Learn something new...

Some things I didn't know before spending 11 hours on a ferry to Newfoundland with a bunch of Newfies and truckers (many of whom are also Newfies).

1. Moose, a Newfoundland import, have apparently prospered here. The Newfies claim that there are more per capita than in other parts of the country. You can tell at dusk and dawn, when for some reason they are drawn to the highways (but then, that's what moose do across the country, so that's not new). And one fellow passenger today claimed that he spent half of every year in Newfoundland and is convinced that he sees at least one moose for every day.

2. A lot of people come here to hunt moose. Four of my travelling companions on the ferry claimed to have a hunting license and were looking forward to being able to use it soon. Another had a theory that the reason our ferry was delayed – a bomb threat on the ferry departing the Newfoundland port, not ours, but all ferries were docked and searched until confirmed bomb-free anyway – was because some important visiting dignitary was reputedly in Newfoundland this week, moose-hunting.

3. How to spot a moose up ahead on the highway when driving at night: look for two to four white sticks that resemble toothpicks either on the road up ahead or just off to the side in the ditch. These are the moose's legs. The moose itself blends into the darkness, and its eyes don't shine in the reflection of your headlights like a deer's. If you see these toothpick-like legs up ahead, slow down.

4. Many trucks have moose racks on the fronts of the cabs to sweep the moose that do get in the way out of the way without totalling the truck (which is the effect a collision with a moose would have on nearly any other vehicle on the road, I am assuming including the Jamboree and I. While this part I also already knew, I don't plan to test it out.) What often happens is the moose (this also works for deer) is either spectacularly tossed off to the side of the road, or it gets tumbled underneath the truck. The truck's wheels ensure enough space for a bit of a bumpy passing but, again, comparatively little damage. The poor mangled animal then pops out behind the truck.

5. This is one reason among several why its not a very smart idea to tailgate too close behind a truck as it wails down the road. Despite the gas one might save by being dragged along in the draft, and the cudos another will get from driving so courageously, if an animal goes under a truck and pops out behind and you are right there... well, I imagine a mess will likely ensue.

I had no choice but to drive for a wee bit at night last night after getting off the 5-hour delayed ferry in Newfoundland. With all this fresh advice clamouring around in my head, you can bet I was on watch. Didn't see any moose, though.