Wire Wrapping Not Wire Rapping

My friend and I recently registered for a wire wrapping class. Not to be confused with the spoken word poetry to music, this was a class in bending wires to assemble jewellery. We wanted to make a beautiful necklace. Registration was inexpensive and the class took place at a large craft store. We were the only two to arrive on a Friday night and naturally, appreciated the individual attention.

First, we selected and purchased our beads and wires at a discounted price. Next, we laid them on a tray provided, so that we wouldn't be chasing down tiny beads all over the floor.


Then our wonderful instructor gave us the beginner info. and tools. We were glad that we didn't have to purchase pliers, trays, and the like. Using her equipment, we attempted to begin our project. After several re-dos, sore and blackened fingers, and minimal success, we were out of time and I for one was out of patience.  

                                                         
Here's what I managed to complete after a couple of hours. I connected three beads. In fairness, I did bend all the dozen wires creating the links. My friend was much more skilled and made several segments for her necklace. Clearly, we needed more time and fortunately were offered such on another Friday night, by our instructor.

We had a new plan for our follow up class. We decided more fun was in order. Since we were early, we shopped, snacked, drank, and acted a little silly. Lots of laughs resulted from our little purchase.  Not only that, Yoda, much attention he garnered.












We arrived at the class and once again were the only two. Our instructor was enthusiastic, Yoda watched and we completed our projects as we snacked on Pringles. What a fun time. Here's the result of our efforts...beautiful necklaces.

Indispensable Products I Know and Love

I am not getting any form of payment for this. In fact, I didn't think there'd come a point in my life where I would know or care about certain products. No, it's not that I have too much time on my hands. I just feel the need to share the most remarkable of recent discoveries. That is...discoveries by me. These things may have been around forever. What do I know?

I have, for example always used Lestoil. I will continue to do so. I remember the commercials when I was a child. "There's less toil with lestoil, so clean the lestoil way".  There was also some mention about washing away grease and oil but I've never tried this product in the laundry. I have raved about Lestoil for more years than I can remember. I love it as a grease fighter and a floor cleaner and have been finding it harder and harder to find in stores. I feared that it had gone the way of some other products from my younger years when, suddenly I located it at my local Canadian Tire. I immediately purchased a lifetime supply. In my case, about half a dozen bottles. I hoped I wouldn't expire before they did.

Now for something I didn't know about. Giving credit where credit is due, I have learned of a new brand from my realtor. The brand is called Zep and when I say new, I mean new to me. We recently had a property for sale. It sported some unsightly carpet spots. My realtor brought in Zep spot remover and it was amazing. Seriously, it was amazing. I've been scrubbing, and bubbling, and powdering carpets for years trying to get some type of clean from them. She simply sprayed on the Zep cleaner and lifted the spot with a cloth. Wow!

I had to have some, so I went to the local proprieter of all things magical, Home Depot, and requested Zep.

"Which one?" asked the young man helping me.

"There's more than one?" I responded, mouth agape.

It was then that I discovered a whole line of products. There were bathroom cleaners, carpet cleaners, window cleaners, oven and bbq cleaners, pet stain cleaners, spot removers and more. The price was reasonable. I believe I have now purchased most. I've tried the glass cleaner...phenomenal; the shower tub and tile cleaner...terrific, and I'm looking forward to using the rest. Yes, my life is just that dull.

















Finally, and this is the biggest marvel of all, I discovered that there are such things as floor saucers. I have no idea what they're really called... perhaps moving discs, or magic sliders, or all of the above. Once again, the realtor is responsible. These handy dandy items get put under the legs of furniture, making it slide easily to a different location. Gone are all the pulleys, and ropes, plastic gizmos with small wheels, and muscle men that were once needed to move dressers or desks. These phenomenal discs let anyone move anything. You just need to be able to slightly lift the corner and place the saucer under the legs of the furniture.

So, whether you always knew about these items or whether they are new to you, I'm sure anyone would agree that most are indispensable.

My name is Hilde, and I am Invisible

I know for a fact that I'm invisible. Just to clarify, in my mind, that's not the same as simply feeling invisible. Being invisible must be differentiated from being inconspicuous, indistinct, unassuming, or unnoticeable. Those are earlier degrees of invisibility, a developing state which must be mastered. Once one becomes proficient, being invisible is difficult to undo. Oh, you might dabble in being seen from time to time, but for the most part, you are invisible and you prefer it,

So, just as an alcoholic stands up and confesses, "My name is          and I am an alcoholic", I am now sharing that "I am Hilde and I am invisible."  Again, that's not to say that I don't have mass. I take up space...more than I'd like. It's not that kind of invisibility to which I'm referring.

