We're Going Where?

“I’m going to be sick”. That was my first thought when I answered the phone. It was a hot June day at work when I found out the news we’d be moving to Fogo Island. Never heard of it? Neither had I! After several months of impatiently waiting and researching my new home the day had come, the movers would be arriving on Monday. Monday was freezing. I spent the majority of the day pacing around, watching the movers box up our things.  Bored, I proceeded to grade them on their spelling mishaps on most of the boxes. Some were trickier to spot right away, camouflaged by all capital letters. “PITCHERS”, I never knew we had so many.

Tuesday was a much better day, sunny and warm. I parked myself in a lawn chair in the driveway, bundled up in my new Arc’teryx clothing and cozy wool blanket. I assumed my role as supervisor as three young men loaded all our belonging into the moving truck. The hardest work I did all day was continuing to angle my chair to achieve the best possible suntan and warmth. Keep in mind it was October 21st, the UV index was only 3. Yes, I checked! Finally, done for the day. It was back to the hotel for some last visits with friends and a good night sleep before the drive to Newfoundland. Did I mention our hotel, Best Western Bridgewater, had the cutest little treat bags for Winston? Milk bones, poop bags, and his very own plush blanket.

Up bright and early. Travelled all day to Sydney where we planned to meet up with family for dinner before we caught the overnight ferry to Newfoundland. We had a lovely visit other than Winston’s scuffle with his fur cousin and finding out our ferry that evening would be cancelled. Just great! I was so looking forward to sleeping through the queasy feeling I knew would accompany a 7-hour ferry crossing. The following day I would spend losing my balance and closing my eyes in an attempt to make the feeling of vomit in my throat subside. It was going to be a long and lazy day! We made it ashore, vomit free, and continued to drive another two hours to the nearest hotel. The hotel was combined with a Jungle Jims, which to my surprise is still very popular in some places of the world, Corner Brook being one. The hotel, Comfort Inn, did not get Winston’s approval. The beds were rock hard and he did not feel it appropriate to receive a pink bed sheet so thoughtfully wrapped in a grocery bag. Keep in mind he was previously spoiled by his two-night stay at the Best Western.

The last day of travel had come. We made our way to Gander where our first stop was the Motor Registration Division. What happened to the abbreviation DMV? I reluctantly gave away my Nova Scotia drivers license and sat for my grim faced new Newfoundland picture. In all fairness, you’re not allowed to smile. We followed up with a visit to the Newfoundland equivalent of Superstore, Dominion. Since we’d be staying in a rental with a full kitchen we felt groceries would be a good idea. We stocked up. “Crap, they don’t have Farmers milk. What? The milk cartons don’t have screw caps either”! This might be the biggest challenge of all! It was getting late and we wanted to secure our spot in line for the ferry to Fogo. While making our way through the Tim Hortons drive through we received a phone call from our real-estate agent back home stating that our basement had flooded. Naturally I started crying, partly because our basement had flooded while we were trying to sell our home and partly because this was going to be my last Tim Hortons coffee for a long time.

While waiting for the ferry we enjoyed an hour or two of people watching. The family in the truck ahead of us had to be my favorite, mainly because they were close enough to actually hear. We watched the young boy get out of the back seat and climb into the bed of the truck. He yells something to his parents inside. “Did you catch anything he just said? I’m pretty sure I heard the words battle and coat”. The kid proceeds to grab a case of coke from the bed of the truck. I don’t swear often but it had to be said, “F**k, I’m going to suck here”.