Canada 2018
 
 

Day 05

July 25

 
     
     
   
  Today we've got to be at the ferry no later than 3:30 PM. I have adjusted the route so we should have plenty of time just to be safe. Since Patterson's doesn't open for breakfast until later, we avail ourselves of a local Timmy's just down the road. Their breakfast sandwiches ain't bad and their Boston Creme Donuts are even better.  
   
  When we get back, we get the girls ready to roll on to the adventures for the day.  
   
  The weather does not look too promising, so I put on my rain jacket just to ensure that it doesn't rain. If I don't put it on it will, if I do put it on it won't - or least that's my opinion based on my experiences on the road.  
   
  Before long we come to the Nova Scotia border so I stop to get a picture of Frost at the line. When we crossed in New Brunswick they were doing construction on their signs so I miss that one.  
   
  Since we have the time, we leave the TransCanada for highway 6 which is also known as the Sunrise Trail.  
   
  It takes out through many small towns like Amherst ...  
   
  and lovely countryside views ...  
   
  neat old church buildings ...  
   
  and of course construction zones.  
   
  When we pass this old meeting house, I wonder what stories it could tell of the folks that have passed through it's doors. It has two front doors which let's me know it is a pretty old building. In those days long ago, the ladies went through one door and the men went through the other one.  
   
  Soon we are back alongside the mighty Saint Lawrence.  
   
  When we pass through the little town of Wallace ...  
   
  we see a house on the outskirts that may have been a lighthouse at one time. Or at least it was constructed in the fashion of a lighthouse.  
   
  On this route we are never far from the river which suits me well. There is just something about riding alongside an ocean, river or large lake that I really enjoy.  
   
  When we pass through Tatamagouche (I have no clue as to how to pronounce that) I spot this interesting church building.  
   
  The deep blues of the river play a close match to the blues of the sky in a point/counterpoint fashion.  
   
  I'm enjoying running alongside the river but I know we will be back at the four lane business all too soon.  
   
  Soon we leave highway 6 and on to the four lanes of highway 104. When we stop for a break for our beasts of burden and for us, I strike up a conversation with this local gentleman. He is riding a 'dual speed' Honda just like the one that my friend Andy used to have. It is actually a 12 speed since it has 6 gears and another lever to shift up or down. He is amazed at how many miles I have already traveled and have yet to go. But we need to get back after it to make the ferry, so I wish him well and he's off and we are too.  
   
  As we move on down the road I realize that this scene could be from dozens of places especially back home in Tennessee.  
   
  Highway 104 alternates from four lanes to two lanes and soon we come to a two lane section. And nothing like a construction zone to knock a feller out of his reverie and back into the real world.  
   
  As we near Cape Breton, I see this ocean going vessel being loaded.  
   
  When we cross this bridge to Cape Breton I know we are within striking distance of the ferry well within our time constraints.  
   
  It's time for a break so we take the opportunity to fill up the bikes and empty ourselves.  
   
  We are now less than a hundred miles of the ferry and closing fast.  
   
 

As we pass this church I can't help but remember the words of my Lord -

Matthew 5:14-16 - Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. 15 Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. 16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

And if a city set on a hill can't be hid, neither can a church or man for that matter. I just hope that this place brings glory to the Blessed One to Whom it should belong.

 
   
  The views are outstanding as we get nearer to the ferry.  
   
  Finally we see the sign that will direct us to our appointed destination.  
   
  There's a bit of a line, but it does not take them long to process us through and point us to our designated waiting lane.  
   
  I see our home for the next 17 hours or so and am looking for to relaxing for little while off the bike.  
   
  One of the bikes ready to board is this Triumph Rocket Three. It has the largest displacement engine of any production motorcycle currently offered.  
   
  Soon enough we are called up to board in an orderly fashion.  
   
  Once we secure our bikes and grab our stuff for the evening, we hunt out our stateroom. This ferry will take seventeen hours to get to Newfoundland, so I booked Alain and me a place to sleep on the way over. The signs to our room are not intuitively obvious, so I ask a staff member and she shows me which hall we need to turn down.  
   
  After we get our knitting tended to, we head for the onboard restaurants. The 'sit down' one is backed up as expected so we head for the snack bar. I see they are offering fresh hot dogs so I grab one, some chips, and of course some sweetening in the form of chocolate chip cookies. When I come out, I can't find Alain. I walk around the area two times and either he has vanished or my eyeballs are failing me. Since there's no way off the ship except by copter, a boat or swimming, I figure I'll find him sooner or later. So I grab a nearby seat and commence in on my vittles for the evening.  
   
  I wander outside to get a last shot of the disappearing mainland before I retire to our room.  
   
 

Shortly after I get back to our room, Alain walks in. I tell him -

"I must be going blind cause I waltzed around the area twice and couldn't see you."

He tells me exactly where he was sitting and then I realize he was facing the other direction. That's the reason I couldn't pick him out the crowd cause I'm not real good at identifying the back of a head. Since the ship doesn't reach port until 10 AM or so in the morning, we decide we can sleep in a bit and then enjoy a leisurely breakfast in the sit down cafe. With the important stuff dealt with, I'm on to the business of sleeping like a hound after a rabbit. The gentle rocking of the boat rocks this hillbilly to sleep quicker than you can say "What happened?'