7000+ km across Canada with 5x6 UHaul trailer
Posted: Fri Oct 09, 2009 9:07 pm
I've been meaning to update our family trip from Vancouver, BC to Kitchener, ON since we moved here about a month ago. The going was tough at times, especially on steeps, but our 1992 Delica Super Exceed plowed on relentlessly for a total of 7045km. No major technical glitches besides the ignition failing to turn off in the middle of nowhere Manitoba. Luckily, we had a lifeline call to a friend back home who looked up the trusty Delica.ca network to advise me to shut off the lights. It turned out to be a fuse blown which I later discovered after being pulled over not 3 days after "settling" in KW by a local cop who gave me a "welcome to Ontario ticket" ($115!!) for not having a functioning tailight (I had never driven at night the whole trip with 2 exceptions). Needless to say, I'm disputing it. Our amazing journey followed the Crow's Nest through BC then the 97 via Kootenay Nat'l Park, HWY 1 across most of the western prairies with some spectacular sidetrips to Dinosaur Prov Park, AB and Cypress Hills and Qu'Appelle Valley, SK. Went due north on 6 and 3 to Prince Albert Nat'l Park and all the way up to Thompson, MB via Flin Flon for a train ride up to Churchill (giving the Deli a rest)! Yep, saw polar bears and belugas in low season (very sweet). Took HWY 6 down to Winnipeg to get back onto the 1/17 around spectacular Lake Superior. Veered south on the 6 to Manitoulin Island for the ferry across to Tobermory and finally down to Kitchener-Waterloo. One heck of a journey that lasted 23 days. The Delica drank about 950 L (incl. a full tank of 100% biodiesel) and we averaged about 13.5 L/100km (carrying a heavy trailer) or 13¢/km at an av cost of 97¢/L. The cheapest prices were in AB and southern ON. Tented the whole way or stayed with friends so ended up being cheaper than flight costs and were able to move our personal belongings with us to boot. An experience of a lifetime... Here are some pics.
