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Post by Ferryman on Mar 28, 2008 18:55:07 GMT -8
Alright, time to get the ball rolling on this trip now. The Queen of Tsawwassen takes over on the Comox to Powell River route as of April 2nd. So it's time to take advantage (as usual) of this opportunity, due to her pending retirement. So here's two options for how to take advantage of this: Option 1: We all carpool up to Comox, and do a round trip on the Queen of Tsawwassen. Now, we have two sailings to choose from out of Comox. The 10:10am, and the 3:15pm. In order to connect with the 10:10 am sailing, Mainlanders will have to catch the 6:30am sailing out of Horseshoe Bay, for arrival at Departure Bay at 8:10am, and in Little River by 9:30am or so. The 10:10am sailingwould enable us enough time to go over to Texada Island and back while we wait for the 5:15pm sailing back to Comox. Mainlanders would end up catching the 9:00pm home, but with little time to spare, and might risk spending the night in Nanaimo. In order to connect with the 3:15pm, Mainlanders will have to catch the 10:30am sailing out of Horseshoe Bay, arriving at Departure Bay for 12:10pm, allowing us to arrive at Little River around 1:30pm. This would mean we would have to catch the 5:00pm back to Little River, and the Mainlanders would be on the 9:00pm sailing home. Again, they'd be tight for time, and just might risk being stuck in Nanaimo for the night, unless they caught the 10:45pm out of Duke Point, allowing for a loooonng night for those of us who'd have to drive back to Squamish . Option 2 We all blow our budgets, and do the Circlepac trip. Unless we don't buy a sailpass, we would at least recieve a 15% discount on all of the circlepac route trips. It's possible to do the Circlepac trip within a day, but makes the last ferry trip home to be a painful one. I'd prefer to either spend the night in Comox or Powell River. Whichever we could get a cheap(er) accomadation for the night at. The Westview motel (where we normally stay at in Powell River) is a bit pricey for what it is ($80-$90) for an old but somewhat clean suite. Dates:Weekends seem to work the best for most people, so here's the list of weekend dates to pick from. April 5/6 (I don't mean to drive the boat on this one, but I'm booked to fly out to Kelowna that weekend to visit my folks......I know, very lame ) April 12/13April 19/20 (April 20th is a Forum group trip schedule for V-Class trips)April 26/27Let the debating begin! PS!!! The Queen of Tsawwassen should have been retired by now, but her saving grace was that her replacement is no where near being ready for service yet. So EVERYONE should be taking full advantage of sailing on one of two ships that started it all for BC Ferries, and us Ferry Geeks.
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 28, 2008 19:23:58 GMT -8
I would prefer option 1 but I can any of them. Whatever other people want to do.
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Mill Bay
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Post by Mill Bay on Mar 28, 2008 19:35:35 GMT -8
Chris, this would make for difficult connections for those of us driving from Chilliwack too...
I might be able to tough out getting up at (let's see...) Five AM for the prospect of a group trip. but we should get medals or ribbons for our dedication.
If we did stay over, I'd say we should dress warmly, bring tents and do it at a road-side stop somewhere, or... someone of us needs to make friends with someone who has a truck and a camper, although some people might still have to sleep on the floor ;D.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Mar 28, 2008 19:43:32 GMT -8
I want to blow the bank again to be quite honest. Would a sail pass for 4 days save us money if we went to Texada Island? If we do Option one, for us mainlanders, would it be better just to do a full circle so that we don't get stuck on the island overnight? Option two would be best although blowing the bank, I think it is worth it for another circle pac.
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 28, 2008 20:28:57 GMT -8
Heh, yes guys, I know it's a trip and a half to get to Powell River. I'd like you to keep in mind though, depending on which option we choose, we can adjust the sailing times accordingly.
For the Circlepac trip, we could go the counter clockwise way, via Langdale/Earls Cove to Powell River, allowing for a little bit later morning for the Mainlanders, but an earlier morning for the Islanders. Or we could do what we did in the summer of 2006, and have the Mainlanders catch the 10:30am out of Horseshoe Bay to catch the 3:15pm to Powell River, to check into the Motel, then out for a trip on the N.I.P. That way we can spend the evening/morning watching the Tsawwassen arrive/depart Powell River, and then we can either make our way down the Sunshine Coast, or go back the way we came the next day.
The day trip doesn't offer alot of flexability in terms of time. So maybe if we want to allow for best time usage, us Mainlanders would have to tough out the early wake up time, to catch the 6:30am sailing, while the Victorians would have to be on the road by 6:30am as well. But it might be best to just do the quick round trip on the Tsawwassen on the 10:10am and 12:00pm sailings, allowing for lots of time for the Mainlanders to arrive home with a bit of daylight.
