Adventures for Anyone: I'm Learning to Travel by Ferry

Ferries are a way of life for many people in the world. It was once believed that technology would render them obsolete, but as we have discovered; there are many places where the alternative is just ridiculous and won't work. There are places where planes are not a suitable alternative and bridges are impossible. This is where you still find ferries. There are also many ferry routes around the world that are so traditional that there would be an uprising of the people if anyone were ballsy enough to try and take the ferries away. It is in this spirit that I am beginning to live my new life. I am trying to familiarize myself with all modes of public transportation; whether it be trains, buses, subways or ferries, so that eventually I can take the trip of a lifetime on these traditional modes of transport. This summer I've spent some time getting a bit used to ferry travel. I've been running back and forth some to Long Island from our home in Connecticut.

I've not previously been a person who spends a lot of time along the shore, but this year I have. It's been a whole new experience for me, and the travel is part of the awakening. I do admit that it's hard to live my life by a schedule. Most ferries that run around my area are easy to just walk on and go where you wish. But, if you take your car, you need a reservation. Then, when you arrive at the ferry dock to use your reservation, you need to wait in line until it is time; similar to readying to ride a roller coaster in an amusement park. The ferry will show up. You will see the vehicles unload and when it is time, the attendants will tell you how to get on the boat and where to park. If there is more than one person, which is normally the case, because who travels alone; you will need an extra ticket for the ferry as a walk on for that person. Only the driver and vehicle are included in the ticket. Also, check the tables for that ferry. Many times, if you have a trailer or a larger vehicle than a regular passenger car; you will need a higher priced ticket. Face it, if you take up too much room; you need to pay more money.

The ferry that I have been experimenting with this summer is the Port Jefferson Long Island to Bridgeport, Connecticut Ferry. This is a one hour and fifteen minute each way or so ferry. It's just long enough to give you the idea of how it feels to take your car on a boat ride, but not too long to drive you completely insane and make you never want to go on a ferry again. The question is; what is the perk to taking a ferry?

For starters, there's the view. There is something terribly calming about water, and if you can't find enjoyment in that on a ferry, then I can't help you and maybe you should just stay home. Everything you see from a boat looks different than when you see it from land. It's that way in a kayak and it's that way in or on any boat. The ferry is unique in that it is not designed for your entertainment although the ones that cross Long Island Sound have snack bars and cocktail lounges in them. But, a ferry is there to get you and your things from one shore to the other. That brings about one of the best things about ferries. They are not as expensive as other kinds of boats. You get to take your car on a vacation instead of going on a cruise and being stuck close to port. There are a chain of ferries that run all the way from Maine to Newfoundland up the Atlantic Coast and another that runs up the shores of British Columbia into Alaska. You can really travel on ferries. They are all over the world. As a matter of fact, you can nearly circle the globe with your car because of them. That's food for thought.

While there are several pleasing scenes to look at while traveling on a ferry, keep in mind that these boats are used for transportation. They go in and out of industrial harbors all over the world. There are ferries running around most areas that have several islands, all of the great lakes, from one country to another, and even across the Atlantic Ocean. That's right; there's a ferry that goes all the way from Iceland to Denmark. If you look into it, there are far more ferries than you would imagine. There are two ferries that frequently pass from Connecticut to Long Island. There are ferries all over Long Island that go to the area's smaller islands like Fire Island and Shelter Island. There are ferries that go to the outlying islands around New England, like Block Island, Martha's Vineyard, and Nantucket. There's a ferry from Boston to Provincetown. They are all over and do many things. There are ferry companies that also run tours to see lighthouses. There are dinner cruises. You never know. Some of them, like one in Norway make full coastline tours. There's one in Norway that goes all the way to Svarlbard.

Some ferries take off and sail into absolutely nowhere, like the New London Connecticut to Orient Point Long Island Ferry. There's not much at Orient Point, but there is a bus that will take you into eastern Long Island. It's all set up for you. Some ferries have overnight staterooms, like the ones up the coasts and the ones that cross major bodies of water. If you have to be on it overnight, there are probably overnight accommodations available. You will have to book that in advance just like taking the car with you.

Here's one thing to learn. Ferries are big boats, but they are not ocean liners. When the weather kicks up, you can have a bumpy ride. This happened on my last trip. I'm insane and loved the feeling of adventure. The ferry staff wasn't concerned, so neither was I. I was afraid that my car parked precariously on the back opened edge of the ferry would pitch into Long Island Sound, but other than that, I still had a good time.