June 30, 2008 Aboard the (long 14 hour) Ferry from Nova Scotia to Newfoundland
I?m composing this log on board the Marine Atlantic Ferry from North Sydney , Nova Scotia to Argentia, Newfoundland. We had a 7:30 am sailing and arrived at the dock by 6 am. After providing our reservation number, we paid our toll by credit card at the small toll booth. The fare was $ 775.61 for two adults (non senior) and 60 feet of space for our motor home and car. This does not include our ferry ride back on July 31. It was a very efficient boarding, drive on and we will drive off. No need to unhook the car. There were several RV?s in line , lots of travel trailers and even more pop up trailers with bicycles attached. We gathered up the stuff we need to take up top to the passenger lounges, you know apples, granola bars ,cell phone, chargers, computer, blankets, pillows, coats, hats jackets. This is after all a 14 hour voyage and we need our stuff! The guys had breakfast while I got my sea legs and visited the gift shop.
I had heard from Bernie about the possibility of a wi-fi hot spot and asked the purser but it seems their satellite broke yesterday so no signal.. But as long as my batteries last I will share my story with you and find a signal later to send out messages. I noted ?The Bucket List? is being shown at the Movie theatre on board at 9 pm Newfoundland time. It?s a movie that is on my must see list but I calculated that we could not finish the movie as we were to arrive in port by 9:30. To my surprise I learned we should have been notified that due to engine trouble we are not expected to arrive before midnight which makes this a 17.5 hour ride. Oh boy. Terry just learned that at 2 pm today we have a vehicle visitation time and we can go get things from motor home. I?ll get my pillow and a blanket as well as my seasick medication! We settled into comphy airline type lounge seats in the front row which were just fine until they put on a cartoon movie on the TV in front of us and the place filled with Children. We moved over to a lovely window dinette seating area away from the kids and with a table here for my lap top. It has good light for reading my book.
OK so this boring ride in pea soup fog and high waves is not as much fun as it was a few hours ago. We?ve heard the bad news that we are operating with one less engine,( whether the rumor is that is its to conserve fuel or not, ) we do not know. The ETA has been pushed back to 1:45 am. Well finally at 1:45 am we hear the announcement to got to our vehicles. We unloaded that Ferry is record time. No one hesitated, just fired up engines and drove off.
Yes but to where? We left the bowels of this gigantic vessel to enter the complete darkened wetness of night. We had no vision. We never drive at night and here we were headed down an unlined road, wet somewhat foggy road. We lost sight of the cars in front of us so we were the lead vehicle going about 30 miles and hour trying to get a fix on anything to our right or left. Russell comes on CB to announces that we should pull over at first chance to let the mile line up of cars behind us go by. Yes we are trying!!!! In a few minutes and several harrowing miles, we found a pull off at a scenic look out. There was one little car with a cargo trailer in it but we pulled off and told Russ to follow us in very close by our side. We are parked for the night! Whew. Note to others coming this way. It might be better to board a ferry that arrives in daylight hours. But then with the unannounced delay of 4.5 hours, your best laid plans could go astray. One must remain flexible. We awaken to a beautiful view but I?ll save that story for tomorrow.