The ride to Basques is not too bad in the chairs, take something to read, game to play or something to distract you for a few hours and your there. The only rub is the ferry leaves the dock mid day and it is getting dark by the time you make port. You really need to have you lodging set for the night, other wise it is a scramble. If you head to St. Johns (highly recommended) it is a 16 hour ferry ride back. You really want to book a cabin, worth every penny. Caution, that ferry does not run daily, be sure to check the schedule. The ferry pulls out early evening, after a little time in the lounge and a decent meal, head to the room for adult beverages or what ever and snooze the night away.
Planning the days business on the roof top deck at our hotel in Sydney NS. Note the white buildings across the water and to my right; that is the ferry terminal in North Sydney (not Sydney), they are not the same and a lot of people get bit by that. Yep it is right there, just across the water, from the hotel, it is a 45 minute bike ride to the ferry terminal at N. Sydney from the hotel in Sydney.
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The Ferry to Basques; strongly recommend you bring your own soft ties and straps, does not take much room and sure does make things so much easier.
We did not need the straps, the crossing was so smooth but you never know.
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Going back to Sydney, it has been a tough day, we left St. Johns early and hit some back roads (dirt and gravel on a few) to see some out of the way places. She was a real trouper......a little worse for wear but all will be well. This photo is mid ship, this is not a small ferry by any means.
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Our cabin, coffee pot, fridge, private shower and all the hot water you want, queen bed was really comfortable, sat. TV. Close the curtains and you might as well be at the Hilton (the rooms were not quite that big but they were great) You might want to pack snacks if you indulge, there is limited selection on the ferry and everything is a bit pricey. We had great plans of heading out on the deck after sunset to watch the moon, take a deck chair while sipping on adult beverages, great plans.....what really happened is we took hot showers, went to dinner, went back to the room and that was that. So very done, the bed was comfy, I think I was gone by 9PM.......big adventurer I am! HA!
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Hope this helps