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Post by Ferryman on Apr 14, 2008 7:08:11 GMT -8
Ok guys, I've at least have my photos uploaded to Flickr now. I'll add titles later, once I'm off from work. I trust you guys will know what you're looking at anyway. www.flickr.com/photos/ferrymanbcpix/
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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 Apr 14, 2008 9:19:36 GMT -8
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Apr 14, 2008 9:59:31 GMT -8
Great shots, guys..!
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Apr 14, 2008 10:13:02 GMT -8
Updates from yesterday's trip: I'm not all that sure about the good luck because both Chris and I nearly missed the boat . I had spent time looking around to found some public facility that might have had a change machine because i thought i needed loonies. I finally told myself, let's just get to the terminal and I'll do something. I was really relieved to find one parking machine that took my fiver: No Loonies required. The problem was it was like 3:47, so i took off running. I got to ride one of these little electro-mobiles because they wanted to see if they could get me to the terminal on time. But I just made it. I figured the best place to find Chris on board was somewhere on the top deck to record the horn and, a few seconds later, he found me and we compared stories on our frantic dashes to the ferry. We got to heare several good whistle blasts leaving Tsawwassen and then we met up with Queen of Esquimalt and we watched the Spirit pass, then went to the bow for a while, then she disappeared inside and got permission for herself to go on the bridge, but left us behind. We got to hear two more really good horn blasts through active pass... whoever was doing them was able to feather in the individual notes perfectly. Then the Nanaimo and Saanich both passed us and it was pretty much a straight shot to Swarts Bay after that, except I got nervous on the car deck after the deck officer asked me what we were taking pictures of. I told them we were looking at the structure of the ship, for personal interest. I should have said i was a structural engineer. We were already at Swarts Bay when Chris reminded me to buy my return ticket. The poor gift shop attendant was already counting off his cash. Then I wandered around, got a few pics of the upper deck stern lounge and the forward lounge, by which point people were flooding onto the ship (literally ). I found Karl, but Chris had disappeared so we waited for him, then went outside, waiting for the ship to leave (we had to wait for the Cumberland which was using the little pass between the islands). Finally we left, but we couldn't get near the steward's office because of the cafeteria line-up, so we went up to the secluded companion way that leads to the forward elevator and the bridge access and waited on the executive couch. I inspected the ship's lifesaving plan, while I considered reverting to my childhood and pushing elevator buttons. Finally we decided to try the steward again, and got permission to go to the bridge just in time to watch them go into active pass. "Starboard 10. All zeroes." We had a good conversation with them and went out on the wing to watch the Saanich pass but afterward they asked us to come back in because we were attracting action and people asked how we got up there. The bridge crew told us it was because we were employees. We went back down, took a few pictures of the Nanaimo going back to the islands, and then went into the cafeteria for the remainder of the voyage. We got ready to leave and watched the docking in berth 5. They dropped the lower ramp because there was a bit of bang. Then we went out and watched them back her out and move over to berth 1, going dead slow the whole time. So, the good news is, there were no major falls this time for either Chris or I, and we did get to go on the bridge for the best part of the trip. The annoying part is that I was so frantic about needing change so that I got to the terminal almost too late. I don't want to deal with that again any time soon.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Apr 14, 2008 16:36:53 GMT -8
Wow great shots all of you!
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Post by Esquimalt Queen on Apr 14, 2008 17:25:17 GMT -8
I didn't mean to leave you guys behind! I asked the second steward if you boys could come along, and she said "well, I only asked if you could come up, I didn't know you were going to bring more people with you." Next time I'll make sure and ask "Could my friends and I perhaps have a bridge tour?" I wished you guys were with me though, I am always shy and whatnot, and it would have been nice to have some familiar people around me. Oh well, there's always next time. I am glad you guys had fun, great photographs!!!
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Apr 14, 2008 17:41:48 GMT -8
I didn't mean to leave you guys behind! I asked the second steward if you boys could come along, and she said "well, I only asked if you could come up, I didn't know you were going to bring more people with you." Next time I'll make sure and ask "Could my friends and I perhaps have a bridge tour?" I wished you guys were with me though, I am always shy and whatnot, and it would have been nice to have some familiar people around me. Oh well, there's always next time. I am glad you guys had fun, great photographs!!! That's alright, we forgive you . I also sympathize with you on the shyness though. I never would have even had the nerve to ask even for myself to go up on the bridge.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 14, 2008 19:40:22 GMT -8
Alright guys, I've made some headway in getting this video camera to work on this laptop. So first off I'd like to post a link to my new favourite horn recording from yesterday. This was recorded as we were passing Bellhouse Park on Galiano Island, on our way to Swartz Bay. Queen of Esquimalt was in the bridge at this point, and Mill Bay and I had thought for sure that she was the one blowing the horn. But she said she didn't get to blow the horn, but whoever did, did it PERFECTLY. ferryman.sitesled.com/horns/Queen%20of%20Vancouver.wmaFinally, here's the video of me blowing the horn! ;D
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Apr 14, 2008 21:50:55 GMT -8
I think that about says it all?
