BotF was looking very forward to a quiet trip home with an untried beer (review to come later). The night air was cool without having any edge to it, there were two other blokes out the back and the security guards had done their desultory useless circuit. A cry emerged from the side deck – “The ticket writers are coming” – and a beer went overboard – a beer went into a jacket – and one had nowhere to go. Two members of the NSW Police Force approached the other two blokes and asked them for their beers. The bloke who couldn’t get rid of his – handed it over and cheekily asked for “Just a warning”. I’m not sure what the wallopers said, but they didn’t write him a ticket – and walked straight past me.
This would really put the skids under Friday night drinks. A number of BotF regulars have moved to the Fast Ferry on a Friday because of the security guard issue and the occasional visit by the coppers. Both Fast Ferries now provide bar facilities – but as mentioned previously – having bevvies on the Fast Ferry is just not the same.
The addition of bar facilities on the Sydney Fast Ferry would seem to have made a marginal difference to the numbers of customers on the Sydney Fast Ferry. The operators of the SFF were also expecting an uptick because of the greater comfort of boarding at the wharves at CQ or Manly – and the weather has certainly been in their favour. They would seem, however, to have underestimated the hardiness of the Manly Fast Ferry customer – because the numbers just don’t seem to be enough. The SFF bar fridge is well stocked with both bottled varities of 4 Pines beer, Peroni, Extra Dry, Pure Blonde and Boags Light. There is a substantial discount for Travel 10 holders, and a post discount 4 Pines is $5.50 – which isn’t too bad.
back of the ferry 