Forza Mille - Day One Ferry to Yarmouth, Digby, Fundy, Pictou

No pictures yet... I left my smartmedia reader in seattle! Doh!

Sunday.

Left: Sunrise from the top deck of the Scotia Prince.

For the first time in three days, I am going to sleep while stationary... not on a plane, not on a boat... just a bed in a cabin in Pictou NS. I am way too tired to relate the day's events right now, so pictures will have to suffice until I get some sleep. Enjoy!

I wrote the above two nights before I collapsed into bed. It is Tuesday night now and I'm at the Westin Hotel in Halifax... finally caught up enough to sit down and write... so finally here is the account of the last couple of days:

After a reasonable night's sleep on the ferry, I woke up feeling OK. I took a walk up on the deck of the ship as the sun rose. The deck was essentially abandoned, being a clod and windy place. The 'target demographic' of the ship seemed to be way older than I, so the deck itself was very limited and workmanlike. Up on the 'rescue helipad' however were some deck chairs where I found the Markowski brothers had spent the night in sleeping bags. heh. I would have done the same thing in my 20's. =)

I went down for breakfast, met dad, and talked him up on the deck for a look around...

Left: Dad freezing his ass off on the poop deck.

We unloaded at Yarmouth and cleared Canadian Customs. The Valentine1 remains in my bag for the week as I'd rather risk a ticket than have my detector confistacted.

Left: Lighten up you Canucks!

Above: Nice shot of a Ferrari cresting a hill between Yarmouth & Digby.

Our first stage was a 68.2 mile transit from Yarmouth to Digby on the north coast of Nova Scotia's bay of Fundy. The Acadian coast here has a great collection of small communities with impressive churches that can be seen for miles. At Digby we picked up a few locals in their own classic cars, such as the MG TF below.

We stopped along the waterfront in Digby for an impromptu concourse, and then headed northeast for tthree more transit stages to The Annapolis Royal Gardens, Fort Wayne, and then the 'Fat Pheasant' for lunch. After an awesome bowl of minestrone, we headed out for the first timed segment of the rally: a 74 mile run along the Bay of Fundy to the town of Kentville. While the gardens and fort were impressive, the cars are what I am here for (and I suspect you to dear reader... I bet there is good info to be found on the tourist and historical stuff elsewhere on the web!) I grabbed some shots during the transits and in the parking lots along the way... enjoy!:

Two Ferrari's and an Aston-Martin lined up for a left turn.

Roadkill's view of Michael De Angeli's 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona.

Above & below: Some detail shots of Sherman Wolf's 1933 Packard Super Eight. A very impressive machine! Look at that chrome.

Below: Brian McIver's 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC.

Dad drove the first stage. We wound our way along the coast with great views of New Brunswick across the water. We made good time and arrived at the checkpoint (behind an Esso station) in good time.

Above: A Ferarri speeds toward the Bay of Fundy.

Dad and I switch places for the final run through the checkpoint (we zero!) and checkout for the next stage, a 111 mile run through the center of the province to Truro. The stage is uneventful except that about two-thirds of the way through I realize that we are running out of gas. We calculate how far we can go and figure that we can get all the way to the checkpoint (between two gasoline stations) but figure we should stop at the first station we see. The route takes us through some pretty remote areas, and we do not see a single station.

Needless to say, we are worried. The red light even comes on toward the end of the stage, but thankfully we arrive with enough time to fuel up before heading to checkout.

Left: Ahhhhhh, gasoline.

Left and below: waiting at the checkpoint.

We zero the segment and finish the day tied for first place (with probably several others.)

The next stage is a 50 mile transit to our resting place for the night at Pictou... we follow a section of the Trans-Canada highway, which allows for some cruising.

Below: The Daytona blows by us.

We arrive at the Pictou Lodge, a rustic collection of cabins on a bluff overlooking Northumberland Straight with a great view of Price Edward Island, just after sunset - with an almost full moon rising over the water... the place is beautiful. I am ready for dinner and a restful night in a bed that doesn't move. =)

Go to the Next page: Monday

--chuck

or...



