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Post by Ferryman on Mar 2, 2008 23:18:58 GMT -8
Nick, Mirlees, and myself took a trip on the Queen of Esquimalt today. I have two horn recordings to share today, as well. So be sure to click on their respective links! Nick and Mirlees caught the 7:00am Spirit of Vancouver Island over to Tsawwassen, where I met up with them at the Berth 3 balcony at 10:00am. Shortly after, we boarded and departed on time at 10:25am, which was the first sailing of the day for Sunday. Here's what will probably be my last recording of the Esquimalts horn. This time it's at Tsawwassen, and working perfectly. ferryman.sitesled.com/horns/eskie2.wavNothing has really changed, other than the fact there's more evident rust on the exterior. You can even see the patch up jobs on the rubbing strake, which were from hard landings with the turning dolphins during the storms as of late. Here's something we noticed on the Queen of Nanaimo as she arrived at Tsawwassen. Her bow mast is bent backwards! I can only suspect that it would have hit the upper car deck ramp of a berth at Tsawwassen. Ah, the good ol' Vancouver. She's filling in for the Spirit of British Columbia right now, so it's always a treat to see her out and about. We must cherish these moments while we still have them. Once I had ordered my breakfast in the cafeteria on the Esquimalt, we overheard the Captain announcing that the Queen of Tsawwassen was passing us on our Port side. We couldn't hear what he said after that, as we were completely caught off guard and stuck in the cafeteria lineup. Luckily Mirlees and Nick were able to bail out of the line, while I was stuck waiting for my meal to be prepared. But I still managed to snap a photo once I recieved my meal. From the looks of it, the Tsawwassen is back at Saltery Bay now. This will be the last powerslide into Duke Point that I'll ever experience for a while. It's just not the same at Swartz Bay or Langdale. I stayed on the Island for a little while, so Mirlees and Nick jumped right back on to the Esquimalt once I had met up with a friend of mine. I caught the 3:15pm Queen of Alberni back to Tsawwassen instead. This was a full sailing, and so I had the displeasure of not having a seat for the return voyage. I lost count of how many times I walked around in circles on the tiny passenger deck. Here's a recording of the Alberni's horn at Duke Point. This side sounds different than the opposite end. I think I kind of like this one! ferryman.sitesled.com/horns/albundy.wavDuring the Esquimalt part of the trip, Nick and Mirlees were planning on catching the 6:00pm Queen of Saanich back to Swartz Bay. But little did I know, it looked like they were on the 5:00pm Spirit of Vancouver Island instead! The Berth 4 skywalk at Tsawwassen was having some maintenance done today. Final V-Class sighting to cap the day off, with the Queen of Saanich. There were hundreds of birds roosting around Tsawwassen tonight. They were standing where there wasn't any activity to disturb them. Final photo of the evening, the Queen of Alberni on her way back home to Duke Point. By this time next week, Tsawwassen will be her new home. Here's the recording of her horn as she was departing Tsawwassen. (this horn is tuned to be similar to the Queen of Oak Bays horn, yet the opposite end sounds completely opposite) ferryman.sitesled.com/horns/albundy2.wav Feel free to post your pics as well, Nick and Mirlees. The same goes for anyone who has taken their final trip, or is about to take their final trip aboard the old girl.
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Post by DENelson83 on Mar 3, 2008 13:14:52 GMT -8
I have two horn recordings to share today, as well. So be sure to click on their respective links! Chris! I can't connect! Your site's down.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Mar 3, 2008 14:37:13 GMT -8
I have yet to upload my photos. I'll try to get to it later tonight and add a little more to this post.
As Chris mentioned, Mirrlees and I (barely, I had trouble getting my sorry butt out of bed...) caught the early morning SOVI and waited at Tsawwassen for the 10:25 Esquimalt. We had a little panic attack as we were pulling into TSW as we saw that the Esquimalt had yet to be fired up for the day (oh no, did she break down?). We waited on the Berth 3 observation deck and watched the Esquimalt fire up for the day with her morning black smoke.
Chris met up with us, and we wandered on board to the cafeteria, as Chris hadn't eaten yet. When we were in the line we heard an announcement about the Queen of Tsawwassen, so Mirrlees and I rushed out to the deck to get some photos of her (Stay tuned... they're coming). We also noticed that she was heading more or less south, so we figured she was going to Tsawwassen for supplies or something before she goes north to Saltery Bay.
We wandered down to the car decks, and noticed that this sailing was mostly underheights, in fact there were only 2 or 3 trucks. The MCD was almost empty. As we neared DKP we started to reflect on the fact that this would be one of the last power slides a single ended ship does into DKP in a long time, with the Cowichan and Alberni running rt. 30 soon.