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 14, 2008 21:53:58 GMT -8
To all of you on yesterday's tour... Looks like you had a great time and you have returned with great pictures. I especially like the ones taken inside the original V class wheel house with those quirky three lowered windows in the middle. I have never been on the inside looking out. I don't know if I have ever even seen pictures of such. Thanks for getting these. Soon we will be talking about the V's in the past tense. Mill Bay's photo ©
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Mirrlees
Voyager
Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
Posts: 1,013
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Post by Mirrlees on Apr 14, 2008 23:12:51 GMT -8
Cool photos everyone...!
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Post by Coastal Drought on Apr 15, 2008 8:56:36 GMT -8
Great photos guys.
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Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
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Post by Kam on Apr 15, 2008 10:32:01 GMT -8
Wow, what a great trip! Wish I could have been there in person.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 22, 2008 19:52:03 GMT -8
Ok I know it's a bit late. But I've only just been able to get the rest of the photos from the Vancovuer trip on the internet, now that I've opened up yet another photo gallery that would accept photos from this new camera. Enjoy! picasaweb.google.com/Ferryman2008/QueenOfVancouverTrip
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Apr 22, 2008 20:29:56 GMT -8
Ok I know it's a bit late. But I've only just been able to get the rest of the photos from the Vancovuer trip on the internet, now that I've opened up yet another photo gallery that would accept photos from this new camera. Enjoy! picasaweb.google.com/Ferryman2008/QueenOfVancouverTripChris, your photos are great! It's almost funny that some are virtually identical to images I got when I was standing right beside you. The google photo hosting looks like it works quite well, too. I should go back and open up mine and drop the crappy photobucket site. I tried using it to post once before but had trouble with the linking so I thought it wouldn't work, but I'm pretty sure it was just an issue on my computer at the time.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 9, 2008 15:50:24 GMT -8
I'm doing a Saanich farewell trip tomorrow (Saturday May 10th). I'm doing the 10:00am sailing from Tsawwassen to Swartz. Join me, if you please........
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Post by Esquimalt Queen on May 9, 2008 19:13:11 GMT -8
I was thinking about catching the 8 am sailing out of SwB, but it's way too early for me to get there. I might drop by to see the Saandwich coming into the berth on her way back to SwB.
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Post by Mac Write on May 9, 2008 22:48:31 GMT -8
Can you make it 2PM? Then I might be up for it.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 10, 2008 3:22:21 GMT -8
Can you make it 2PM? Then I might be up for it. It will be a " calm & quiet" style of trip. The kind where you blend in with other passengers and quietly and calmly enjoy the crossing. yeah, that's a different concept. I'll pack my bear-spray, just in case....
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on May 10, 2008 6:09:39 GMT -8
As a last minute kind of thing, I am going to hop on the 8:00 and join you guys. Hopefully get some pics of the Tsawwassen.
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Post by Esquimalt Queen on May 10, 2008 8:38:23 GMT -8
Can you make it 2PM? Then I might be up for it. Route 1 does not have a 2pm sailing for today.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 10, 2008 12:29:27 GMT -8
Here's my trip report:
I woke at 4:00am, and took the 5:15am Cowichan sailing out of Duke Point. A quiet, pleasant trip, with dawn & early-morning light, and a good time reading a Chris Cjakowski book (she's a chilcotin mountain wilderness dweller hero of mine).
I arrive at Tsawwassen terminal at 7:15am, and walked down to the Berth-2 Pax waiting area, and sat inside and read, and watched the Q-Tsawwassen arrive. What a beauty she is.
Then I walked down from the footie-building to the Tsawwassen Quay. That's where the trip plans fell apart for me.
The 7:00am SOVI sailing was canceled, and Tsawwassen's route-1 holding area was full of vehicles waiting for the now non-existent 9:00 am SOVI. To compound things, there were many large & small tour buses waiting. To further compound things, there were at least 3 school-buses full of group-trip teens waiting for the 9:00am Route-1 sailing too.
So BCFS decided to try and crew the Q-Vancouver, and do an emergency 9:00am sailing, to relieve the pressure. But they couldn't get enough crew at such short notice, and so the Q-Vancouver only had the lowest-level license re # of pax. And so only a small number of vehicles, buses and foot-pax were allowed on the ship; which caused some folks a lot of anger.
