Queen of Tsawwassen - Easter

[Nick]

There was talk in the Service Notices thread about a trip on the Queen of Tsawwassen while she replaces the Chilliwack for the next week (until March 26th). I thought it would be best to divert that "traffic" over here.

I am up island for the weekend in Comox, but depending on the timing I might be able to join in on this trip. Since my plans are not final, as far as timing goes, I will decide at more or less last minute whether I can attend.

Queen of Nanaimo Teen, and Koastal Karl have expressed interest in attending as well.

[Mac Write]

I am completely up for it if someone can give me a drive.

[Queen of Nanaimo Teen]

I haven't really expressed interest in a matter of speaking, because I am going regardless anyone is there or not! So what I meant, was that if somebody wanted to join me I would really like that, but it won't change any of my plans!

[DENelson83]

If the Queen of Burnaby goes to refit again in the next couple of months, the Queen of Tsawwassen certainly could fill in one last time on Comox-Powell River before retirement.

[Mill Bay]

I'd be up for another queen of Tsawwassen trip, as long as it is a carpool deal from Horseshoe Bay.
I'm assuming that you're meaning doing it on Easter Monday.

[Koastal Karl]

Easter Sunday or Monday? Whichever day works for most people. I can do either day.

[Queen of Nanaimo Teen]

I will be going on Easter Monday on the 11:25 from Earls Cove as mentioned earlier.

[Koastal Karl]

BTW there is no 11:25am sailing from Earls Cove. I will probably be going with Scott from Departure Bay and so we can take a few other people. If there is more than like 5 people who want to go we might need another car so let us know, ASAP.

[kylefossett]

there is an 11:25am sailing from Saltery Bay, maybe this is just a mistake by Queen of Nanaimo Teen

[Koastal Karl]

I say we should do this Easter Monday. That way we can get off at Saltery Bay and hang around there for a while and get photos of her leaving on her extra roundtrip and arriving back at Saltery Bay then we could catch the 3:45pm back to Earls Cove and still make the 6:30pm back to Langdale. Who is up for Easter Monday???

So far it is me and Scott for sure. Who else??

[Mike C]

Sorry gang, no can do Easter Monday - I'm up skiing in the interior, although I am off all of this week...

[Mac Write]

Wouldn't Easter Monday be a zoo? How about Saturday?

[Nickfro]

Easter Monday should be a pretty busy day heading down from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay. You may want to consider making a reservation for that sailing to ensure that you won't be spending 2+ hours in 'exciting' Langdale Terminal!

[Queen of Nanaimo Teen]

Yeah, sorry. That was my mix-up ;D It's the 11:25 from Saltery Bay.

[Dane]

Which sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale?

[Queen of Nanaimo Teen]

We are taking the 2:30 to Horseshoe Bay. You are right, I guess I will make a reservation!

[Balfour]

I'm up for a route 3 trip if I'm not working...

[Mac Write]

Well I am fully up for it. Can I please get a ride with someone?

[Scott (Former Account)]

Sorry, no room......

[Ferryman]

Well, this trip went ahead, basically as planned.

Scott, Karl, Jordan, Myself, and Dane all piled into Danes 5 seater Beemer this morning, and headed off to Earls Cove. I pulled into Horseshoe Bay in my car just before 10:30am, looking to see who showed up to see if it was worth taking a second vehicle on the Ferry. Nobody was waiting at the Terminal, so I immediately headed for the warf, which is where I found the gang walking through the park to the warf. We all had our meets and greets, and then went to purchase our tickets to Langdale.

The Queen of Surreys 11:20am sailing was quite uneventful, and the sailing went by in a flash as usual. Dane was lucky, and was able to park his car right at the bow of the Queen of Surrey on the upper car deck. So we were litterally first off the ship. The second the deckhand allowed us to drive off the Ferry, it was like pulling the trigger on the gun to start the race. Dane puts the petal to the metal, and we're flyin' at 120 km/h out of the terminal.

By about 1:00pm, we all piled out of Danes car, after being packed into the car like sardines. We had an hour and twenty minutes to wait until the next Ferry. Luckily I had all of my Ferry collection stuff with me, and a laptop to entertain ourselves.

