Cranachin

I put this in a previous post, but am starting a separate topic to make it more visible.

Is there anything to commend the ferry between Digby and St. John—other than the time savings over driving that route?

In other words, is there anything about the experience of crossing the Bay of Fundy—scenery, seeing whales, noticeable effect of tides, whatever—that makes it worthwhile in and of itself? Or it is just a convenience for those who would rather not drive around the bay? (By way of comparison, the ferry ride between Vancouver and Victoria was quite scenic, and we saw orcas when we took it. The ferry across the Oslofjord in Norway was basically just a timesaver, not particularly scenic as I recall.)

Thanks for any insight!

mat54

I've done this only once several years ago, and I may be confusing my memory with the nearby ferry to Grand Manan Island which we also took on a separate trip. On at least one (or both) we did see porpoises and/or dolphins as well as some interesting seabirds including a swimming Puffin. I believe whales are possible (there is some seasonality to some of the whale species which you should research). There are not the types of islands, nor are there high mountains such as those you would see from the Vancouver Ferry, so I don't remember scenery as being as big a feature as it is out west, although I seem to remember the trip being pleasant.

NorthwestMale

I think we need more info as to the context of your whole trip in order to find any upside to that ferry run.

With regard to the tides, gaining much from a boat at sea would be akin to perceiving the magnitude of a Tsunami wave from the middle of the ocean.

The shore is where tides are most impressive, and I can't see passing up so much of the Fundy shore in order to take that short ferry ride.

Now of course if you are simply trying to save time in a rush to a wedding in Digby or somewhere nearby, then fine... but otherwise you should probably drive around...

Cranachin

Thanks, mat54 and NorthwestMale.

Context is I am taking my 78-year-old mother to see the Bay of Fundy (which she finds fascinating). She will fly into Halifax (from the southern US), I will meet her there (driving up from Boston), and we will make our way back to Boston.

Our routing will include either

Halifax-Hopewell Rocks/etc.-Parrsboro-Digby-St. John (taking the ferry between the last two)

or

Halifax-Digby-Parrsboro-Hopewell Rocks/etc.-St. John (driving all the way).

If taking the ferry would add any real value to a trip in which experiencing the Bay of Fundy is the main purpose, then I am all for it. But if it is just an alternative way to get from Digby to St. John—if it is not really scenic, if there is little chance of seeing whales, if there is not really anything to make the crossing memorable—then I don't see the point of paying all that money for it, especially since we will be driving the Fundy coast between Digby and Hopewell Rocks/Cape Enrage/etc. regardless of which routing we take.

Also, we plan to do a whale-watching trip out of Digby Neck, so the ferry is not our only chance of actually being out on the Bay.

Hope that helps!

mat54

Your whale watching trip will offer you a much better opportunity to see ocean wildlife with the benefit of experts to find and explain the sights.

So if saving some time is not an issue then personally I would drive and as NorthwestMale suggests use the opportunity to see a little more of the Fundy Shore (including Alma and adjacent beautiful Fundy National Park which together are one of the locations where the dramatic contrast of high/low tide are highlighted). Remember, you have to stay in one spot long enough to see both tides in order to really appreciate the phenomenon.

Cranachin

Thanks, mat54.

The plan has always been to drive the stretch between Digby and at least Cape Enrage (in one direction or the other). The unknown has been whether the ferry trip adds anything to the "Bay of Fundy experience"—or at least enough to justify the added expense of it.

Sounds like it is more of a time saver than an essential part of the trip (as opposed to things like viewing the high and low tides along the coast, whale watching, rockhounding along the beach). At least I can tell Mom that I asked about it and got feedback that said it is not a "must do".

NorthwestMale

OMG... with 78yo mom...


DEFINITELY drive around... and I LOVE that she is fascinated with the Fundy (tides, I'm guessing) ???

I'd never have even heard of the place (er, well, maybe by NOW...) had I not recalled a photo in the Guiness Book of World Records of a boat sitting by a dock ON the ocean floor, spotted there when I was about 8 years old!

