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Post by BrianWilliams on Apr 11, 2007 21:09:45 GMT -8
Jeannie and I, and the mutts will visit NS next month for a few weeks. Ferries large and small will not be our focus, but when I can find one, we'll ride. Please, folks with local knowledge - add your suggestions. Yes, we will try to enter PEI by the Woods ferry, and I'm glad to see the Dartmouth-Halifax ferry still lives, but there must be many obscure crossings. Tips welcome - and photos will be your reward. Thanks! Who woulda expected a ferry in deepest Alberta? A treat, and we're hoping for more in Nova Scotia. www3.telus.net/cmstp/canis/dufyflags.jpg |
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Post by Coastal Drought on Apr 11, 2007 23:24:17 GMT -8
Brian, there are only 2 ferries from Nova Scotia. One is to PEI and the other is to Newfoundland. Sadly, that is all I remember since I haven't been back there. (I was born there and I don't think I even took a ferry to PEI and NFLD). I did take the Dartmouth to Halifax (and vice versa) while I was there visiting from Ottawa. After I do some research (thanks to the internet), I will try to tell you where the docks are for the Darthmouth-Halifax ferry and the sailing times.
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Post by Coastal Drought on Apr 11, 2007 23:28:06 GMT -8
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 12, 2007 0:04:48 GMT -8
Jeannie and I, and the mutts will visit NS next month for a few weeks. Ferries large and small will not be our focus, but when I can find one, we'll ride. Please, folks with local knowledge - add your suggestions. Yes, we will try to enter PEI by the Woods ferry, and I'm glad to see the Dartmouth-Halifax ferry still lives, but there must be many obscure crossings. Tips welcome - and photos will be your reward. Thanks! Who woulda expected a ferry in deepest Alberta? A treat, and we're hoping for more in Nova Scotia. www3.telus.net/cmstp/canis/dufyflags.jpgMy family and I took a tour of places where my dad grew-up around Nova Scotia when I was a teenager, and included NB and PEI in the trip. We had a great time, renting a minivan and travelling clockwise around NS from Halifax down to Yarmouth on the east side via Peggy's Cove, and back up the west side, along the Bay of Fundy, doing another loop via the Confederation Bridge to PEI and the Caribou ferry coming back after going down to Hopewell Rocks, etc, on the Bay of Fundy in NB. The old Dartmouth ferry is alive and well, just don't stray too far from the ferry terminal on the other side (The museum up the street is interesting though, especially its account of the history of African Canadians in the area) as Dartmouth isn't the best part of town when it comes to safety. The ferry is passenger-only now and resembles our SeaBus in a lot of ways. There is another ferry that I know of, from Digby, NS, halfway up the west shore of of the Bay of Fundy, that makes the shorter crossing to NB, but the only other ferries around there that I know of goto the U.S. |
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Apr 12, 2007 9:20:00 GMT -8
My parents will be there from the 16th through the 30th (this month) and plan to do some travelling by ferry. If they are back in time, I will try to fill you in on their itinerary as it sounds like you are planning a very similar trip.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 12, 2007 12:19:20 GMT -8
You can take a round trip on the Cat from Yarmouth to Maine and back. Or at least watch it dock etc. My parents did it just recently.
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Post by Scott on Apr 12, 2007 17:35:23 GMT -8
As you drive the Trans Canada through New Brunswick along the St. John River, I'm pretty sure there are one or more very little ferries that cross the river. Nothing major... just like some of the minor fresh water ferries here in BC. There's also a ferry from PEI to Iles de la Madeleine... but I don't think that's on your itinerary:)
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Apr 13, 2007 11:50:05 GMT -8
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Post by BrianWilliams on Apr 15, 2007 16:22:38 GMT -8
Thanks, all of you, for your great tips. More are welcome. In fact, what I wanted to find were lesser-known small ferries. Just found today: NS Transport & Public Works www.gov.ns.ca/tran/ferries/ferriesmain.asp# does have a list and sketch map of minor routes: "Four cable ferries: LaHave - Bridgewater Country Harbour, Guysborough County Little Narrows, Victoria County Englishtown, Victoria County "Three ocean-going, self-propelled ferries: Tancook Island - Chester Petit Passage at Digby Neck Grand Passage at Digby Neck " The two in Victoria County are what's left of Cape Breton's Brador Lakes ferry crossings, which old maps show to have been very extensive. Too many darn bridges now. Too bad we won't be crossing to Maine (fastcats that work!); and I'd like to cruise the Quoddy Loop someday - that'd be an interesting comparison to our Gulf Islands service. I guess there's never been a ferry service on upper Bay of Fundy. The 40-foot tides would require some pretty spectactular docks. PS: Unconfirmed, but some guidebooks say the Caribou, NS - Wood Islands, PEI ferry collects the $59 round trip auto fare only when boarding at the PEI terminal, making a one-way xing to PEI free. Since we plan to leave by the Confederation Bridge ($49 collected at Borden, PEI) that may make the PEI detour fairly cheap. Hmmm, we'll find out when there. Thanks again, all. |
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Apr 16, 2007 5:57:23 GMT -8
The more I'm hearing of your itinerary, the more it sounds like you will be following in my parents' footsteps. We were just discussing the above mentioned ferries as part of their trip, and I also "discovered" the link you posted. I will give you an update on their experiences and impressions over the next two weeks as they tour the area. Hopefully it will help you maximize your experience.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Apr 23, 2007 22:33:33 GMT -8
Many thanks- we are leaving Vancouver on 25 May, so there is plenty of time for more tips.