“I don't need a cloak to become invisible.”  -J.K. Rowling

Some of us grew up during an era when parents, out of desperation said things like "children should be seen and not heard". Although I don't recall being a rambunctious child, my folks were known to use this expression from time to time. Sometimes, I sat under the kitchen table in order to avoid being either seen or heard. It worked. I was rarely noticed and seldom missed. I liked the feeling. Perhaps I was even praised for my behaviour, who knows? It kept me out of trouble.

“A quiet kid is a good kid. But a quiet and invisible kid is an even better kid.”
  -Jarod Kintz
 
During my school career, I strived to be indistinct. I was the kid who sat quietly, off to one side toward the back of the classroom. I recommend this particular seating for people preferring anonymity. Don't sit too close to the front, the back, or the middle of the room. Those are always in the teacher's sights. I learned not to look down or away. This is an essential skill which must be mastered. Teachers always pick up on it if someone is looking down or pretending to be searching for a missing item in their desk. I simply stared straight ahead but not directly at the instructor to be sure I did not make eye contact. I was the one who didn't raise her hand, didn't talk, didn't do much of anything other than what was needed to progress each year while remaining unnoticed.

Unfortunately, I found out that I couldn't always be inconspicuous. The times I was seen were when something went wrong, when I made a mistake, or when I was embarrassed by what I had said or done. Not only that, it unravelled all my previous hard work. It overwhelmed me and I became obsessed with failure. I hated that. I had to work harder at being invisible.

As an adult, I believe I have mastered invisibility. I have also learned that the older you get, the more invisible you become. That is, if  "more invisible" is possible, since grammatically I think that simply "invisible" is the correct ultimate state. It's easy to be invisible when you're a senior.

"I am invisible, understand, simply because people refuse to see me." Ralph Ellison

Being invisible is not always a bad thing. In fact, on the days when you are wearing a shirt inside out, when you've dribbled food on yourself, or you have on two different coloured shoes, it's very good. Nobody notices. You're invisible.

So how do I know that I'm almost completely invisible most of the time?

When I speak, I can't really say that I'm heard. Sometimes I speak and others interrupt with what they need to say as if I'm not there. I perceive myself as background noise because that's what invisibility turns you into...a loud hum, a white noise. If I walk along a store aisle people jostle me, bump into me, or ram their carts into my heels. I rarely get the usual Canuk "sorry" anymore because I'm invisible. I go shopping and search for assistance. I don't get any, although that could be because store employees are also invisible. I'll line up in a grocery checkout or wait my turn at a counter and people will step in front of me as if they had been there first. Most recently, I went car shopping and wandered around a showroom climbing in and out of expensive vehicles. I was uninterrupted. See? Invisible.

I came across a Psychology Today article. There's mention of author Akiko Busch who thinks there are benefits to "social invisibility, positioning it as a salve to modern society's tendency toward narcissism",  Busch is further quoted as saying "we live in a time and culture that value display and are largely indifferent to the virtues of passing unnoticed". See? Invisibility is a virtue. I am invisible, therefore I am virtuous. I learned that logic in Philosophy 101 while sitting in a university classroom where everyone was invisible.

Besides the times when I commit a grievous faux pas, there are still some joyous occasions when I'm not completely invisible or when I don't want to be invisible. There's a quote that goes something like "love the people who see you when you're invisible to everyone else." I have a few close people who indeed "see" me and they are definitely loved.

I did not write this blog while playing the world's smallest violin. In fact, after reading the Psychology Today article, I feel quite good about my invisibility. After all, as Busch writes in a New York Times article, "Invisibility doesn't mean sacrificing one's individuality; it only means not having to assert it all the time. In this sense, blending in can reflect a deeper sense of self-confidence than standing out--even if no one else ever knows."

