Bar Harbor to Nova Scotia

After packing up and checking out we drove over to Joyce and Avery's for breakfast. (They conveniently live just five minutes from our hotel.) We sat down to a scrumptious quiche and fresh fruit, just what we needed to get the day started right.

After saying good-bye we drove south to Bar Harbor where we would pick up the ferry to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. (This trip seems to be a long series of hello followed soon after by good-be.)

Traffic was surprisingly light this Memorial Day as we cruised through Ellsworth and on to Bar Harbor, bringing up many fond memories of when we lived in nearby Winter Harbor in the summer of 2007.

After about an hour or so we found the ferry terminal just outside the village center. After check in, with our boarding passes and car tag in hand we had some two hours to kill before boarding so we drove into town. We parked the car and strolled down to the waterfront.

kayakers off the waterfront

playing on the beach

waterfront dining and whale watch boat

tourists queuing up for the whale watch - we have a different agenda today

lunch at the Fish House Grille

wedge salad

fresh haddock sandwich

Agramont Park overlooking the waterfront

back to the car

park across from the police station

After lunch we strolled back to our car and returned to the ferry terminal. The gates were open and we queued up getting ready to board.

looking back to the terminal and loading ramp

Driving on board we were directed to drive to the end of the ship circle around so we would be facing the right way when disembarking. The operation went very smoothly and before long we locked the car and headed for the stairs and the upper deck.

Once on board we made our way forward to the main lounge where we settled in for the next 3-and-a-half hours. It was a gorgeous day and we had a wonderful expansive view from our seats. Directly behind us and conveniently located was the bar. 

these seats do recline

view off the stern

The trip went surprisingly fast and a little before 7pm (local time) we caught our first glimpse of Nova Scotia. 

Nova Scotia!

ferry terminal in Yarmouth

After docking we were directed back to our car and before long were off the ship and through customs heading for our hotel.

Being such a small town Yarmouth was easy to navigate and we found our light's lodging with ease. Once checked in we went in search of a place to eat. The one recommendation from both our hotel clerk and guidebook was a place called Rudder's. But when we arrived they informed us the kitchen was backed up and it would be a good hour or so before we could expect food. We asked the hostess for a recommendation and she suggested Boston Pizza which as it turned out was close to our hotel so off we went. 

Once settled into a booth we ordered two glasses of wine from a woman who, in our humble estimation, has to be one of the top servers in the world. She had a spirit about her that, for us, was the epitome of Canadianess (if there is such a word): kind, friendly, of course, but with a smile that just bowled us over.

Anyway, we each had a small pizza, both of which were well-prepared, flavorful with a nice crust.

 

After supper it was back to the hotel. Tomorrow we head north to Halifax to meet our friends Richard and Pauline!