Now, we have to convince both dogs that a 4,000 mile flight is as easy as Q of Chilliwack's 11-hour cruise to Bella Coola ...
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 23, 2007 23:09:02 GMT -8
Check it out... www.eastcoastferries.nb.caI just found this now, otherwise I would have mentioned it a long time ago. Enjoy the coastline of the maritimes; I know I did. |
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 24, 2007 8:44:42 GMT -8
What airline are you flying Brian???
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Apr 25, 2007 2:04:07 GMT -8
First update:
I spoke to my parents briefly on Sunday evening, and they had made a rough but uneventful passage over to Newfoundland the previous Wednesday. Winds were only gusting to 50 knots in the aftermath of the lovely nor-easter we just had (8 inches of rain in 24 hrs here). They spent 4 days/5 nights exploring the southern portion of the province and were heading back to Nova Scotia on this past Monday. More to follow.
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Post by Scott on Apr 25, 2007 19:56:02 GMT -8
www.gnb.ca/0113/ferries/ferries-e.aspI don't think anyone posted this link yet... but it has information on the ferries operated by the government of New Brunswick including a few of the ones on the St. John River that I mentioned earlier in the thread.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Apr 28, 2007 18:40:44 GMT -8
More thanks for the continuing info.
Karl: the airline is WestJet, eastbound via Edmonton; return via Calgary. Fare is a little less than Air Canada, and their reputation is good.
TT and John: Thanks for the NB links. NB's detailed description of their inland ferries is very good - pics, too. East Coast Ferries' intensive service around the Campobello - Grand Manan area would be a treat to see. Geographically, it's stretch from our intended northern NS/Cape Breton/PEI tour. Darn.
BC in NJ: Likewise, a detour to Nfld is a bit too far this time. Your parents rode when Newfoundland's sealing fleet was still iced in on the NE side - hoping for the winds that did come to break up the inshore ice. Maybe the same storm that rocked them.
Marine Atlantic's fleet is interesting. At least, we may see one or more vessels at North Sydney. Their impressions of Cape Breton could be helpful to us.
Thanks again, all.
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Post by Coastal Drought on Apr 28, 2007 18:50:31 GMT -8
Your very much welcome Brian. I lived in NS since I was born until the summer of 1990 when me and my family moved out to the west coast for 7 years.
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Post by BrianWilliams on Apr 28, 2007 19:08:00 GMT -8
Another thought I had, but maybe impractical: a trip to Québec's Magdalen Islands (Iles de la Madeleine). CTMA www.ctma.ca/traversier-madeleine/traversier_horaireEtTarifs_ang.cfm has daily 5-hour service to the Magdalens from Souris, PEI; about $110 each way for 2 people plus car. The detour would need a minimum three days, but the islands are a windswept oddity in the Gulf of St Lawrence. Almost 100% French-speaking it seems - a chance to practice my poor knowledge of our other language (last used in France 15 yrs ago). Anyone ever been there? |
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Post by Scott on Apr 28, 2007 19:29:48 GMT -8
Never been there. There are also a couple islands south of Newfoundland, St Pierre & Miquelon, which can be reached by passenger ferries from Fortune NL. They actually still belong to France.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 28, 2007 19:34:25 GMT -8
Yes Brian. Very quaint. Very quiet. Kind of like France and PEI put in a blender and mixed. If you have a limited amount of time there is so much to see and do in the Maritimes I am not sure I would recommend it. It is like a version of a small European French rural town on the other hand. You get a bit of a less European French and more Canadianized version in the Acadian sections of New Brunswick. The Cabot Trail is stunning as far as scenery goes.
Please do your due dilligence concerning the dogs and West Jet particularly since you will be doing some stop overs. Do you stay on the same plane or change planes? Some friends fly all the time with their pooches (one finds it cheaper to bring their dogs back to Toronto to visit then to board them in Switzerland) but another has had troubles which I won't go into. If you change planes in Edmonton and Calgary - ask and then insist if necessary that the "In Charge" flight attendant confirms with the ramp personnel that the dogs are fine and in the pressurized cargo compartment.
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Post by BrianWilliams on May 1, 2007 19:52:17 GMT -8
Thanks for the notes on dog travel.
Yes, we are cautious, not having flown them before. WestJet, so far, is very reassuring about their policies. We will change planes in Edmonton going out and Calgary on the way back.
You bet, we'll seek assurance that they are safely loaded.
"Very quaint. Very quiet. Kind of like France and PEI put in a blender and mixed." Did you mean the Magdalens, or St-Pierre et Miquelon?
In either case, you're probably right about a longish detour being not so rewarding. There sure is enough in Nova Scotia to occupy us for 3 weeks. But, if you have any knowledge of the Magdalens, please tell more.
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Post by BrianWilliams on May 24, 2007 17:58:03 GMT -8
Well, we're off tomorrow (Fri 26 May).
Lobsters, lighthouses, ceilidhs, coves and lotsa fun.
Thanks to all for your helpful answers in this thread!
I hope to reward you with some pics after 14 June. Bye for now.
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Post by Northern Exploration on May 24, 2007 17:59:49 GMT -8
Enjoy your trip and visit those lobster pounds until you swear you never want to see another lobster again. They will never taste as good again lol. There are a bunch of Lobster dinners in Church basements in PEI btw.
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