Today began with an easy 15 km drive from our Sydney hotel to the North Sydney ferry terminal. Upon checking in we discovered only one of us was actually booked for travel. Once that was repaired we moved into our assigned position in lane 27 and left the car to go for coffee. There is no food service in the terminal but, how coincidentally, there is a Timmy’s right next to the terminal.
We were among the first vehicles to board the lowest level on the MV Lief Ericsson ferry. A cruise ship she was not. One hopes that they emphasize sea worthiness in their maintenance program because they certainly don’t emphasize much else. There was rust evident everywhere and the furniture definitely showed its age. The food was adequate and what it lacked in quality it made up for in quantity. However, the seas were quiet and the voyage was uneventful.
We chatted with travelers from all over the country. There was a couple from Washington state who were perpetual nomads, numerous hunters visiting for a week long hunt and others from nearer home. Everyone was willing to chat whether in the lounges or out on the open deck. The weather was superb, even hot out on the deck. Some folks seemed to spend the whole voyage outside.
As we neared Channel-Port aux-Basques it was evident that there was no fog and we would actually get to see the town. We stayed on deck until the ferry was docked and then we were called to our vehicles. Things looked much different on deck 3 then when we left the car in the morning. We had to negotiate our way around a line of 18 wheelers and squeeze between them and the line of passenger vehicles to finally arrive at the car.
Once again we among the first vehicles to move and start for our hotel. The GPS was quite confused as we left the ship. It still thought it was in North Sydney and selected a very long route to our hotel via Argentia, the other ferry terminal. Once outside the ship Penny (the GPS) figured out we were only 4 km from destination.
Once at the St. Christopher’s motel we had a very nice dinner at the hotel restaurant and had great dinner conversation with a couple from Lethbridge, Alberta. Now we are just relaxing in our room watching the Blue Jays.
A few shots arriving in Channel-Port aux-Basques.