We said goodbye to Chris at Duke, and hopped right back on the "Eskimo" to go back to TSW. Again, not too crowded, but not dead either. There were a few more trucks on this sailing. We wandered around again and looked at the fire and lifesaving plans and TC certificates. We spent the last bit of the sailing in the forward lounge trying to figure out where all the wires and air lines in the ceiling went, and which ones did what (engine controls, steering, fire alarm sensors etc).
We decided since I still had homework to do, and Mirrlees had a few things he wanted to do as well, that we would take the SOVI home instead of waiting for the Saanich. We saw the Alberni as we were pulling out of Tsawwassen but it was too far away to see anyone on deck. We ate a quick dinner in the cafeteria, and I had my traditional soft serve ice cream. It was an uneventful sailing home, aside from the fact that it was very full. Platforms were used on the port side, and the foot passenger lineup when we got to SWB started on the port side forward of the cafeteria, and meandered it's way astern.
All in all, it was a great day to say goodbye to the Esquimalt, and I got a good day's worth of ferry riding in. 3 out of the 4 sailings were coastsavers as well, so that was kinda nice.
Pictures to come later tonight.
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Post by queenofcowichan on Mar 3, 2008 18:11:44 GMT -8
I made a "Quickie" over to Gabriola yesturday (Sunday) and returned on the 3:10 ferry, So I did see you guys leave Duke Point. The Alberni passed astern of the mv Quinsam and I got a not so good quality video of the Alberni passing us. I will upload the video to my photobucket site when I get computer time at home. (I am currently at the public Library).
I did hear the Alberni's horn just as she was leaving. If you have pictures of the mv Quinsam taken from the Alberni look for me standing at the stern of the mv Quinsam, on her Port side!
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 3, 2008 20:40:00 GMT -8
Interesting. I can't even access my sitesled account now either. I tested the links out last night once I first posted this thread. So it's most likely server issue. I'll let you know when it's up and running again.
Mr. queenofcowichan,
That's neat you were on the Quinsam yesterday. I was standing on the sundeck (deck 5) closer to the bow on the port side watching the Quinsam sail towards Nanaimo once we had turned in behind the Quinsam. I tried looking closely for anyone taking photos, but couldn't see anyone. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos of the Quinsam this time.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 3, 2008 21:32:56 GMT -8
Well I drove up to Duke Point today and did my last trip on the Esquimalt. Did you guys take a chunk of her deck home with you??? I did, lol! I wanted to have something from the ol girl. I took the 1:05pm sailing on the Esquimalt to Tsawwassen and returned on the 5:45pm Alberni. It is really sad the shape the Esquimalt is in. So much rust everwhere. I couldent believe the rusted railings and fencing her. I got some closeups of the rust as she did her power slide at Duke Point. The last one I will probably see. It wasent too full today and I was suprised to get a coastsaver fare which I dident realize this whole month is coastsavers on route 30 which is awesome. Route 30 is my new favorite route. Anyways said goodbye the Esquimalt at Tsawwassen and hung around to watch her load again and leave then went to the Quay for a bit. Went back and bought my ticket for my return trip on the Alberni. Pretty uneventful both trips but it was a good day to take my last ride on the Esquimalt. It was a bit sad I must admit. Photos will be uploaded either tonight or tommorrow sometime.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 3, 2008 22:38:41 GMT -8
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Mar 3, 2008 23:24:25 GMT -8
OK, so I downloaded my photos from the camera. Here's a few I thought I'd share. The Queen of Vancouver as we passed her in Active Pass filling in for the SOBC. She looked pretty good, not a lot of rust or anything. SOVI departing Tsawwassen for the 9am sailing. Queen of Tsawwassen heading south, presumably to Tsawwassen. A interesting sign on the MCD. It is just compressed air from an air tank, but it is interesting their choice of wording on the sign. To me, "gas leak" means evacuate the area fast. Queen of Vancouver shortly after departing Tsawwassen for the 3:00. Queen of Esquimalt departing Tsawwassen for the last time that I will ever see her. You've served your passengers and crew well, Miss Eskie. And finally, the Queen of Alberni arriving at Tsawwassen, with Chris on board. Not very good photos this time unfortunately, but they'll do.
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 3, 2008 23:41:53 GMT -8
Heh, there I am ;D.
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Mirrlees
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Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
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Post by Mirrlees on Mar 4, 2008 0:47:08 GMT -8
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Mill Bay
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Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Mar 4, 2008 10:11:42 GMT -8
Mirlees, you got the perfect parting shot of the Esquimalt... You guys, should have told me you were going, but it was on Sunday, and I'm also a little short on money right too.
