June 25, 2011. Western Head, Nova Scotia. The Ferry.

We changed our minds and took the ferry from St. John to Digby instead of driving around New Brunswick and into Nova Scotia from the north.   There is a small tourist information office just after you enter Canada from Maine.  Last year we stopped for a map.  This year we stopped for information about the ferry.   While we were waiting to clear customs, Ken wondered when the ferry ran, not really thinking we would take it, but when we discovered that it left at 11:00pm,  we booked our ticket, right then and there.  Next, from the car,  we booked a motel in Digby, as the ferry would arrive at 2:00am and did not wish to drive to Liverpool in the middle of the night.  The Admiral Digby Inn sounded just great as it was three minutes drive from the ferry dock.

I had read about downtown St. John but had never walked around to see for ourselves.   It is the oldest city in Canada and was in the process being restoring.  We found it to be small but charming with an active bar scene.  We dined at a pub and could have chosen ten others.  The food was excellent, as was the beer, bitters for Ken and blueberry ale for me.

It was clear that many of the good folks who had boarded the ferry had done it before.  They arrived at the lounge complete with pillows and blankets.  The room was darkened and everyone slept except Ken and me, who read, sitting under the only light bright enough to read.   We would have slept but for the lack of pillows and blankets!!