to travel like that is get out and do a 30 mintue walk every 4 hours. At least twice a day anyway. It makes a huge diffrence. There are day hike areas all over shouldnt be hard to find or worst case go Mall shopping your girlfriend should love that.
posted by stbalbach at 4:48 PM on April 14, 2004

A cooler and filled with water or other hydrating beverages and some light snacks and little foods is key. Eat lunch on the road and then go someplace for dinner when you're done for the day and you'llmake good time. If you keep drinking water on the trip, you'll be forced to stop for bathroom breaks frequently enough to stratch your legs and get over any sort of road hypnosis. I've sort of liked bringing my GPS along. It has maps so I can tell not only how fast I'm going, but how far to the next exit/rest stop/town. If you're planning to camp, bring extra pillows and blakets. If you're hotelling it, sometimes just having your own pillow is a plus. I agree with ROU, when I'm on long trips, I just stuff my toilet kit and my pj's in with my sleeping bag and only take it out when I stay at a hotel.

Anything that is staying packed for the whole trip should go in the trunk or behind the seats on the floor, leave anything you might want to get at handy and accessible, with special preferential spaces given to stuff you might want to access from the road. The thing I always wish I'd brought are little folding chairs. That way anyplace you stop can be a little rest stop and give you a way to sit down without having to sit on the ground or at an awkward rest stop picnic table. Other handy items: handy-wipes for quick clean-up, trash bags for the car [change frequently] a water bottle that you refill instead of buying disposable, a camera, and a notebook. If your GF won't be doing the bulk of the driving, she can hang on to the notebook and the two of you can keep an ongoing list of what you've seen and what you want to see. Have fun!
posted by jessamyn at 5:08 PM on April 14, 2004

while driving across the plains may indeed be mind-numbingly dull, there really truly are interesting and quirky places to stop. in addition to the tunnels in moose jaw, there's apparently one of the best thai restaurants ever (haven't been there, but friends recommend it).

also, if i recall correctly, there are literally dozens of quirky tourist attractions/restaurants/antique stores/heritage homes/etc. along the trans canada.

in summary: go through moose jaw (it's on the trans canada), go through capone's tunnels, eat some thai food, and stop at oddly-located tourist attractions along the way.
posted by lumiere at 5:23 PM on April 14, 2004

Response by poster: Do you know what the name of the thai place is? I'd love to check it out.
posted by The God Complex at 6:36 PM on April 14, 2004

Audiobooks, indeed. They're especially your friend when you're driving across the country solo, but even with only one other driver (who may need to sleep so you can switch frequently and make good time, or may not always feel like talking when awake), they're really nice to have.
posted by weston at 7:52 PM on April 14, 2004

I've always preferred the Yellowhead to the Transcanada Highway. It's a couple hundred kilometres longer, and it doesn't have as much double-lane, but the scenery is more interesting, and you actually get to use your steering wheel once in a while. (I once did Vancouver to Winnipeg in 24 hours straight on the Transcanada, taking turns with another driver. Never do that.)
posted by teg at 8:09 PM on April 14, 2004

Take a pink flamingo or something, and snap a picture of the sucker in odd surroundings every place that you stop. It'll be a fun memory-trigger years later.

Oh, and lots of amphetamines and beer.
posted by stavrosthewonderchicken at 9:21 PM on April 14, 2004

Northern Ontario does go forever and there are few places to stop. We stopped at a roadside diner; for some reason I noticed the people in another car. Two hours later we pulled into a road side gas station, the same people were there. It felt like a caravan. Or some third-rate spy chase.

I suggest stopping at the Terry Fox memorial. It's alongside the Trans-Canada, outside of Thunder Bay.
posted by philfromhavelock at 9:27 PM on April 14, 2004

I remember being really excited for Terry Fox to come through my town (at that time Moose Jaw - I think a new record for Moose Jaw references in MeFi!), and I was really bummed out when he died.
posted by Quartermass at 9:38 PM on April 14, 2004

The God Complex: the name of the thai restaurant in moose jaw is oh so inventively named Nit's Thai Food. it's located at 24 main street north and you can call ahead at 306.694.6004.

AND moose jaw is also the site of saskatchewan's most popular hotel, the temple gardens mineral spa. the rough guide entry for moose jaw is here and i've (now) been thoroughly reminded that moose jaw is a surprisingly interesting place to visit.
posted by lumiere at 10:34 PM on April 14, 2004

We should mention more Things To Look At.