_________________________________________________________________________________
***"How To Be Invisible".New York Times, Feb. 7. 2015, Akiko Busch, 

***"Why Everyone Should Try Being Invisible", Psychology Today. Mark D. White PhD

Route 66 or Portions Thereof

October 1960 marked the premier of a t.v. show which lasted a mere four seasons, but resulted in nostalgic memories for a whole generation. The theme song was only slightly catchy with the opening line, "Get your kicks on route 66". That's some of what I recall from my childhood. Other than that, I believe there were two guys travelling around in a car having adventures along the Main Street of America. I always wanted to travel along that road, see the attractions, and appreciate the history.

A few weeks ago, hubby and I were on our way to a wedding and passed through Illinois, where we made an effort to visit some of the historic Route 66. I'll try to share my impresssions and some of what I learned along the way without turning this into a "we went here" and "we saw that" kind of a blog.

At the onset of our adventure, we used a pocket book, Road Trip USA (2009) as our guide. It was as helpful as it was confusing. Some towns/attractions were in random order and some information was no longer valid.  I discovered that the author has a more up to date, detailed website/blog on www.roadtripusa.com I also recommend the very useful and detailed Illinois Route 66 Visitors Guide available from the rest stop tourist information areas.

We found historic route 66 difficult to find and to follow. There are bits and pieces which go through small towns. Some pavement is old and broken up alongside a different super highway, or buried under a newer road. Some areas are closed for construction. We picked up the road south of Joliet although it actually began in Chicago.

These sightings got me enthusiastic for what I hoped would be ahead.

The Gemini Giant in Wilmington reminded me of people's obsession with space travel in the 60's. It was an amazing albeit no longer pristine fibreglass sculpture of a man with a helmet and rocket ship. The adjoining Launching Pad restaurant was up for sale. I have no idea how long that has been the case, but it was badly in need of renovations. We were glad to see that the Polka Dot Drive In in Braidwood seemed to be doing much better. Business was brisk and the original feel still prevailed.

Where some places had long deteriorated, others lived on, and still others survived in the form of restored and valued landmarks. Such was the case in Gardner where the 1906 historic two celled jail stood next to a streetcar diner which had been moved here in the 1930's. When I took the photos, I felt some trepidation...dark circular clouds loomed and there was a fierce wind. I was concerned that I'd have to hole up in the jail for protection from an imminent tornado. The good news was that I was confident the small stone building could withstand anything.

We found that for people wanting to get a true sense of Route 66, the city of Pontiac was intriguing. The Hall of Fame and Museum is housed in an old firehouse and was well worth the visit. For a donation, we were able to view two floors of artifacts and photos. The outdoors was as fascinating as  the inside. The murals provided some nostalgia.

The road to Funk's Grove was closed for construction, so unfortunately, we had to miss visiting the towns of Shirley and McLean. Not that there was much in these towns, but the names amused me.

 Along the way, we observed some historic gas stations. Not all were functional but nonetheless, interesting that someone found these of historical significance and maintained them.













In an effort to keep the Rte 66 spirit alive, Springfield, the capital city of Illinois, has an annual Mother Road Festival at the end of September. Not only does the famed Cozy Dog Drive-In still exist, Springfield is a history buff's dream. Abraham Lincoln governed here and this is the location of his tomb. Awesome and moving to see where one of the most significant U.S. presidents is buried.

Although we missed seeing the huge pink elephant in Livingston, we did find the world's largest bottle of catsup in Collinsville. This was truly a highlight for me. Built in 1949, it is a 170 foot tall water tower which was built for Brooks original rich and tangy catsup. Sadly, like so many other landmarks along Route 66, the original factory is for sale along with the giant roadside attraction.

As we drove closer to our eventual destination, we were excited that we had found even small portions of this famous road. We were also disappointed at how many of the historical treasures had disappeared or were for sale, The small towns just couldn't support the businesses once Rte 66 was replaced by a super highway.

I couldn't help but wonder. Are historical societies fighting a losing battle? Are we the last generation to really know or care about this highway and its history? And when all is said and done does any of it really even matter?
_________________________________________________________________________________
**Note
These little known personalities were only a few of the hundreds of guests on the Route 66 t.v. show.
Ed Asner, Robert Duvall, Suzanne Pleshette, Lee Marvin, Leslie Nielsen, Barbara Eden, Harvey Korman,, Walter Matthau, Peter Lorre, Vera Miles, Rod Steiger, Tuesday Weld, Joan Crawford, Rin Tin Tin, Jack Lord, Buster Keaton, Cloris Leachman, William Shatner, Robert Redford, Douglas Fairbanks Jr., Martin Sheen, Ron Howard, Boris Karloff, Gene Hackman, Alan Alda,  Burt Reynolds, Guy Lombardo.

