Dartmouth Ferry

My posts aren’t really showing any semblance of a logical order; the Lawrencetown Beach post was from our last day in Nova Scotia, after I found a way to my family and La Niña in the Valley. This post goes back a few days to fog, Halifax, and the Chebucto Ferry Terminal when I discovered that I had no Canadian cash / the $2 needed to take the ferry from Halifax to Dartmouth where I could catch a ride South.

The journey across the harbour was, I have to say, rather eerie. The fog was thick — so thick that sound was muted and everything over the rail was white. It was only the fog horn that seemed to be able to blast / cut its way through the fog. As other boats / ships / yachts responded to our captain’s call it began to sound like a strange game of positioning chess played using only sound.

Taking the Ferry in Halifax / Dartmouth is like taking a bus in Calgary — only cheaper and steeped in rich history. The Dartmouth Ferry system began operation in 1752 and is considered to be the oldest salt water ferry service in North America. It all started as a large wooden rowboat (with sail) used by the Garrison to transport food and ice across the harbour from mainland farms / settlements. And, over the next two centuries it evolved into the quickest way for people to get in and out of Halifax Metro. It wasn’t until the 1950s when the Macdonald Bridge was built that people had another fast way of getting into the city.

In all, the ferry ride is a quick 15-minutes from the Halifax terminal to the Dartmouth terminal.