		Sunday. Left: Sunrise from the top deck of the Scotia Prince. For the first time in three days, I am going to sleep while stationary... not on a plane, not on a boat... just a bed in a cabin in Pictou NS. I am way too tired to relate the day's events right now, so pictures will have to suffice until I get some sleep. Enjoy! I wrote the above two nights before I collapsed into bed. It is Tuesday night now and I'm at the Westin Hotel in Halifax... finally caught up enough to sit down and write... so finally here is the account of the last couple of days: After a reasonable night's sleep on the ferry, I woke up feeling OK. I took a walk up on the deck of the ship as the sun rose. The deck was essentially abandoned, being a clod and windy place. The 'target demographic' of the ship seemed to be way older than I, so the deck itself was very limited and workmanlike. Up on the 'rescue helipad' however were some deck chairs where I found the Markowski brothers had spent the night in sleeping bags. heh. I would have done the same thing in my 20's. =) I went down for breakfast, met dad, and talked him up on the deck for a look around... Left: Dad freezing his ass off on the poop deck. We unloaded at Yarmouth and cleared Canadian Customs. The Valentine1 remains in my bag for the week as I'd rather risk a ticket than have my detector confistacted. Left: Lighten up you Canucks! Above: Nice shot of a Ferrari cresting a hill between Yarmouth & Digby. Our first stage was a 68.2 mile transit from Yarmouth to Digby on the north coast of Nova Scotia's bay of Fundy. The Acadian coast here has a great collection of small communities with impressive churches that can be seen for miles. At Digby we picked up a few locals in their own classic cars, such as the MG TF below. We stopped along the waterfront in Digby for an impromptu concourse, and then headed northeast for tthree more transit stages to The Annapolis Royal Gardens, Fort Wayne, and then the 'Fat Pheasant' for lunch. After an awesome bowl of minestrone, we headed out for the first timed segment of the rally: a 74 mile run along the Bay of Fundy to the town of Kentville. While the gardens and fort were impressive, the cars are what I am here for (and I suspect you to dear reader... I bet there is good info to be found on the tourist and historical stuff elsewhere on the web!) I grabbed some shots during the transits and in the parking lots along the way... enjoy!: Two Ferrari's and an Aston-Martin lined up for a left turn. Roadkill's view of Michael De Angeli's 1973 Ferrari 365 GTB/4 Daytona. Above & below: Some detail shots of Sherman Wolf's 1933 Packard Super Eight. A very impressive machine! Look at that chrome. Below: Brian McIver's 1966 Ferrari 330 GTC. Dad drove the first stage. We wound our way along the coast with great views of New Brunswick across the water. We made good time and arrived at the checkpoint (behind an Esso station) in good time. Above: A Ferarri speeds toward the Bay of Fundy. Dad and I switch places for the final run through the checkpoint (we zero!) and checkout for the next stage, a 111 mile run through the center of the province to Truro. The stage is uneventful except that about two-thirds of the way through I realize that we are running out of gas. We calculate how far we can go and figure that we can get all the way to the checkpoint (between two gasoline stations) but figure we should stop at the first station we see. The route takes us through some pretty remote areas, and we do not see a single station. Needless to say, we are worried. The red light even comes on toward the end of the stage, but thankfully we arrive with enough time to fuel up before heading to checkout. Left: Ahhhhhh, gasoline. Left and below: waiting at the checkpoint. We zero the segment and finish the day tied for first place (with probably several others.) The next stage is a 50 mile transit to our resting place for the night at Pictou... we follow a section of the Trans-Canada highway, which allows for some cruising. Below: The Daytona blows by us. We arrive at the Pictou Lodge, a rustic collection of cabins on a bluff overlooking Northumberland Straight with a great view of Price Edward Island, just after sunset - with an almost full moon rising over the water... the place is beautiful. I am ready for dinner and a restful night in a bed that doesn't move. =) Go to the Next page: Monday --chuck
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