Last week was my birthday.
A start-a-new-decade birthday.
So T booked a weekend away, from Thursday to Sunday. To where, I was not told.
On the Wednesday night, I put out clothes on the spare bed, from summer dresses and bikinis, to ski trousers and fleeces. He then told me which to pack. The summer clothes were placed back in the wardrobe; the winter ones packed.
A start-a-new-decade birthday.
So T booked a weekend away, from Thursday to Sunday. To where, I was not told.
On the Wednesday night, I put out clothes on the spare bed, from summer dresses and bikinis, to ski trousers and fleeces. He then told me which to pack. The summer clothes were placed back in the wardrobe; the winter ones packed.
It was an early start on Thursday: 5.15am to get the taxi for 6am.
The taxi took us to Montreal airport, where we checked in for not one, but two flights!
There was a little hiccup shall we say, when the lady at the baggage drop, informed us I was placed on standby when T asked why he had been assigned a seat number for the second flight, but on my ticket it just said GTE - my seat would be allocated at the gate. She calmly stated they oversell the flights, with the probability of someone failing to turn up or being delayed on another flight meaning everyone there on the day should get a seat, but still there was a chance I would not be on that flight. She asked which was my bag, and then put a standby label on it, despite T and I saying that if one of us going, neither of us would be on that flight!
A birthday treat with me stuck at the airport - we didn't think so!
The taxi took us to Montreal airport, where we checked in for not one, but two flights!
There was a little hiccup shall we say, when the lady at the baggage drop, informed us I was placed on standby when T asked why he had been assigned a seat number for the second flight, but on my ticket it just said GTE - my seat would be allocated at the gate. She calmly stated they oversell the flights, with the probability of someone failing to turn up or being delayed on another flight meaning everyone there on the day should get a seat, but still there was a chance I would not be on that flight. She asked which was my bag, and then put a standby label on it, despite T and I saying that if one of us going, neither of us would be on that flight!
A birthday treat with me stuck at the airport - we didn't think so!
So the first flight was spent worrying if we would get on the second flight...
The flight landed, at Halifax: Nova Scotia.
We were a little early (the desk opened an hour before departure) so we had to wait, and worry. Eventually, the desk opened, and thankfully I was assigned a seat!
This next flight was to a place called Gander - this gave absolutely nothing away as I had never heard of it.
This next flight was to a place called Gander - this gave absolutely nothing away as I had never heard of it.
It was a relatively clear day, and I was allocated a window seat, so I could gaze out at the stunning scenery below.
There was land and water...
...and then water (and ice!)...
...and land again.
I was still baffled though, and had no clue as to which direction we were flying in.
Gander airport was tiny, and made a lovely change from the huge expanses of most other airports we tend to travel to and from.
At Gander we picked up a hire car:
We then drove.
I was still clueless at this stage.
All I knew - after seeing signs - was that we were in Newfoundland.
I was still clueless at this stage.
All I knew - after seeing signs - was that we were in Newfoundland.
But that didn't help too much, as I didn't know the first thing about Newfoundland and Labrador - they would be alot of dogs, maybe??!
Our car journey lasted ninety minutes, and then we reached a little hut; where we bought tickets for a ferry.
Arriving at the ferry crossing at just before 4pm, T had believed there would be a ferry at 4.30pm.
Perfect!
However, with one of the ferries out of action, the next ferry crossing was 6.30pm.
We asked the guy if there was any town nearby we could visit to kill some time. He pointed out a couple, but said there was nothing at either one (and, after coming through one of the ones he had suggested, we got what he meant, lovely as it was).
He also warned us that, seeing as it was the last ferry of the night and with them not running as often as usual, it might be busy and it was only a small ferry, so best wait in line.
Therefore we pulled up behind a lorry, and waited.
At 5.30pm a ferry came in.
One car drove on, and then the ferry went.
Was that our ferry?!
Were we going to have to stay here all night?!
The cars behind us hadn't got on, neither had the lorry in front, but that didn't comfort us too much. The car clock said 5.30pm, but our mobiles, on which the time had been changed in Halifax, said 5pm, and Montreal time it was 4pm - so what was the real time?!!
One car drove on, and then the ferry went.
Was that our ferry?!
Were we going to have to stay here all night?!
The cars behind us hadn't got on, neither had the lorry in front, but that didn't comfort us too much. The car clock said 5.30pm, but our mobiles, on which the time had been changed in Halifax, said 5pm, and Montreal time it was 4pm - so what was the real time?!!
Thankfully however, at 6.30 another ferry appeared, and we got on it and were able to stretch our legs for the hour-long ferry ride.
We arrived on the island we were going to stay, but where were we...???