If you were to take the Crowsnest highway, you can stop at the Frank Slide. An entire mountain fell on the poor little mining town. Very impressive. (Moral of the story: don't be so stupid as to build your town at the base of the mountain the Indians have named "The Mountain That Moves." Sheesh.) You'll also pass right by the Pincher Creek windfarm.

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump is a great little natural history museum, but would take too long to be worth it. Likewise Dinosaur Provincial Park, east of Calgary. Very cool, very time-consuming.

There's a little town near Lethbridge that has a humongous Mormon campus. It would be interesting, if they'd let you in. There's a Fay Wraye (sp?) memorial nearby, too. And another town that has an absolutely gigantic fiberglass woman selling tires.

That about covers my prairie knowledge, alas. I've only tripped across the flatlands a couple of times, and always done it as quickly as possible.

There must be some geoCaches out there, though.

Come to think of it... the last time I did it, I went south of the border and hit an interstate. Dull as mud, but fast.
posted by five fresh fish at 11:04 PM on April 14, 2004

No, really. The route you pick won't pick my pocket or break my leg, but if you just want to get to Whereever, Ontario, you'll likely get there a lot faster going through Washington/Montana/NorthDakota/and then farther east than you would staying in Canada.

The speed limits are rather higher -- 70--75 mph (~125 km/h) and in Montana, all thousand miles of it (or around a third of the whole trip), the speed limit of 75 (they only reluctantly have a speed limit at all) is reportedly thinly enforced.

You'd pass through Chicago and have easy side-trips to Jellystone etc.

On the down side, you can't bank on there being Timmy's until you hit Michigan (maybe Wisconsin. I've been to Timmy's in Michigan though.)

Whichever way you go east, come back west a different way. Loop routes are sooo much nicer than there-and-back ones.
posted by ROU_Xenophobe at 11:17 PM on April 14, 2004

Are amphetamines legal in Canada? Probably not. Bring lots of vitamin B-complex, though. All the coffee you'll drink will deplete your B's.

Sips of seltzer water are great for a quick wake up.

Rig a "nod alarm" : when the driver's head starts to bob, this trips an alarm - which consists of delivering an electric shock to the passenger.

Cheap cigars will keep you awake too.

Write a quick collaborative novel on the way.
posted by troutfishing at 11:24 PM on April 14, 2004

There's a little town near Lethbridge that has a humongous Mormon campus. It would be interesting, if they'd let you in. There's a Fay Wraye (sp?) memorial nearby, too.

That is in Cardston, AB, which is three hours south of Calgary (and thus, off the Transcanada). You would have to go to Calgary, then turn South to get there. Trust me, Cardston is a neat place to visit, but not worth a three hour detour. (also, it is a Mormon Temple, and only Mormons are aloud to go inside. Architecturally though, it is amazing).

And another town that has an absolutely gigantic fiberglass woman selling tires.

That would be the town of Taber, AB. (pic of the "Big Woman" )

If you decide to come down this way, there is also the town of Vulcan, AB, the town named after Star Trek. It is only like 45 minutes south of Calgary and the #1, so if you are a sci-fi geek, it might be worth the extra time. Actually, no, its not. Vulcan sucks. Really badly.

Also, for some reason if you decide to go via the #3 by the "big woman" (Through Lethbridge, to Taber, then Medicine Hat), you get to see things like (my fav) Pinto McBean and "The World's Largest Putter" , both in Bow Island (between Lethbridge and Medicine Hat).
posted by Quartermass at 11:59 PM on April 14, 2004

Depending on how far off the beaten track you're going you might select from the following: spare tires, a jack, a wrench, screwdrivers, pliers, a folding shovel, spare fuses, a portable battery booster, a mobile phone (satphone if you're headed to nowhere), first aid kit, a battery powered lamp with a cigarette lighter plug, pen torches (one for each person), a small fire extinguisher, a foam tire sealant or a cigarette-lighter powered mini-compressor, gloves, a towel and/or a tarp, duct tape, tire chains, bottles of water and some kind of long-life high-energy food, possibly spare fuel if there is a long way between refills.
posted by snarfodox at 7:55 AM on April 15, 2004

I'd suggest bringing a rubik's cube, because they're just too amusing.
posted by sinical at 8:00 AM on April 15, 2004