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Post by queenofcowichan on Mar 4, 2008 10:26:48 GMT -8
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 4, 2008 18:06:37 GMT -8
Thanks for the video, queenofcowichan.
OK guys, the horn recordings are now working. Just scroll back up to my initial post on this thread, on click on the designated links. Enjoy.
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Post by DENelson83 on Mar 4, 2008 19:44:14 GMT -8
Wow... Two different horn sounds on different ends of the same ship? That means you can tell which way she's going without even having to look at her. Is the QoA the only ship in the fleet that has that trait?
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 4, 2008 20:20:10 GMT -8
Well on the C's, the horn is a little different on each end. I don't have a recording for each end of each ship, but I've heard them before. I think it has more to do with the air in the holding tanks. I noticed that you'll get a really foul sounding horn first thing in the morning when the air outside is cooler, because the air in the tank has been stored up for a period of time. I'm not entirely sure of the exact explanation, but that's just my assumption.
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Post by Barnacle on Mar 4, 2008 20:35:38 GMT -8
I'd be more inclined to blame condesation in the air line than the simple storing of air. Either way, the first blast of the day tends to have a bit of a rude farting noise at the start of it on a lot of WSF boats too.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Mar 4, 2008 21:22:03 GMT -8
Wow... Two different horn sounds on different ends of the same ship? That means you can tell which way she's going without even having to look at her. Is the QoA the only ship in the fleet that has that trait? The Queen of Cowichan has her number 1 end tuned to a C-major chord and her number 2 end to a C-minor chord...
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Post by DENelson83 on Mar 4, 2008 22:30:35 GMT -8
I wish we had more horns with E-major chords in the White Wave Fleet.
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Post by Retrovision on Mar 5, 2008 0:36:51 GMT -8
Thanks for the great pics and accounts of such an historic group trip. Personally I'll be opting out of any first 'Coastal' trip, group or not aside, for the sake of being aboard the Queen of Esquimalt for what will presumably be her last round trip ever in service, from Tsawwassen Terminal to Duke Point Terminal and return, Saturday evening; please post here if you're as dedicated to recognizing the Spaulding vessels that built our fleet as I am and I'd even be happy to adjust sailing times to not have to include the "very last sailing"... I might be a stickler for recognizing disappearing living history but I'm not anal about it, "last day" is relevant enough for me. (For those less informed chaps out there, please see: www.thefreedictionary.com/anal+retentive+personality - a common term these days) Good luck and enjoy your first Coastal Renaissance trip everyone though. On a side note about classic horns, the single ender and not around much longer venerable 'V' Class Queen of Vancouver has been showing her true tune lately, sounding especially historic transiting Active Pass accompanied by the predictable amplifying echo; thanks to whatever crew, maintenance or other, for keeping those resilient tones gleaming
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Post by Mac Write on Mar 5, 2008 11:05:38 GMT -8
Graham I might be up for the very last Esquimalt sailing with you.
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Mill Bay
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Long Suffering Bosun
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Post by Mill Bay on Mar 6, 2008 11:06:55 GMT -8
Graham, if you're thinking about sometime this Saturday, I could be up for doing a round trip sailing as well.
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Post by Scott on Mar 6, 2008 22:43:19 GMT -8
The last round trip would be 3:50 from Tsawwassen and 6:30 from Duke Point right? I'd love to do it and might be able to, but not sure yet.
What are the chances that this is her last day of service? With the beginning of service of the Coastal Renaissance, that frees up one C-class. So the Esquimalt won't be doing supplimental service on Route 2 or 3 most likely. The Queen of Coquitlam will be the spare and by the time summer rolls around, the Coastal Inspiration will be here freeing up the Queen of Cowichan as well.
What happens if a vessel goes down this summer on route 1? Would they bring the Esquimalt back if she's still around? Or would they put a C-class on the route even though there's not really a crew trained for C-class down there?
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Post by Mac Write on Mar 6, 2008 23:40:26 GMT -8
No C-class allowed in Active Pass unless in mode 1 (or something like that). THis is very very likely Esquimalts last day as the CR is here to replace her.
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Mill Bay
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Long Suffering Bosun
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Post by Mill Bay on Mar 7, 2008 10:31:16 GMT -8
The last round trip would be 3:50 from Tsawwassen and 6:30 from Duke Point right? I'd love to do it and might be able to, but not sure yet. So, we're looking at the 3:50 sailing then, for anyone who wants to go? Or it might be nice to go earlier in the day to get some nice parting shots of the ship sailing away. I guess everyone is pretty much committed to the first official Coastal Renaissance sailing though.
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Post by Mac Write on Mar 7, 2008 13:37:30 GMT -8
Graham are you for sure going?
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