Road Trip TwoGether: 9/11/13 Ferry-Nova Scotia to Newfoundland

Wednesday: 9/11/13

It rained most of last night and it continues to switch to and from light rain to drizzle today. (I think there is a difference) We arrived at the Marine Atlantic ferry at 8:30 AM an hour and fifteen minutes before the required 9:45 check-in for an 11:45 departure. Our ship will be the “Highlanders“.

This is quite an operation. First they started loading dropped trailers at 9:30. The trailers are connected to stanchions at the draw pin then shuttled onto the ferry with yard tractors. You watch the whole thing disappear into the bow of the ship and in a few minutes out comes the yard tractor…with no trailer. The stanchions are locked into receptacles in the deck to secure them. Next they started loading tractor trailers of every variety on to the upper deck. Then they loaded trucks onto the center of the lower decks and cars on each side. There was even another lower deck for vehicles they didn’t use on this trip. Once in place everyone vacates their vehicle and goes to the passenger decks.

So this is how Jonah felt!

There are large seating areas with seats like those in first class on an airliner and windows all around to give you a view in almost every direction. If you want to take a nap just recline the seat and snore away. If you would like the privacy of a cabin they are also available on Deck 8. If you are a bit more discerning you can book passage on Deck 9 and have a private cabin with private sitting rooms and the Riva Café which is reserved for Deck 9 passengers. We were not that hoity-toity so we enjoyed the amenities of Deck 7 with the snack bar, restaurant, bar, and large sitting room.

Snoozing Moose Hunters

Passing an inbound ferry

Port aux Basque Light

Sun Deck

Onboard Restaurant

Linda and I explored the ship and spent some alone time on the Sun Deck between showers. We ate in the dining room with real food…Linda enjoyed glazed ham and scalloped potatoes and I scarfed down the fish and chips. The portions were very big and it was nice to have something other than hot dogs and cheeseburgers. Our table is at a big window and it is so posh that Linda said “I feel like we're on a real cruise, and I didn’t even have to pack my nylons and a fancy dress.”

Half way on a 109 mile ride.

Gift Shop

There were murals like this on many of the walls

Checking emails from home

There's that "Adorable Look" again

Minus-Five

We went to the front of the ship and found a table at a window looking straight forward. With the gentle movement of the ship, it was almost like being at the helm. (I think we both secretly felt a slight urging to be back on board TwoGether.) At the table we played a game we like called Minus-Five. The game wasn’t finished so at this point the winner will be determined at a later date. (Linda kept the score sheet).

We arrive at Port aux Basque, Newfoundland around 5:30PM; an hour ahead of schedule. The weather coming into port was foggy and rainy but the captain put “Highlanders” right down the middle of the channel that was only twice as wide as the ship. In less than a half hour we were on Route 1 headed north.

We got a space at Grand Codroy Campgrounds and then went for dinner at the Silver Sands Restaurant. OK…Here goes... As many of you asked me, Why you are going the whole way to Newfoundland and Labrador?... My answer was… “To get a Moose Burger”. Well, so much for joking around. On the menu was “MOOSE BURGER”! It was delicious. It tastes very much like really lean beef. I offered Linda a bite but she said “I’ll stick with my turkey thank you!”