Our RV Adventures

After a late night arrival from our debacle of a ferry ride,  we needed to get an early start this morning for our long 300 mile day.

But we had a problem.  We had called the park from Newfoundland to extend our stay an extra day when we decided to stay over.  But we had not paid for that day yet.

I had planned to pay yesterday afternoon when we got back,  but since our ferry was 5 hours late,  the park office was closed when we got home last night.  So I had to wait for the office to open this morning.  There was no office hours listed on the door,  but I was hoping they opened at 8 am,  but no luck.

So a little after 8,  Jan and I decided to go to breakfast while we waited.  We got back about 9 and still no luck.  Finally, about 9:30 the lady showed up and we paid.

Because of this,  it was 10 am before we finally pulled out.

Because we were getting a late start and had a long trip,  we decided not to stop for lunch as we had planned,  but just eat on the road.  So a little after noon,  we pulled over at the side of the road and Jan fixed peanut butter crackers.  Ten minutes later we were on our way.

About 5 pm we arrived at Wayside RV Park in Glen Margaret,  Nova Scotia,  which is just southwest of Halifax.

Wayside Park

After getting set up,  we went out to admire the view out our front window.

Wayside 1

And then a little while later,  a great sunset.

Wayside 2

At the RV park’s recommendation,  we visited the Finer Diner for supper.  Jan had the Seafood Platter and I had Lasagna.  Both very good.

And for dessert,  Jan had Coconut Cream pie, and I had the Rhubarb Caramel pie.

MMMMM!

Getting back home I got the satellite dish up and going and then we settled in.

Tomorrow,  we plan on touring the area and especially visiting the Titanic museum and memorial here.

Then on Saturday,  we’ll head back to Moncton for a couple of days to visit the Bay of Fundy area.

So by Monday evening we should be back in Houlton, ME.  Good old USA!

Later…

Today is our day to catch the ferry back to North Sydney,  NS,  and the 30 mile drive back to our coach & cats in Louisbourg.

And we had another great view out our hotel window.

View from Hotel

We’re supposed to be at the ferry by 10 am for a 11:30 departure so we head down to the hotel restaurant for breakfast about 8:30.  While we were eating we overheard someone saying the ferry was running late,  about 6 hours late.

It should have been here at 7:00 am to get unloaded and ready for us to start loading at 10 and sailing at 11:30.  But it wouldn’t be here until 1 pm with our departure scheduled for 3:30 pm.

We’ll see.

Since it was bright and sunny today,  we decided to kill time by taking the 30 mile drive out to Rose Blanche Lighthouse a ways down the coast.  We didn’t do it yesterday afternoon because it was so foggy.

The drive was really something.

Rose Blanche 1

Rose Blanche 2

Rose Blanche 3

Rose Blanche 4

Rose Blanche 5

Rose Blanche 6

Rose Blanche 7

After driving out to the lighthouse,  we didn’t actually SEE the lighthouse.  Jan didn’t want to make the long walk up the hill,  and I didn’t want to pay the $5 admission to make the long walk up the hill to SEE the lighthouse.

But the drive was worth the trip,  and it didn’t cost me $5.

We got back to the hotel and checked out about 11:30,  and after waiting about an hour we saw our ship,  the Atlantic Vision,  come steaming in.  She manouvered into the harbor and then turn around and backed in, s mooth as can be.   Bow thrusters are amazing.

Atlantic Vision Arrival 1

Atlantic Vision Arrival 2

So now our truck is parked in the boarding line and Jan and I are sitting in the terminal lounge waiting to board…and waiting and waiting…

In Line

FLASH… We just heard over the PA that boarding will now start at 3:30 pm and the ship will depart as soon as it’s loaded.  This will probably take at least an hour. It’s now 2:45 pm.  We’ll see.

Well,  they called us to our vehicles about 3:30 and we started actually boarding about 3:45 pm.  By 4:00 pm we were setting in the lounge aboard ship.  And about 4:20 we finally left the dock.  This ship is very nicely decorated,  almost like a cruise ship.  Which I guess it really is,  only for shorter cruises.

AV Interior

The Captain came on the PA and said we would be traveling at full speed (27 knots) to try and make up some of the lost time.  Yeah,  like the extra 5 knots is going to make up for the fact that we are running 5 hours behind schedule.

Well, Bummer!  I’ve just found out that I’m Internetless and CellPhoneless.

Although this ship is 15 years newer than the one we came over on,  and has electrical plugs everywhere,  it has no Internet access or cell phone service.  It has been down all summer since the satellite uplink/downlink is broken.

This trip just keeps getting better.  A little before 6:30 pm Jan and I went down to the restaurant to try out the great buffet we had heard about.  Where we discovered that they were closing because they had run out of food!

I guess it was really great…for some people.

So it’s off to the snack bar for cold sandwiches.  Oh boy!

It’s now about 7:15 pm.  The Captain just came on the PA and said we will be docking in about an hour.  Let’s hope so.

8:15 pm.  Well, we’re kind of here.  But it seems like they’re having trouble getting docked.  They keep starting and stopping and moving around.

9:00 pm.  They just called us to our vehicles so there’s a mad rush for the stairs and elevators.

And at 9:15 pm we finally moved off the ship.  At least the truck started this time!

Got home a little after 10 pm.  Cats were OK.  Everything is OK.

Tomorrow we have a long 300 mile trip to Halifax,  NS

Long day.  Going to bed

More tomorrow…