Granby → Saint-Pierre and Miquelon · about 1,800 km, two ferries, five provinces

From Granby, we took to the road heading east with our Rivian R1S, bound for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. A long crossing of Quebec, New Hampshire, Maine and the Atlantic provinces before reaching that small piece of France lost in the North Atlantic.

Direction Sherbrooke, then Coaticook, where we made our first charging stop of the trip — and on a destination like this one, it certainly wouldn’t be the last!

Then we crossed the border at Saint-Herménégilde early in the morning — we were even early — before entering Vermont and continuing towards New Hampshire.

Route 26 carries us through the wooded landscapes of New England. The forests, the lakes and the low mountains already hint at the wide open spaces waiting for us.

Around a bend in the road, we came across a very picturesque little village.

Then we carried on.

In Rumford we make our first stop to admire Rumford Falls. The Androscoggin River rushes between the rocks, in a setting marked equally by industry and forest.

The sight is magnificent. We take a few moments to enjoy it.

Then we get back on the road.

Stops in Farmington and Bangor for the trip’s 2nd and 3rd charging stops.

We re-enter Canada through New Brunswick.

The landscape changes little by little. Forests become omnipresent and the air takes on that particular freshness of the Atlantic provinces.

At New River Beach we find the sea again. A wild coastline, rocks, wind-beaten trees, and the feeling that the Atlantic is already starting to set the pace.

It is a welcome break after several hours on the road. We enjoy the view, the fresh air and the quiet of the place.

We carry on towards Saint John for our last charging stop in New Brunswick. The city is an important urban centre for the province, with a busy harbour and a lively economy.

Here we are in Nova Scotia, a Canadian province known for its spectacular coastal scenery and its rich maritime history. The road takes us through picturesque villages, dense forests and a jagged coastline, with breathtaking views over the Atlantic.

We stop in Pomquet to charge, then carry on towards St. Peters, where we come across a street sign that makes us smile: Toulouse Street, a nod to our hometown. For two Toulouse natives now settled in Quebec, finding a familiar name thousands of kilometres from Toulouse itself is rather funny.

Nova Scotia wins us over with its natural beauty and its welcoming atmosphere, giving us a foretaste of the adventure waiting for us in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon.

We then reach North Sydney, where we make our fifth charging stop before taking the time to explore Sydney harbour. And there is no missing the Big Fiddle: this huge rendition of a traditional fiddle stands facing the water, a reminder of how much Celtic music matters to Cape Breton’s cultural history — a real gathering place, where you can feel the soul of the region.

Back to North Sydney for a sixth charging stop. Ahead of us now lies the Atlantic.

The Blue Puttees appears at the dock, an immense white and blue ship ready to take on cars, trucks and travellers. We drive the Rivian aboard.

The ship carries the name of the Newfoundland regiment that distinguished itself during the First World War. The North Sydney – Port aux Basques crossing is far more than a simple ferry ride: for more than a century it has been one of the great links between Newfoundland and the rest of Canada. The current service covers about 178 kilometres of open water and takes roughly seven hours.

The mainland slowly disappears behind us. Then, after several hours at sea, Newfoundland and Labrador comes into view.

At Port aux Basques we disembark and start a new crossing — this time by road.

The Rivian charges in Robinsons, then in Corner Brook, South Brook, before a short stop in Norris Arm. The landscape changes quickly, from coast to countryside. The mountains draw closer, the forests grow denser, and the air takes on Newfoundland’s own particular freshness.

The sun shines fiercely, yet the air stays cool. And then, a surprise: the thermometer reads 34 °C. In Newfoundland!

We carry on towards Gander, then Grand Falls-Windsor, before reaching the island’s east coast.

Along the road we pass several signs pointing to Saint-Pierre and Miquelon — a small French territory just a few kilometres south of Newfoundland. These signs remind us how close we now are to a destination that, for many, seems distant and exotic.

We carry on towards Fortune, taking in Newfoundland’s changing scenery. Every bend offers a new view of this singular island, and we are impatient to discover what Fortune and its surroundings have in store.

At last, we reach Fortune.

We spend the night there, and in the morning the sun rises over the sea. The light is soft, almost unreal. After all this road, we now stand at the edge of the ocean, with, on the other side, a destination that seems almost improbable.

The ferry “Le Suroît”, bound for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, is waiting for us, ready to carry us towards that small corner of France.

We board the ferry, where the Rivian R1S causes quite a stir! It seems Rivians are not yet a common sight around here. Passengers and crew members alike are curious and come to ask us about the electric vehicle, its range and its performance.

After a few hours at sea, we finally catch sight of the islands of Saint-Pierre and Miquelon. It is a moving moment: we have travelled so far to reach this singular territory.