After an interesting ferry ride on which I came to the conclusion that a sailor I will not make. It appears my sea stomach is a little on the weak side. I didn’t “hurl” but there was a couple points on the choppy waves that I was wondering if I might. Staring at a laptop screen probably wasn’t helping either as I tried to get some work and editing done. The internet on the ship was not working, apparently hasn’t been for awhile. Seems like the ferries in Newfoundland are fixed on an “as extremely needed” basis. The ATM was down, The internet was down, some of the seats in the lounge area looked like some cats got to them and shredded them. Makes you wonder what else is in need of repair down below. Well done Marine Atlantic.
Regardless, I got back to the mainland and made my way to Port Hawkesbury where I’ve gassed up (again) and am ready for tomorrows start to my journey home. Part of me feels like simply deadheading it and getting home in 3 days. I need to mellow out again I’m afraid.
Anyway, not much more to report. I’m sure the rest of my trip will prove to be interesting and fruitful as well. I just have to let it “be”. I was looking at shots of the first half and it’s odd how many I don’t even remember taking, just going, like a machine. Will make for some fun editing later on I’m sure.
Winnebago Dreams
A semi uneventful day as I had to make the drive from Grand Falls – Windsor to Port aux Basques to be ready to meet my ferry tomorrow morning. I wasn’t in a hurry yet didn’t see much I wanted to shoot from the T.C.H. I pulled off towards Stephenville Crossing as I’d gone through there late in the day when I went to Stephenville but didn’t get to see much. Plus it wasn’t too far away from my route.
I got to take some shots of a snow covered frozen lake and a couple abandoned houses. A quiet day for shots but still managed to get a few. Tomorrow I’ll be doing some more editing on the ferry. I quite enjoy the downtime while it makes it’s way across the straight.
Until next time.
Gone
I woke up early enough. But as I pulled up to the 11:30 ferry at 11am this morning I was told that I should be here an hour and a half early and I might not make it on. I mentioned that I DID check they’re website and there are no mentions of this rule. I had a reservation, got my ticket from the ticket office and they rushed my “late” ass onto the boat. I pulled in and parked among the few semi trucks and about 12 vehicles, not even a third of the car deck was full. Oh well, I made it and despite the silliness I was on my way to Newfoundland.
The boat, The Caribou, was a little on the older side. Nothing wrong with it except there was a few things I noticed. The ATM was out of service, the public internet signal was there but not strong enough to actually connect to. Although my laptop was seeing the password protected “engine room” internet signal the whole way. One of the men’s rooms was “closed for cleaning” the whole trip. A few other things that I guess are open during summer were closed and rightly so. There was only about 30 people total on this boat and it was massive. All in all it was clean and comfy and I had a great first time ferry experience to Newfoundland.
About five and half hours after leaving North Sydney we pulled into Port-aux Basques, Newfoundland. I found a “mall” and wandered a bit as it was dark and I was killing time while I figured out what I wanted to do tonight. I found a little restaurant called Alma’s in the mall and had a sandwich and soup that was exactly what I needed.
I’m now outside the local library using the wireless. Sitting in a nice big parking lot so I figure I may just hang out here for the night then get going at morning light. Not many shots today but it was a neat day, now to see what gems the shores of Newfoundland have for me.
In desperate need of a shower and knowing I have to spend up to 7 hours on a ferry tomorrow with the general public I figured a room and a hot shower was in order. (oh was it ever good). After a little bit of driving and no shots, a chat with a gent down by the water as I watched today’s ferry leave for Newfoundland I then looked for a room. I managed a cheap but quaint little room at the Highland Motel close to North Sydney where the ferries leave from.
As I got settled in I checked my email and found that a few of my web clients have been having troubles with their sites. Seems that the code has been altered against my knowledge and my wishes, hacked I guess but not the server, strictly the code has been altered to add Malware. So instead on working on a couple other things I’m trying to finish and perhaps editing a few of the last few days shots I’m troubleshooting these messed up websites thanks to some loser asshole with too much time on his hands.
Anyway, I think I may have it taken care of the problem now that it’s almost 10pm and my brain is fried. I guess the universe needed to, as they say in poker, “keep me honest” by throwing me a bit of a curve ball. Well, I may have only hit an infield grounder but come tomorrow, I’m off and running,…again!
To really show how impromptu this whole trip was here’s something I didn’t consider until recently.
Newfoundland is an island, (really I did already know this). What I didn’t even think to consider when leaving home is that there would be costs for ferries. I’ve taken two so far. One was a free short 10 minute trip in Quebec and another was $46.00 from Baie-Comeau, Quebec to Matane Quebec as I was anxious to get to the Gaspe Peninsula and Perce Rock.
Now after that one I started looking into the ferry to Newfoundland as it won’t be a cross Canada trip if I can’t get there. The problem is the combined vehicle and driver price for a one way trip is $110.25. Whoa, that’s $220.50 there and back. I know it’s dumb on my part but I didn’t think it would be this much. What I also didn’t know is that it can take from 4.5 to 6 hours. Not a big deal as I’m not in a hurry but the price is a bit of an issue.
I’ll be seeing what I can do as I really was looking forward to standing as East as one can get in North America and to be able to say that I DID completely cross Canada. Not to mention that people have been telling me about the photo opportunities there. I may just have to bite the bullet and fore go Tim Hortons for awhile.
…but its over.
After driving most of the day yesterday under completely clear skies to Mingan to view and photograph the tall wind sculpted rocks that I read about in my book I woke this morning at the gas station to a great sunrise, and waited. My gas light was on when I rolled in and there was only one gas station that I could see. So because I didn’t fill up in Sept-Isles when I had the chance I was paying the price, missing shots because I was afraid of running out of gas.
I figured I had a little gas to explore close by and soon came to know that the rock formations I drove all this way for are on the South side of the islands, only accessible by the tour boat that takes you there between June and mid October. So like many other things I’ve encountered, my choice of seasons has nixed another idea. Along with every provincial parks, all the tourist info booths and even some viewpoint pullouts are closed.
I sucked it up and started my journey back along the 400 miles I traveled yesterday but in the day light, or so I thought. I stopped at a couple cool beaches along the St. Lawrence and got a few shots but was feeling a little down due to my waste of the time and especially the gas that brought me here. This was soon to get worse as I crested a hill into completely white soupy fog. For most of the day I could see nothing but white as I traveled back down the 138, then it turned to rain as it got dark. I got into Baie Comeau and decided to cut my losses and take the ferry across to Gaspe bringing me to Matane Quebec.
My Morning Rush Hour
Tomorrow I will decide if I want to risk the long drive around the point of the Gaspe Peninsula because I really want to see the Perce Rock. Depending on the weather, I may just cut through and head for New Brunswick.