Around 2:00pm, the 'Tsawwassen came around the point, looking as good as ever. I'm happy to let everyone know that she was given a complete fresh coat of paint on the superstructure for her final refit. Once we were aboard, we were starved for lunch, so we hung around the cafeteria for the first 20 mins of the sailing. I don't know if this issue has gotten worse, or it was because a different crew member was running her hard. But the vibrations that start instantly when the ship reverses were more intense than the trip back in December in the Gulf Islands. Bad enough to the point where most of Scotts beverage ended up all over his food tray. We purchased our return ticket in the cafeteria, so we didn't have to leave the ship. This gave us plenty of time to grab photos of the interior. I even went to the extent of getting permission from the Chief Steward for me to wander the passenger decks with a video camera. So I was able to get some good video footage for a good video tour of the vessel I hope to compile one of these days.

The trip back to Earls Cove was a little bit more packed with people, and the platform decks had to be used this time. During the voyage I asked a Steward for his opinion on Ferry Geeks, to break the ice with some humour for seeing if he could get us up on the bridge. He gave me a somewhat confused look, and didn't know what to say, so I just cut to the chase as the other guys were trying to hold their laugh in. The Steward made a call up to the bridge, but unfortunately the bridge crew were too busy to let us up there. Not to worry though, we were all having a great time sitting back and enjoying the scenery that the Jervis Inlet route has to offer.

Once we arrived at Earls Cove, we were all packaged into Danes car like Sardines again, and headed back to Langdale. Like the drive up to Earls Cove, there was lots of Ferry Geek, and Transit geek discussions to make the drive go by faster. Eventually we showed up at Langdale around 5:30, to find a fairly congested termial full of people. Dane didn't think he would make the 6:30pm sailing anyway, so he actually made a reservation for the 8:30pm sailing instead. So we ditched Dane at Langdale. The ol' Shaky Slurry girl took all but one small row of cars. We sailed off to Horseshoe Bay with a beautiful sunset at our backs, and we stood at the stern of the ship, watching Langdale get further and further away until we made the turn towards Horseshoe Bay. The Surrey was running about 20 minutes late, so she didn't leave Langdale until about 6:50pm, but was able to arrive at Horseshoe Bay for 7:20pm.

The Four of us then hung around Blenz coffee, taking advantage of the free WiFi internet. Jordan eventually caught one of the next buses out of Horseshoe Bay. Then Scott, Karl, and myself watched the incredible illuminated hulf named the Coastal Renaissance, arrive at Horseshoe Bay from the warf. Definitely a sight to see from the warf in the dark.

As usual, another successful trip over and done with. The next Queen of Tsawwassen trip will likely be sometime next month on the Comox to Powell River route.

PS: The Ferry gods tried to stop me from going on todays trip. I woke up this morning to pouring rain. By the time I checked the forum for any last minute changes on the trip, and got all ready to go, I walked out the front door of the house to find snow. I wasn't too impressed, but managed to tough it out, and the cursed Prelude handled the slushy roads to Furrey Creek just fine. From there on, it was a piece of cake.

[Coastal Canuck]

since when can you buy your return tickets in the cafateria

[Dane]

Quite sometime, it has been long practise on Rte 3 for customer's transfering to Rte 2, particularly on Rte 3 sailings turning into Rte 2 sailings.

Tonight was my first time seeing the CR operating when I wasn't actually on her - she's bright - not that we haven't all noticed that, but wow. I saw her turning out of Horseshoe Bay and thought SHE was the terminal!

I took over the sailing two hours after the other guys, dissappointed that they idn't serve Coastal Sensations, but worse things have happened in life, got the eliscious chicken strips and salad. The Surrey was busy, not full to the brink but certainly a crowded house. There were26 cars and 2 commercial vehcile left behind by the 6:30; I probably could have gotten over but it was nice to get some reading done for school, and talked to another terminal attendant about the fate of the Queen of Esquimalt (more of the same - presumptions of future disposition).

Anyways, an enjoyable trip.

ferriesbc.proboards20.com/index.cgi?board=photos&action=display&thread=1188689153&page=3#1206424387

A few photos.

[Quatchi]

I did it when we tried to stowaway on the Chilliwack. It seems she is in "good" running order.

Cheers,