642 Things to Write About

Some time ago, I received a book with the title, "642 Things to Write About". I was appreciative to have this as a guideline to help me formulate some creative ideas and possibly overcome writer's block. After all, what could be easier than to flick open a page, get a topic, and start to write?

I soon discovered that the ideas were a bit unusual. For example, on page number ....well, there are no page numbers. Nonetheless, I could not imagine writing a story taking place in Argentina in 1932 where a teacup plays an important role. First of all, that sounded like it required a lot of research. What did I know about South America, the 30's, or china for that matter? I flicked to another page."Your favorite jeans". I don't wear jeans, hence no favorites. Actually, there was a blank rectangular box under this heading, no lines. Perhaps I was supposed to draw a picture? I put the book away and didn't look at it again until yesterday.

As I revisited this book, I wondered. Why did I think the ideas were odd back then? They suddenly looked like fun things to write about. The only drawback was that the spaces were a bit small and my handwriting is very large. I suppose that's what computers and blogs are for.

My first effort was in reponse to this offering.

"Think about a person you despise. Now describe all the wonderful things about that person."

I don't really despise anyone I thought. I broadened the spectrum. Perhaps I should go for dislike, disapprove, or disrespect. It didn't take long. Here is my description. I'm not certain it's all that wonderful, but it's the best I could do. Can you guess who it is?

- is a Canadian
- knows how hold onto a high paying job and has for many years
- is able to spell "prorogue"
- has influential, powerful, and wealthy friends
- knows the Bush family of the U.S.
- photographs well, speaks fairly clearly
- lives in a nice house in Ottawa
- has a good wardrobe
- says kind things about someone else's hair

 Now, let me flick to another page in this book and see if I can come up with a more creative writing topic for my next blog.

A Day at the Movies

This week, hubby and I went to a movie. It's a rare occurrence. He doesn't really like going to movies. He selected and we were off for a matinee at our local theatre.

We were both somewhat dismayed that movies now seem to have a captive audience and thereby take advantage of the opportunity to foist commercials on the unwary. Since when did this become the norm? Long gone are the days of newsreels, cartoons, and singing, dancing snacks prior to the feature. And yet, wait...I am in fact in error There was performing popcorn. There were dancing drinks, there was candy with legs, all in faded colour with a hollow sounding soundtrack "Let's all go to the movies and get ourselves a treat." Was this meant to appeal to the "older" movie goers? Ah yes, nostalgia and entertainment for those without pirated movies or netflix.

After viewing some previews which made me realize that I had just seen the entire plot of all upcoming movies, it was time. At last, what we'd been waiting for. We were about to see a one hour twenty-five minute movie spinoff of a British t.v. series. Hopefully, it would be as good as the television episodes.

We were not disappointed. The main feature began. The music was wonderful. The pastoral scenes riveting. Before long, I was fully immersed in the story. I was very impressed with hubby's film selection.

Several times, I was on the edge of my seat...not only because theatre seats are less than comfortable, but because of the intriguing plot. The movie contained romance, suspense, comedy, social commentary, brilliant cinematography, fantastic music...I could go on and on. The theme was simple, nothing new, reminiscent of Ferris Bueller's Day Off. The acting was believable, the plot fast moving.

Basically, the story revolved around the daily routine in the life of the characters. As I said, based on a t.v. series.  It delves into the hard work and yet the boredom associated with each passing day. The characters decide they need a change of pace, a break, a day off as it were. They get more than they bargained for when catastrophes develop. They must then restore order and repair the chaos which they've created. All along the way, there are obstacles and surprises.

Finally, the end of the movie helps all the characters realize, that there's no place like home.

Again, I must say, this film had a lot to offer and I can't believe I'm saying this, I'd see it again.  I think I missed a lot of innuendos and some of the underlying humour. I was so caught up in the story. Not only that, it was family friendly and was presented in a universal language. Very clever.
                                       

Go see Shaun the Sheep. Watch Shaun, the flock and the dog rescue a lost amnesiac farmer from the horrors of the big city. Hopefully, you too will be glad you did.

