2026-06-17 Trans-Canada TCH-11 (June 17)

The Trans-Canada Highway – Part11  (TCH-11)

For Wed. June 17th, 2026

Our Trip

To date this year, we have travelled almost 4200 miles (6700 km) from the west coast towards the east coast of Canada along the various parts of the Trans-Canada highway. This is excursion 11 which will take us from Port Hawkesbury (CYPD), in Nova Scotia to Deer Lake (CYDF) in Newfoundland and Labrador. Following this trip today we’ll only have 324 nm left to travel and we’ll have travelled across the entire country. 

Port Hawkesbury, Nova Scotia

Driving the Trans-Canada Highway between Port Hawkesbury, NS, and Deer Lake, NL, requires a combination of highway driving and crossing the Cabot Strait via Marine Atlantic Ferry. The ferry (video) operates between Sydney NS and Port aux Basques in NL. The total journey covers roughly 328 km of road/highway and a 6.5 to 8-hour sea crossing.

Points of Interest/Highlights: 

Nova Scotia (Port Hawkesbury to North Sydney)

·         Canso Causeway: The gateway to Cape Breton Island, featuring a scenic lock system and visitor information center.

·         Alexander Graham Bell National Historic Site: Located in Baddeck (just off TCH 105), this museum overlooks the beautiful Bras d'Or Lake.

·         St. Ann's Provincial Park: A stunning rest stop and wooded area near the start of the famous Cabot Trail.

·         Petersfield Provincial Park: Located in Westmount near the North Sydney ferry, offering peaceful walking trails and harbour views. 

Newfoundland (Port aux Basques to Deer Lake)

·         Wreckhouse Lookout: Just outside Port aux Basques along the TCH, this area is notorious for powerful winds and offers stunning coastal views.

·         Codroy Valley: Near Doyles, this lush, fertile valley is great for bird watching and features picturesque rivers against the Long Range Mountains.

·         Corner Brook Stream Trail: An urban hiking and walking trail network right in the heart of Corner Brook, perfect for a relaxing stretch.

·         Gros Morne National Park: Roughly 30 km north of Deer Lake on Route 430, this UNESCO World Heritage site features the striking, Mars-like Tablelands and breathtaking deep fjords.

·         Roy Whalen Heritage Museum: Located in Deer Lake, it offers local history, arts, and crafts.

Deer Lake, NL

Route Airports:

This trip is 321 nm and a relaxing one! Departing: Port Hawkesbury (CYPD) Nova Scotia. Three mid-stops: CYQY CDA5 CYJT and destination of Deer Lake (CYDF).  

FP, itinerary, etc can be found HERE.

Aircraft

We can take our time on this one. Any GA that can travel between 100-150 kts will do. I perhaps will use a C182 in this trip but as always please fly your aircraft of choice.  

Add-on Scenery: If you have payware please feel free to use but it is not necessary to purchase any for this trip as all airports are in the default sim!

CYQM airport: There is payware version available from simaddons as well as an older payware version from aerosoft.

CYFC airport: There is a payware version from simaddons.

CYTN airport: There is payware version available from simaddons-Nova Scotia small airports pack

CYPD airport: There is payware version available from simaddons-Nova Scotia small airports pack  

Time and Weather
Prefer to fly real weather if possible but if not, the few clouds, high clouds OR Jeff-Partly Cloudy-Jeff-1.wpr preset (included) might make a nice choice.  For takeoff: set the simulator time to @1700 (ish) local.  (This time simulates early dusk and sun will be behind us yet we should have enough daylight to make it to our destination under VFR conditions).  

Multiplayer Particulars
Date and time: Wednesday, June 17th, 2026 – 1800 UTC

AVSIM Discord Server: https://discord.gg/K5Vy6UxWNm - AVSIM GROUP EVENTS-WED. COM1
Microsoft Flight Simulator Multiplayer: SOUTH-EAST-ASIA Server 

If you want to help others enjoy the multiplayer experience, don't forget to enter your aircraft details on the multiplayer spreadsheet (linked here). Your courtesy will save others a lot of time and effort. Thanks!

Norm Richards June 10, 2026