Wandering Retirees

Today was our last day in Nova Scotia until we start our trip home in early August. Leaving Baddeck, we rode west almost to the Causeway / entrance to Cape Breton then turned along Ca Rt 104 which runs on the south side of the gorgeous Bras d’Ors Lakes. Our destination was the Ferry Terminal at North Sydney for a 3:30 pm boarding. The roads were less traveled and mostly empty most of our 135 miles. We’re really pleased to have had a relaxing ride.

Waiting in line for boarding, we were grouped with a dozen or so bikes. Naturally, we had a meet and greet, offering respectful compliments about each others’ bikes, anecdotes of rides taken, hazards endured, big ones that got away, so forth. Lots of fun with tall tales.

We met a couple from Michigan’s Upper Peninsula (“Uupers “) who are coming to Newfoundland for the first time like us. We may well run into each other again due to shared destinations.

Our ferry is named the Ala’suinu, which means Traveler in Mi’kmah the language of the First Peoples of Newfoundland and Nova Scotia. When we boarded the ferry, it’s brand new, we were shown where to park and had to tie down our bikes to stay secure at sea. That usually involves a long tie down across the seat that’s secured to fixtures in the deck. A second and third strap are secured to strong points around the engine. All three straps are then ratcheted very tightly, which causes the suspension to compress and makes a taught, compact and secure fixture on the deck. It’s important and kind of fun.

We found our berth which has room for four if you’re very, very careful. We made our reservations for a berth back in February and got one of the remaining rooms for the entire summer!

Setting our things down, it was time for some refreshment and a step out topside for departure. While admiring the view at the rail, I met Frankie, the supervisor of ship’s security. He’s from Newfoundland originally, though now lives in Stanley, NS. He’s been doing this job for 11 years and loves it. I mean he seriously loves his job working at sea with terrific people. He asked about where we’re from (Philly) and how we are liking NS (loving it) and what we’re looking forward to in Newfoundland, and how there are terrific people here and don’t miss George Street in St John’s, and you get the idea. All this with a big genuine smile.

We had a light supper and, at the moment we’re lounging in our berth. Our knees don’t quite touch. The ferry will dock tomorrow morning in Argentia, NL, and our journey will continue. The capital, St John, will be our goal on the first day. But that’s tomorrow’s story. Have a great night.