Summer To-Do List Revisited

At the beginning of the summer, I made a list. ( My Summer To-Do List 6/29/15).

 I also wrote,

I can't see making a list of ridiculous, time consuming things. But then, who am I to judge someone else's interests? If someone really feels they want to have a weed picking contest, or a frozen t-shirt competition, go for it. Perhaps others will think my list is silly.

A few days ago, I went to a friend's cottage for a short visit. We sat and gabbed. At some point, as all good friends do, she pointed something out.  Interestingly enough, what she pointed out had already settled into my thoughts. She told me that my summer to-do list seemed very small and ordinary for me. My lofty, grandiose schemes, creativity, spontaneity, and adventures no longer seemed to be a part of my persona. To a point, she was correct.

After recently reviewing my summer list, I decided that I in fact made a list for the sake of making it. Most of those things were not anything I really wanted to do, plan to do, or need to do. I was desperately clinging onto something. It's true that I didn't want to fritter away the summer. Winter gets frittered away enough through bad weather captivity. By using a list,  I thought I was planning a direction, a guideline. I wasn't.

What I actually accomplished was to come up with mundane things that some people might be happy to complete. I made a list of "safe", old lady activities. Has it come to that? Have I become fearful of creativity, spontaneity, and adventure? Am I so old now and so in tune with my own mortality, that I feel my ship has sailed?

I've come to realize that eventually, our world gets smaller and smaller. There's the joke about regressing to an infantile state....soft food, drooling, crib like bed, diapers, when one gets old. Actually, if you think about it, that's all pretty true. Senior years for some become more and more like infancy.

My dad and stepmom moved to a condo full of older adults. Their world was pretty much contained in that building. Everything from friends, to entertainment was right there with little need to think, plan or venture out without a preplanned tour. Of course there were some people within those walls who were freer and more willing to live a larger life.  I'm not saying there's anything wrong with either choice. It happens. Some gain comfort from knowing what each day will bring, rather than having to deal with uncertainty. This lifestyle offered the best opportunities, safe opportunities until death. Some people's worlds become even smaller if they end up in a nursing home or are hospitalized. Their community becomes the community of doctors, nurses, orderlies.

So my point I suppose is this. At this present time, I am very fortunate that my community continues to be the whole world. I have to stop living as though it isn't. I don't need to be tied to a place of safety and comfort where I can enjoy myself on a miniscule scale until I die. I need to stop making ridiculous lists that contain baking and berry picking as highlights.

 I don't imagine there'll be many more activities crossed off that list this summer, unless it's something I really want to do....like bubble blowing!

Ferry Across the Gulf to the Mainland

When we crossed to Port Aux Basques Newfoundland, we were aboard the ferry MV Blue Puttees. This boat was named as a tribute to a regiment which represented Newfoundland in WW1. The group was known for their non standard leg gear "blue puttees" which they wore because there was a shortage of khaki on the island.

On our more lengthy overnight return voyage from the Avalon Peninsula to the mainland, we were on this boat, the MV Atlantic Vision. We had no idea what to expect but were pleasantly surprised.

We by no means expected to have a cabin of the quality of a cruise ship, but what we did receive was more than we anticipated, comfortable, and all we needed.

There were two comfortable beds, a bathroom with shower, desk, window and large screen tv...more than adequate for one night.

We went outside as the ferry began to move and we bid a fond farewell to beautiful Newfoundland.

 The scenery as we pulled away from the dock was not to be missed and never to be forgotten.





Before long we discovered a lovely restaurant onboard called Flowers. It served terrific meals complete with vegetables! We had missed vegetables. Not to be too critical of our previous week's food, but two vegetables which had often been served with our dinners were mashed potatoes and french fries.

The overnight transportation went smoothly and by the time we woke up, got assembled and had breakfast, it was time to disembark the ferry. Our large group got to head for the vehicle deck early in order to expedite movement prior to the exit.

On our return trip home, we stopped at several more places. I had never experienced Magnetic Hill and was glad to have the opportunity to go there. It was an unusual sensation to be sure, as our bus coasted what appeared to be uphill. There, I met and hugged my last New Brunswick lobster.

As we drove along the St. John river to Fredericton, I couldn't help but think and marvel about the many things I had seen and done in the last few weeks.

