NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. - All Steven Heisler wanted to do was sail to Newfoundland and count down to 2012 with his girlfriend on New Year's Eve.
But after nearly two days on a ferry stuck at a Cape Breton port, the only thing the Halifax man was counting Friday were the long hours of waiting for the rough weather outside to clear.
The Crown-owned ferry service, Marine Atlantic, said rough seas and high winds were to blame for delaying its ferries linking Nova Scotia with Newfoundland.
Heisler's ferry was supposed to leave North Sydney, N.S., on Wednesday night, but that didn't happen until Friday afternoon. The ship finally pulled in to Port aux Basques, N.L., just before 9 p.m.
Heisler, 28, had hoped to arrive on Newfoundland's west coast on Thursday morning before making the 2 1/2-hour drive to Stephenville, leaving him plenty of time to ring in the new year.
He knew there was a delay even before he stepped aboard the Blue Puttees for an overnight crossing on Wednesday, but figured the ferry would be on its way once the weather improved in Cape Breton.
"I remember waking up and seeing that the rain and wind had stopped and thinking, 'Oh good, we'll get on the go before morning,"' a laughing Heisler said in a phone interview.
But his hopes were soon dashed when an announcement over the ferry's public address system said their departure would be delayed again because of poor weather in Port aux Basques.
More ominous updates followed. New departure times came and went.
"You sort of just say, 'Oh well, I'm glad I brought two books and a bunch of DVDs and my laptop,"' said Heisler.
A snow squall warning was in effect for coastal areas of western Newfoundland.
"It's no one's fault," said Heisler, an actor and educational program assistant at a junior high school. "It's sort of a fact of living here and travelling to Newfoundland. Sometimes the weather gets in the way."
"It will really all be worth it if I'm there on New Year's Eve to give Kaitlyn a kiss."
He said Marine Atlantic provided free meals and shuttles for passengers who wanted to disembark for a few hours and explore North Sydney.
Heisler kept himself busy keeping loved ones up-to-date on Facebook. He hadn't thought of booking a cabin for the seven-hour crossing, but managed to find a seat next to an electrical outlet to keep his cellphone and laptop charged.
After spending more than 40 hours docked in North Sydney, Heisler's vacation was bound to be a short one -- he and his girlfriend have booked tickets on a Marine Atlantic ferry to Nova Scotia on Monday.
Heisler said he's prepared for that next crossing.
"I already have my name on a waiting list for a room."
