Tuesday 6 September 2011

Day 14 – Stephenville to Channel Port Aux Basques

Good evening from Channel Port Aux Basques, NL!! We just finished our last Relay day in Newfoundland and are currently waiting to board a ferry to Sydney, NS. Unfortunately that ferry was scheduled to leave at 12:30am, but was delayed to 2:30am and now as we sit here in a hotel room at midnight, the ferry that was due in at 11pnm has not even arrived in harbour yet. There is a 3 hour turnaround time so even if it gets here now, we won’t set sail until 3am. Apparently it is stuck out in the bay and unable to get in for some reason. They are telling us we are supposed to be waiting in line right now to hold our spot so part of the team went down to check it out and see what the “crowds” are like so we don’t lose our reservation. The rest of us are staying back to either sleep, get some admin work done (as I was doing earlier), or blog (as I am doing now!) We are getting conflicting words and information about whether we really need to be sitting in our parked cars for 3 hours to wait it out or whether we can stay in the hotel. I have a feeling that some are going to make it on and others are going to get left behind. It sounds like we are going to play it conservatively and head down now so we don’t miss out if in fact it does ever come in.....okay I spoke too soon as now it is 1 hour later and after packing up, we are right back in these holder rooms across from the ferry terminal. Apparently it is still too windy for the boat to dock. I have a sneaky suspicion this may not work out too well....but...stayed tuned for updates!! Our constant debating and indecision reminds me a little of the lyrics to this song:
On to happier times....so today we started in Stephenville and went through several small towns such as Stephenville Crossing, St. George’s and finally on to Channel Port Aux Basques. We had several Boy Scouts participating today which was very cool. They were so animated and excited to talk about all the work they do with the Scouts and their efforts to plant trees to help the environment and how they raised salmon fry and eventually released them in the river. They talked about how they used to build those Cub Cars before they graduated to Scouts and then once in Scouts, they built Scout Trucks instead. One enterprising young fella built a Scout Truck that was a car carrier that carried all his previous Cub cars. They all had fun doing our little warm up routine.

Happy Scouts

In St. George’s, we had a very small Meeting Point; only 3 Medal-Bearers as the town in very small. We met at the arena and there was a 4 lane 5-pin bowling alley inside. The guy behind the counter kicked on the lanes for us and we rolled a few frames. Then he cut the lights and turned on GLOW IN THE DARK Bowling! So odd to think that that kind of thing exists in a town as small and rural as St. George’s.
The drive to Channel Port Aux Basques was a long-ish one. It was about an hour and a half but the scenery and landscape was incredible. I didn’t feel like I was still in Canada. It was dark green covered mountains with a low lying cloudy mist settling in. It was part Gorillas in the Mist type jungle and then if you look towards the water there was the White Cliffs of Dover towering over the ocean. I really probably should have stayed awake longer to enjoy it....especially since I was driving! (Just kidding Mother!! I’m being safe! J )

The first Relay Proposal...although I think they may be too young for marriage

Not these 2 lovebirds though! Hubby and wife sharing 35 years of marriage with a Big Smooch!

Okay, well, it’s 1:30am and there is no sign of the ferry coming in to dock so I think I’m going to try to catch some shut eye so I am not ruined tomorrow.

Good night all! See you in Nova Scotia!!

Jonesy

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