The foot-passenger ticket lineup was very long at Tsawwassen, stretching way past the bus loading zone, down towards long-term pay parking.
By the time the Saanich arrived at 9:35am, her 10:00am sailing was fully sold out for pax.
So I decided to take the 10:15 Q-Alberni home instead, forgoing my planned route-1 part of the trip....and delaying my first/last trip on the Saanich.
The Route-30 Q-Alberni trip home was quiet and pleasant. I spent much time on the outside sundeck, at the aft end, sheltered from the wind. I was very happy & content as I stood watching the wake, the water, the clouds, and felt the soothing vibrations of the ship's engines. Very content.
By the end of the 2-hour sailing, I was noticeably more relaxed and laid-back and happy, than in previous weeks/months. Yes, this trip was the "Flugel has a life again" type of trip, following a few months of busy work life. And as I write this, I'm still feeling like I've shifted my life into a slower gear, and am still feeling happy & content.
To any forum members that I missed by not taking the sold-out 10:00am Saanich trip, sorry.
I plan to try to take the Saanich some weekday during the summer, when she has an 8:00am departure from Tsawwassen (assuming that she does a 6:00am departure from Swartz first....and I think that's what she does in the summer??).
As the Eagles would say: I've got that peaceful, easy feeling. I know that it would happen, in the long run. I am here in the city, just trying to take it easy. Life in the fast lane is ok, but I still feel slow and ok. As a last resort, I may return to the ferries, to regain that feeling of peace & calm from being on the water. I guess that today I was just too busy being fabulous....... (this song collage brought to you by the fine folks at nerd.com)
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Post by Scott on May 10, 2008 14:53:01 GMT -8
So you hadn't bought your route 2 ticket before everything started to unravel? Sounds like you had a good day though.. not too sunny here in the city.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on May 10, 2008 16:20:41 GMT -8
Well, this morning I had to take my dad to work since he hadn't finished fixing his car last night. At the last minute I decided to hop on the 8:00 to meet Flugel on the other side. Dad and I were coming down the hill towards the Piers Island wharf, and when we saw the SOVI's funnel still present, some choice words were uttered. As he ran off to deal with the Saanich, which was rushing to load up and sail ASAP, since the 9:00 SOBC was already sold out, I decided to go for a trip anyway.
Got on the Saanich and walked around, enjoying the fact that the upper deck restaurant was open for seating, and taking in the old murals in the upper lounges. That sailing was quite busy, as it took what was supposed to be the 7:00 crowd. As we approached Tsawwassen, the old lady of the fleet, the Queen of Tsawwassen passed us allowing me another semi-final glimpse of her.
As the footies were boarding I kept an eye out for Flugel, but didn't see him. Judging by the traffic in the terminal and the number of footies that got on, I figured he had changed his mind and went back to Duke Point.
That sailing back was the most jam-packed ship I have ever been on. Not a single seat to be found, and even though it was somewhat cold and windy, the outer decks were relatively busy with people wishing to escape the hoards of people inside.
All in all not the most relaxing trip I have ever had, I am somewhat jealous of Flugel as Rt. 30 was probably a lot less busy.
BTW, apparently the issues with the SOVI had something to do with an oil leak this morning. Don't know any more than that.
I do have a few photos that I will post later tonight or tomorrow.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 10, 2008 16:56:47 GMT -8
So you hadn't bought your route 2 ticket before everything started to unravel? Correct. When I eventually made my way to the ticket-booth at Tsawwassen terminal, it was only 8:15 or so, and I asked if I could by a ticket for the 10:00am Saanich. They said "No", that I'd have to wait until the 9:00am sailing closed first. So I went away to the other side of the terminal to walk. By the time I realized that the Q-Vancouver was low-licences (by overhearing traffic attendants talking about it), the 3 school buses of teens had already arrived, and the ticket-booth pax lineup was already a few hundred people long. I also realised that even if I got a ticket for the 10:00am Saanich, it would be full, busy , crowded, noisy......which all says "no fun" for me. ------------------- re my future plan to ride the Saanich: I checked the schedule, and the 6:00am Route-1 sailings are scheduled for Monday-Thursday during July-August. This means that the Saanich would be leaving Tsawwassen at 8:00am on those days; and that's early & quiet enough for me. I can easily connect to that, using the even quieter (and earlier) 5:15 Route-30 sailing from Duke Point. Unlike Cinderella, I turn into a pumpkin if I'm still on the ferry at noon, not midnight.
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