Baddeck to North Sydney - Ferry to Argentia - to St Johns

The Atlantic Vision in North Sydney


















Signal Hill, St Johns









































A flower from cape Spear for Jane's collection






















Cape Spear, 11 degrees and foggy

How's she doin!

Yesterday's ride in the rain was short, from Baddeck to the ferry terminal in North Sydney: which meant that I had a lot of time to wait for the departure of the Atlantic Vision. The ship is modern ansd very well appointed. We boarded on time but the departure was delayed by two hours or so. I had been wait listed for a cabin and when I asked the purser what the chances were of getting a room I was informed that all 2-berth cabins had been assigned. I asked what the chances were for a 4-berth and was told "it doesn't look very good." I went off to find an "air seat", which is like a VIA-1 reclining seat in a room with a large-screen television at the front, where I might spend the night but kept my ears open to hear the names of the lucky room lottery winners that were broadcast over the ships P A system. When the last list of 4 names was called the last name I heard was "Guy Bujold" or something that sounded like that. I hurried to the pursers desk to pick up my key and after having retrieved luggage from my bike I found my inside cabin: small, but all mine.

While in line to board the ship and again on the vessel I spoke to Mike, a retired V-P, another BMW rider who, after 32 years at Exon, is now, like me, doing lengthy road trips on his motorcyle. Like me he also has a very understanding wife who supports his passion for seeing a lot of real estate from the seat of his motorcycle.

I had a particularly good dinner of halibut at the à la carte restaurant on the ship. The overnight ride to Argentia was smooth; just a gentle rocking that put me sleep.

We arrived in Newfoundland sometime after 10:00 and I rode directly to the Travellers Inn in St Johns where I was able to immediately check in. I had arranged to meet a good friend, Christopher Loomis, the Vice President Research of Memorial University and a member of the CANARIE board, who took me to lunch at Blue On Water, a nice restaurant on Water Street. The meal, fish (cod) and chips was great, but what was even better was the conversation with Chris about politics in Newfoundland and federally, the state of Memorial University where Chris had been the President pro tem, and a number of other topics that we crammed into our two hours together.

Afterwards I rode to fog shrouded Cape Spear, the furthest point east of North America, and to sunny Signal Hill. From top to bottom the temperature rose from about 11 to 23 degrees.

Tomorrow it's off to Gander and undtermined points from here to there.