Fredericton too was a historical and scenic place in our only truly bilingual province of New Brunswick. After our tour, there seemed to be too little time in a city that I would have liked to enjoy further on my own. I won't share a lot of photos because most things can be found through google. I'll just add a few of my favourites.

Freddy, the little nude dude outside city hall
has historical significance and an interesting story.

Memoria Address a sculpture in granite
representative of the NB balsam fir.

We received much information about author's houses, however, one of greatest significance to me was this little building with the blue shutters. It was where Mary Grannan wrote the popular Maggie Muggins children's books. These stories were used as a basis for an early CBC tv series, one of the first tv programmes I remember watching as a young child. What a terrific and inspirational little house for writing.

As we continued west, the Hartland covered bridge was another of our many tourist stops. It boasts of being the longest covered bridge in the world at 1282 ft. Although the speed limit is posted at 10, the locals seem comfortable in using this as a drag strip to the other side of the river.

Our final night was spent back in Quebec where our group enjoyed a wonderful farewell steak dinner in Old Montreal prior to coming back to Ontario the next day.


Well, what can I say? It was a terrific journey....somewhere in the area of 6500 total km. I'm told.  I had no idea at the onset that I would see and do so much in a mere 17 days. I met wonderful people, saw and learned things I could have only dreamed about, and clearly, had much to share in my blog. If I had written about everything, I'd still be here a month from now and since I have tripadvisor reviews to complete, I'd better transfer my focus now.

Food, Fun, Fond Memories of Newfoundland

So clearly, or not so clearly, the weather was not the best while we were in Newfoundland. In fact, I found 11C to be down right chilly. There was no precipitation except for the fog. Nonetheless, I have no regrets. I can only imagine how much more spectacular all the places would have looked had we had sunshine or blue skies.

A few new things which I learned while in Newfoundland...actually, there were many but here are some.

A person from Newfoundland is called Newfounese, not a Newfie.

Things made in Newfoundland from icebergs eg. beer and vodka, are delicious. The beer is made by the Quidi Vidi Brewing Company and water from 25,000 year old glaciers off the coast is used. It is brought into the facility by tankers and is tested for purity. Vodka is similarly produced. Other drinks designed to keep people warm on this island, (eg. Screech) are just fine as well.                                

The touton is a type of Newfoundland pancake. I first saw it in an ad in a brochure and figured I should test this local delicacy. It is produced by frying bread dough in a pan with butter or pork fat and it is served with molasses. I'm, glad my friend and I shared one because all I can apologetically say to this item is "Yuck! Disgusting." Definitely not suited to my tastebuds.

Mummers fascinated me. Apparently, it's a Christmas tradition, where people dress up in costumes and masks in an outlandish and humourous way. They go door to door and celebrate mostly with neighbours and friends who try to guess their identity. It's an excuse for a big party from what I could see although it is based on some European traditions. Sounds like a great time.

One of  my trip regrets is that I did not pick up a Newfoundland ugly stick. It's a percussion instrument which consists of a boot containing an upside down mop, often with a face and braided "hair". There are cross sticks with jingly beer caps attached and the instrument is pounded onto the floor in time to the music. What fun! On the other hand, this sounds like it could be a spare time craft project.

Washroom facilities are not as desperate as they appear. I figured out that it's not a drop at bottom of the foot on the right side but rather the other foot (from crossed legs).

By the way, lest anyone wonder, the gas price in Newfoundland in July was $1.19....not bad.

After leaving St. John's, our destination was the most easterly part of our fabulous country of Canada, Cape Spear on the Avalon Peninsula and our eventual overnight ferry ride from Argentia back to the mainland.  

I can now brag that I have been at the farthest eastern edge our coast. In fact, I was standing at a point that was closer to Greenland (1527 km) than it was to Toronto (2700 km). Amazing.

The Cape Spear lighthouse is the second oldest in Newfoundland, built in 1836.  During the second world war, a gun battery was installed here to defend the entrance to St. John's harbour. Barracks and underground passages were built for the troops who were stationed here. This provided a sheltered view of the ocean.















 Numerous signs and warnings are posted all around the area since it is notorious for rogue waves. Tourists have been frequently lost here in the past. Although I was quite lost in the magnificence of it all, I was not one of those unfortunates who ventured too near the edge.

All too soon, we were off to Argentia to board the overnight ferry back to the mainland.