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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 27, 2008 15:39:19 GMT -8
Bob: I think that you can stay on the dock. I did the same last month at Village Bay, where I walked off the Nanaimo, and walked to the other berth to walk onto the Mayne Queen, no questions asked.
Prior to that trip last month, I had the same concern. So I looked at the BC Ferries website carefully, re foot-passenger cut-off times and fare info for Gulf Islands. I also reviewed the service-notices for the past few months. The only mention of the boarding-pass new rules was for the northern islands.
I think you can relax and enjoy the 20 minutes on the dock (I assuming you're doing a morning ferry change).
Have fun, enjoy your trip.
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Post by Coastal Canuck on Jul 17, 2008 16:29:57 GMT -8
how do you get a through fare on the Skeena Queen
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Jul 17, 2008 16:59:25 GMT -8
There's a vending machine in one of the lounges. I can't remember which one.
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Post by Nickfro on Oct 15, 2008 18:29:48 GMT -8
Since I'm going to the Gulf Islands this weekend, here is a good spot for this. . .
I am going to Galiano this weekend with some family. The ferry part, of course, I have all dialed up. The part I would appreciate some info about is for hiking locations, and preferably one or some that takes you to some good viewpoints. Viewpoints of ferries is obviously a major bonus. I have read threads about people going to good viewpoints of Active Pass which is awesome, but are there hiking trails in the same general area?
I am shocked to believe that this will be my first time setting foot on Galiano. I have spent countless times on Pender and Salt Spring, so I am really looking forward to exploring a new Gulf Island!
Thanks!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 15, 2008 20:44:00 GMT -8
Viewpoints of ferries is obviously a major bonus. I have read threads about people going to good viewpoints of Active Pass which is awesome, but are there hiking trails in the same general area? Mt. Galiano: send a PM to member "Wetcoastkid" and ask him for driving directions to the trail-head for the Mt. Galiano hike. It's above the cemetery at the west-end of Active Pass. The view will be south, re the route the ferries take on the Swartz-side of Active Pass......
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Oct 15, 2008 20:56:09 GMT -8
On the northern part of the island there is a trail following the Bodega Ridge. If I recall it takes a few hours to do the whole thing. There aren't any ferry views per se, but there are some spectacular views of Trincomali channel to the west. A map can be found here
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on May 29, 2009 21:46:16 GMT -8
Any regular Gulf Islands travellers...
Did I waste my money? We're doing a day trip to Mayne on Sunday, and since I had no idea how busy the boat would be, I reserved both ways. Looking at the schedule, I see the 8:05 evening sailing from Mayne is only for Mayne and Pender traffic, so I suspect that was a waste...
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,177
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Post by Neil on Sept 19, 2009 9:46:32 GMT -8
Tomorrow I'm loading up the Marquis with family and visiting the Penders. Any advice on must sees?
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Post by Scott on Jun 27, 2010 21:28:28 GMT -8
Does anyone have any experience camping at Ruckle Provincial Park? Just wondering whether it ever fills up during busy times (like this week). There are 70+ walk-in sites, but it seems like a popular place.
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Post by Queen of Nanaimo Teen on Jun 28, 2010 14:33:11 GMT -8
Dad and I did a ferry trip last summer, and our 2nd night was spent at Ruckle. It was over August Long Weekend, on a Saturday, and we managed to get in. I believe there was more spaces available. They provide wheelbarrows so you can get your stuff out there too! It's really neat to be able to see ferries passing from your tent. The ideal experiance - BC FERRIES + BC PARKS = AWESOME!
So I would say you have a good chance of getting in!
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Jun 28, 2010 15:56:39 GMT -8
I haven't been there in about 10 years, and never during peak summer season, so I can't say how busy it gets. I will however agree completely with Sean, that it's a fantastic place to sit and watch ferries go by. I can remember watching the Tachek go by back when she ran as a fill-in on route 5.
