crossing the river
In New Brunswick, the Saint John River watershed accounts for more than one-third of the province. It is a majestic river, almost 700 kilometers long, beginning in Maine and Quebec as small tributaries and gradually gaining in width and volume as it flows towards the Bay of Fundy.
One of the best things about living near the Saint John River is its cable ferries.
There are several bridges, of course, but no means of transport across the Saint John River can compare with the mini-voyage experience of crossing the river on a summer day with the wind in your hair and the dazzle of water in your eyes. It is always interesting watching the ferryman packing the cars in like sardines on the busy days. There is usually some interesting local event posted on the bulletin board. And New Brunswick’s river ferries are free to ride!
In 1978, I made several trips on a ferry that was only in operation for a short time. This was the car ferry at Cambridge-Narrows on Washademoak Lake, part of Washademoak River, one of the large tributaries to the Saint John River. It operated for a few months after the covered bridge there was flattened in the Groundhog Gale of February 2, 1976. The new bridge was built shortly afterward in 1978 and only local people remember the ferry.
However, I remember the ferry at Cambridge-Narrows very well. I wrote the poem ‘Lights on the Lake’ one evening as I took the ferry across the Narrows and felt the peacefulness of the small community winding down from the summer season.
For a short history of Cambridge-Narrows and a photograph of the covered bridge after it was destroyed by the Groundhog Gale, see
http://www.imagine-action.ca/IAAppContent/274/BookletVII_Legacy%20of%20HistoryFinal.pdf
Lights on the Lake
~
1.
~
twilight
fairy bulbs on masts
sunset on sail
amber to trace
the ferry’s quiet crossing
~
dusk
leaded porch lights
propane glow
twin headlights
joust along the cottage road
~
darkness
strings of lantern
patio voices, clinking and laughter
fires on the beach
sparks stirred toward the sky
~
moonlight
waves flirt with stars
Aurora Borealis leaps
fireflies blink
brief messages of love
~
2.
~
comes an evening at summer’s end crowd and fireflies are gone night storms shuttered windows
darkened doors the charred remains of fires
on the shore
~
and through the trees a ruby gleam
a choir practices its song
~
© Jane Tims 1978
nichepoetryandprose 
Beautiful poem, the words brought back image filled memories of ferries I’ve taken, from Woods Hole to Vineyard Haven, Massachusetts, from New London, Connecticut to Orient Point, New York, from Chester to Hadlyme, Connecticut… I understand there is a ferry from Bar Harbor, Maine to Yarmouth, Nova Scotia – that is one I dream of taking someday! That’s amazing that New Brunswick’s river ferries are free!
Looked up the Groundhog Gale – apparently it hit New England as well, but I don’t remember it, but perhaps that is because I had caring for my newborn firstborn on my radar screen…
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Barbara Rodgers
September 13, 2011 at 12:41 pm
Hi Barbara. The ferries you mention include one I want to take, to Martha’s Vineyard. I am a fan of Philip Craig’s mysteries. They all take place on Martha’s Vineyard and he talks about waiting in line for the ferries. Jane
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jane tims
September 13, 2011 at 10:38 pm
Thanks for visiting over at Crazy as a Loom.
I, too, love the ferry…..we had one in Ticondergoga, NY, going to Vemont…..I rode it all the time as a child, and in fact, it is still there.
You’re right, something about the wind, and the sun, and the cars packed on it, there’s nothing quite like it.
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Hilary Cooper-Kenny
September 10, 2011 at 8:27 am
Hi Hilary. Now if you could capture that in a piece of weaving… you have the eye for the colors – blues, white for sails and sparkle, the cars in various reds… Jane
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jane tims
September 10, 2011 at 8:59 am
Hi Jane,
What a beautiful Post!
I love watching the barges on Lake Michigan with their lights on. We leave low-energy lights on all night for the workers to see along the shore, to add to the lights of others in a small way…
First heard of the Bay of Fundy from Joni Mitchell.
My husband and I visited Vancouver in 1988 and rode on the ferries. My mom and I visited Stratford in 1972 and saw Shakespeare plays; we also went to Toronto.
Ellen
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Ellen Grace Olinger
September 10, 2011 at 8:22 am
Hi Ellen. You’ll have to visit New Brunswick some time. Is the Bay of Fundy in a song by Joni Mitchell? Thanks for your comment! jane
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jane tims
September 10, 2011 at 8:55 am
Yes, I just checked her official website and looks like all of her lyrics are on-line now. I enjoy viewing her paintings also. Seems she was ahead of her time!
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Ellen Grace Olinger
September 10, 2011 at 10:48 am
Thanks… I’ll go check it out! jane
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jane tims
September 10, 2011 at 9:48 pm
I find taking the ferry gives you time to sit back, relax and reflect on the day ahead or behind. Excellent poem Jane.
-Denis
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JD
September 10, 2011 at 7:10 am
Hi. There’ll be more on the ferries later. I wonder if a very regular user of the ferries would like them as well??? jane
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jane tims
September 10, 2011 at 7:28 am