Day 18--Ferry to Newfoundland

Day 18—Tuesday, June 29
Ferry from North Sydney Nova Scotia to Port aux Basques, Newfoundland
10:30am to 5:30pm

I had a terrible night’s “sleep.” The room at McNeil's was stuffy and smelled of paint or wallpaper paste or something similar. I was up and down all night. Each time I’d get up to go to the bathroom, Suz would follow and shut the door. Then I would get up again and open it because I’d opened the screened window in it. Needed AIR in the small room.

It rained all night and was soggy, sifting this morning. Apparently, at this time of year, this part of North America gets lots of rain and mist. We are resigned to it, trying to adventure on and ignore the wet. We ate breakfast at same place we had eaten dinner last night—a small red restaurant at the foot of our hill, the name of which now escapes me. I had oatmeal Suz had French toast. The ATM would not take our cards.

After breakfast we drove to a Dollar store and purchased $2.00 plastic raincoats, socks, and plastic bags. I got $100 Canadian from a bank ATM.

We waited in line a long time for our ferry, the Caribou, to load—close to an hour. The crossing takes 6+ hours, so on the ship we played categories, did crossword puzzles, tried to sleep, watched short bits of The Time Traveler’s Wife, drank coffee, etc.

Good-bye foggy North Sydney

Leaving a foggy North Sydney

Someone else's racked bikes; the guy in orange is in front of a small trailer; there were six or seven restored automobiles, each pulling a small cute trailer--similar to a Teardrop or Casita

Caught Suz at an awkward moment just as she was swallowing a pill for a headache

I inquired about motels in Port aux Basques and the purser gave me a list that I copied down. I used my cell to call the Radio Station Inn, and booked a room w/ bath and one double bed. Jocelyn, the woman at the B & B told me that when the ferry pulled in we would be able to see the Radio Station Inn on the hill above. Told me to look for latticework.

The Caribou docked below the Radio Station Inn in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland

Well, sight unseen we made a fantastic choice. We are the only guests here and there is no host or hostess on the premises. We have full run of this eye-catching little house that used to be the radio station. We have a full kitchen, a stocked refrig and breakfast cupboard, plus several macaroni and cheese type packets of food, undoubtedly left by other guests. Also a washer and dryer. It’s like staying at a friend’s house while the friend is away.



Labrador Tea bloomed prettily on the bank above the rear parking area

Alex, who checked us in and then went home, and Suz pose in the living room

The purple room door with the True North 331/3 record--"Murray  McLaughlin's Greatest  Hits"

 

We chose the purple room







The Caribou almost in our laps from the front foyer balcony window

Our car and bikes from the back porch window

Suz cooked dinner of a can of corn and one of the pasta mixes. Apple cinnamon cake for desert. I don’t dare drink coffee after last night’s experience.

If you’ve not noticed, I haven’t been carping about the tailend of my spine lately. It is almost completely better. Just feels bruised now when I am sitting. The funny gait and pain on going up stairs is gone. I am so happy!