I was SO excited to go there, the first time I ever went to the east coast. My first exact experience with the tides was in driving through Fundy NP and down to Alma, where I rounded a bend, saw the water line a zillion miles out there, and soon spied a boat tied to the dock while on the ocean floor!

As soon as you firm-up the dates for your trip, go to http://www.lau.chs-shc.gc.ca/cgi-bin...gion=5&zone=30 and print out the tide tables for the window of your visit - the WHOLE window... (because, rather than sit around and wait 6 hours for the contrast, sometimes one gets the chance to visit the same spot/area on another day, or on the return trip from somewhere else... and one needs to have the data handy in the car while touring about.

Not sure if 'mom' will be OK with the many steps down to the sand at Hopewell Cape... but you should surely take her photo next to the sign that emphasizes:

"Warning: You Must be off of this Beach by _____ to avoid being Trapped by the Incoming Tide"

(which is at the top of the stairway at Hopewell Cape)


Further feed her fascination by stopping in Moncton at "Tidal Bore Park" (if you're not there at the right time, well, it can BE a bore... er, well, come to think of it, it's ALWAYS a bore one way or the other).

IF DONE RIGHT... you sit there, on provided bleachers (probably don't need a sports cushion or a cooler, and nobody will spill beer on you)... and then, perfectly on schedule, the "Tidal Bore" will come along and make the river's flow REVERSE right before your eyes. (maybe YOU won't be as fascinated by this, but it will hit the spot for mom)

LOL - when I was there, there was a full moon on the opposite side, and it was 11pm, and quite fun... plus, the added bonus was that it was perfectly kosher to return to my nearby hotel and phone home (at a decent hour out west) to tell everybody all about it!


Heck, this isn't a grand idea for most, but given what you say about your mom, I'd take her right to Burntcoat Head, and find the sign that marks the highest tide ever recorded, which happened there in October of 1869.

Then I'd take her to the Wolfville/Kingsport area for more impressive views... probably most sensibly at or near to low tide.

Perhaps she'll point out to you that as much water flows between Scots Bay, NS and Port Greville, NS in a single day as flows through ALL of the rivers on EARTH in the same, single day.

Don't know how keen YOU yourself are for such sightseeing, but as somebody who has much of your mom's fascination, I can suggest that she'll be quite pleased. (at any rate, don't take the ferry)

My first trip there found me extending what was originally a trip to Boston by about 4 days, and driving 700 miles each way, just to spend 24 hours in Nova Scotia.

(LOL - had to stop by the "Entering Nova Scotia" sign on the freeway just for a photo!)

Anyway, I hope you will adjust your values accordingly and take the long way around. The tide tables will really help, and DO print them for the entire window of your time in the area, just in case.

AndrewDavid

Nothwest Male, your enthusiasm is contagious. i first saw the Bay in the early 70's and was as fascinated as you sound. fyi it was featured in last years film "Cloudburst" starring olympia dukakis and brenda fricker.

your mom (and you) will love that whole part of the country!

cheers
AndrewDavid

Cranachin

Thanks, NorthwestMale and AndrewDavid.

I am as keen as Mom to see as much as I can, so no problem. And I have already checked and been told that at Hopewell Cape there is a shuttle for disabled and older folks who can't take the stairs, so we are good there.

Burntcoat Head is just the sort of place we would like to visit. Since it's along Route 215, which I was planning to take, it will be easy to visit. Thanks for the heads-up! Looks like we would be through there around the time of the high tide, but we could stop in Wolfeville/Kingsport closer to the low tide (especially if we get an early start).

Our arrival in Canada coincides with the new moon, so unfortunately no late-night sightseeing for us (due to lack of light, not when the tides and total bores happen).

We had always planned to go around the Bay. Skipping the ferry means we will head to Digby from Halifax and go counter-clockwise around the Bay and on to St. John (as opposed to going from Halifax as far as Hopewell Cape/Cape Enrage first and then going clockwise back to Digby).