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Post by WettCoast on Jun 28, 2010 21:25:32 GMT -8
The WCK family camped there (at Ruckle Park) during Spring Break 2006. Other than being a little chilly overnight, it was a great outing and I got some rather nice pics. There are lovely kid-friendly hiking trails around the park some of which can keep you going for several hours. I would be surprised if the camp sites in this park were not regularly 'sold out' during July & August. On the other hand most are walk-in sites. Most 'campers' now-a-days seem to be part of the motor home crowd, and are not interested in walk-in camp sites. Go and enjoy Ruckle! It is one of the jewels in the Canadian Salish Islands, along with Montague Harbour, and others.
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Post by Scott on May 13, 2011 18:49:07 GMT -8
Does anyone have any experience doing a throughfare from Tsawwassen to a Gulf Island in a vehicle? I'm sure it's come up before, but I can't seem to find the thread.
Do you have to drive out of the terminal a fair distance or is it a quick turnaround? And say I was catching the 9:00 AM from Tsawwassen and wanted to get the 11:00AM to Saltspring - is that doable or unlikely? Assuming the Route 1 ferry is on time and I'm unloaded by 10:45, that gives me 15 minutes (minus any cutoff) to turn around and wait in a lineup outside the terminal. Does BC Ferries try and ensure you get off the Route 1 ferry early if you have a throughfare or are you on your own?
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 13, 2011 18:54:46 GMT -8
There are no guarantees or helps for making a through-fare connection at Swartz Bay.
There is no longer any quick turnaround. - you drive out the Pat Bay highway, and there's a U-turn route at the first highway interchange (only a short drive), but then you're at the mercy of the traffic at the Swartz toll booths.
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Post by Ferryman on May 13, 2011 22:30:52 GMT -8
Ah, the most commonly asked question I hear on a constant basis. The through fare.
When you're at Tsawwassen, let the ticket agent know you're going to Salt Spring. Then they print a ticket for Salt Spring right there. The fare is the same as if you were to go to Long Harbour on Route 9. But then you must go through the toll booths like you normally would if you were entering Swartz Bay from Victoria. You make the u-turn outside of the terminal at Wain Rd overpass. It only takes a little over 5-10 mins to make the turn around. Then once you go through the ticket booth, you show your Salt Spring ticket, and they just verify in the system that you'll be on Route 4. It's all about accurate passenger count when it comes down to it.
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Post by Scott on May 23, 2011 23:11:36 GMT -8
Just a follow-up. We managed to catch the 9:00 ferry from Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay on Friday morning. We arrived at the terminal around 8:30 and got on without a problem. The ferry was running about 7-8 minutes late (there was actually a sailing wait for the 7:00 from Swartz Bay that morning, which must have slowed it down a bit). As an aside, here's a tip for feeding little kids on the ferry - We had breakfast in the buffet, which for a family with small kids costs about as much as going to the cafeteria since under-5s are free. When we have to start paying for all of them, we'll have to stop the buffet visits! The Spirit of Vancouver Island arrived at Swartz Bay around 10:35 and I knew we would be cutting it close. We were on the top car deck, and were around the middle of the pack getting off the ferry around 10:45. It was a short dash to the overpass where you can cross the highway and get back to the terminal, probably about 4-5 minutes total turn-around time. There was a short 4-car lineup in the Gulf Islands lane, and we paid our fare around 10:52. The lady said it was iffy whether we would get on, but we drove straight down to the ferry and got on with no problems. There were 3 or 4 cars that came after us. The deckhands did a really great job at squeezing as many cars on as possible, and as a result there was still room for a few more when we left. So the Throughfare worked for us. It was close, and I imagine it wouldn't work every time depending on whether the route 1 ferry is on time or whether there's enough room on the Skeena Queen. But this was on the Friday before a long weekend, so it may have been a bit busier than usual. And regarding Ruckle Park, it was a great camping spot (except for the rain at 4:00AM). By going with the Throughfare via Swartz Bay we actually beat the Queen of Nanaimo crowd that came straight from Tsawwassen. So the park was still pretty empty when we arrived before 12 noon. By around 3, it was filling up pretty good, although it never got full. The campsites are varied (most are in the open, but some are pretty well treed), and most are within less than a 5 minute walk from the parking lot, so it's not really wilde rness camping. I'll definitely go back if I get the chance, and for longer than one night!
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