The Route We Took: Rte 510 S, Ferry, Rte 430 S

Make sure you have a reservation going in the correct direction AND that you know what time it departs. We were told folks regularly book the wrong direction AND / OR do not take into consideration Atlantic Time.

Lodging: Fisherman’s Landing Inn, Rocky Harbour, NL, CA

Food: Finsherman's Landing Restaurant

Joke of the Day:

Two atoms were walking together.

Atom A says, “I think I lost an electron.”

Atom B says, “Are you sure?”

Atom A says, “I’m positive.”

These are the jokes, folks.

We called to confirm our reservation on the ferry from Blanc Sablon to St. Barbe because we’d heard that the morning ferry wouldn’t run, and were nervous we’d lose our space even though we had a reservation.

To top it off, when we inquired at our hotel’s reception desk, they told us there was no 10:30 ferry. *Gasp!*

Immediately we called the ferry office, and they told us our reservation was for St. Barbe to Blanc Sablon, not the other way. That’s the wrong direction.

We explained we weren’t in Newfoundland, but in Labrador. Luckily we called, luckily they switched it for us, and luckily we were pitiful enough to avoid the $25 penalty for changing a reservation!

Arriving at the Blanc Sablon ferry terminal, I got inline to check-in and find out where to park. While in the wrong line (more on that later), someone called out to me. “How in the world is there someone in this line who thinks they know me?”, I wondered.

Turns out, people from the Manic-Cinq tour were in line ahead of me. Mom swears they said something like, “We thought you were left for dead on the side of the Trans-Labrador Highway.” What I heard was, “It’s so good to see you.”

[So few people make the trek that you become familiar with your fellow traversers. You recognize them and their vehicles, and you begin to feel a fellowship with them similar to the hostels and hostelers of your backpacking days. Such was the case here.]

They asked what we were driving, they were driving trucks with campers on the backs, and were impressed when I told them. “No flats or other disasters?”, they asked. Nope! She responded with fingers crossed on both hands.

Very, very friendly. I was glad to see them.

Now, about the line for the ferry: I didn’t see the sign indicating which line was for which type of passenger. Turns out the red line (to the left of the winding, rope line) is for people with reservations, that was us. The blue line (the winding, rope line) is for people without reservations. That would be our friends from Manic-Cinq, and the line in which I originally stood.

Someone explained this to me, and I got in the correct line. Our reservation had transferred, and we were ready to go as soon as the ferry arrived.

The ride from Blanc Sablon, which means white sand / shore, to St. Barbe is approximately 1 hr. 45 mins. The ferry is decent with a booming cafeteria, ample seating, and a small video arcade. We made the mistake of sitting by the arcade, which, naturally, was full of screaming children.

In St. Barbe, we filled up the tank, and began the journey to Rocky Harbour. Labrador had taught us to get gas whenever the opportunity presented itself, and not trust another opportunity to present itself any time soon.

Eager to get to Rocky Harbour, we skipped the highlighted stops in the guidebook, and opted for a single stop at The Arches Provincial Park, which was very much worth the stop. There were a few flies here, but nothing like Labrador. It was late in the day, but I would highly recommend this as a picnic stop. Arches is located between Portland Creek and Parson’s Pond on Rte 430 on the west side of Newfoundland.

About an hour later, we arrived at Rocky Harbour, easily found Fisherman’s Inn, and had a delicious lobster dinner.

The Inn was a nice respite and return to civilization; it has a gift shop with rather remarkable items. It’s name Uniquely Newfoundland (or something similar) didn’t misrepresent itself.

The most amazing part of this stop was the ability of the waitress in their restaurant. The place was *packed*, and she was solo. We’re talking 15 tables; one with a party of nine!

She didn’t lose her cool, and was on top of the whole thing. As we were leaving, assistance had arrived. It was remarkable.