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Post by Nickfro on Mar 28, 2008 20:46:02 GMT -8
Of course depending on how many people choose to go, both options may be utilized. You could have a car load of mainlanders catch the first ferry (720am) to Langdale and the 1025am from Earls Cove. Meanwhile, people from the island make their way to Comox for the 1010am sailing to Powell River. Both groups could then rendezvous with each other at Westview terminal and take a round trip voyage on the North Island Princess and once again see that long lasting dogwood carpet that it boasts! The whole group then catches the 515pm sailing back to Comox. From there the mainlanders travel south to Nanaimo for an evening sailing back and the island residents will disperse (at 'Island Time' pace) back to their respective locations.
Circlepac fare (for vehicle and 4 people) is $215.85, or $54 per person. It is 'blowing the budget' a bit, but round trips on Vancouver-Nanaimo and Comox-Powell River add up to $48 per person, so the difference isn't very substantial.
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Post by Esquimalt Queen on Mar 28, 2008 21:03:30 GMT -8
What??? The NIP has the original dogwood carpet? Is it the old one from the WAC Bennett days?
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 28, 2008 21:18:28 GMT -8
Last time I was on her she had the same carpets as you would find on any of the V's or the Cumberland or Capilano or Tsawwassen.
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Post by Mac Write on Mar 28, 2008 21:22:44 GMT -8
I would love to go. Just need to find the funding (oh ya and another memory card as I can only take 700 photos at best before off-loading.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Mar 28, 2008 21:30:23 GMT -8
I am interested. I will be able to drive for either option, as well...
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Post by Nickfro on Mar 28, 2008 21:39:08 GMT -8
Last time I was on her she had the same carpets as you would find on any of the V's or the Cumberland or Capilano or Tsawwassen. Although I have never been on the NIP, I read in Queen of Nanaimo Teen's photo essay in the New Photos section that the dogwood carpets are there and are not going any time soon. I'd be tended to believe the more recent traveller's observations, but now I'm slightly confused. It's time to see it with my own eyes! Bottom line: I'm hopeful I can make it on this trip and a big reason for it, other than the Tsawwassen, is to ride on the only active cat ferry in the fleet! However, I'm going to Mexico for my first time ever in a couple of weeks, which writes off two weekends in April. Pretty good alibi though!
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Nick
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Post by Nick on Mar 28, 2008 22:14:49 GMT -8
I am in for this, but I have to check to see which weekends I have free. I would probably be able to drive, providing somebody kicks in some $$ for fuel.
Personally, I would opt for the full circle tour, partly because I haven't ever been on the Chilliwack either and that would provide a chance to take a trip on her as well. I am all for taking Mill Bay's suggestion, and finding a spot to camp somewhere (recent weather notwithstanding, April is usually fairly mild for weather). I think late April would be best if we were to go with this option.
I would also lean towards staying overnight in Comox or Powell River, rather than driving through. Even though it makes it a little pricier, it is a lot more enjoyable, in my opinion.
In a nutshell, I am a probably yes for this one, depending on the weekend chosen.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Mar 29, 2008 16:39:45 GMT -8
April 19th and 20th work best for me since that is the only weekend I have open.
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Post by Coastal Canuck on Mar 29, 2008 17:06:28 GMT -8
I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to go.
Another option is...
Mainlanders take the 7:20 Queen of Surrey sailing from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale then drive across the Sunshine coast and take the 10:25 Queen of Chilliwack sailing from Earls Cove to Saltery Bay then drive into Powell River then take the 12:00 Queen of Tsawwassen sailing from Powell River to Comox (as walk ons) then take the 3:15 Queen of Tsawwassen sailing back to Powell River (as walk ons), then take the 5:25 Queen of Chilliwack sailing from Saltery Bay to Earls Cove, then take the 8:20 Queen of Surrey from Langdale to Horseshoe Bay.
Islanders do either
Option 1: 10:10 Queen of Tsawwassen to Powell River and 12:00 back
Option 2: 15:15 Queen of Tsawwassen to Powell River and 17:15 back
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Post by Mac Write on Mar 29, 2008 18:02:46 GMT -8
Honestly, I would love to get photos of the Tsawwassen coming/leaving each terminal if possible. Those are the shots I would be focusing on, as allot of us have allot of interior shots. photograph her on in her suroundings.
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Post by Nickfro on Mar 29, 2008 19:45:38 GMT -8
That full sunshine coast option is a decent one. The only thing about it that concerns me are the tight connection times, especially if one route (typically the Jervis Inlet run) is running behind schedule. You also wouldn't have much time to take photos (if you're into that sort of thing. . .which many of us are!) at Westview Terminal. Taking three different ferry routes is more to my liking, but if you're not planning on taking the North Island Princess on a round trip, your travel day will be shorter by going thru Nanaimo (630am there on Route 2, 500pm home, as opposed to 720am there on Route 3, 820pm home) I like seeing all of these travel options that people are coming up with for this trip! All of them are very do-able, regardless of where your day starts from!
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Post by DENelson83 on Mar 30, 2008 10:58:14 GMT -8
I can take pics of the Queen of Tsawwassen docking at Little River, as that terminal is within transit range of where I live.
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Post by Mike C on Mar 30, 2008 11:11:52 GMT -8
I'll see what I can do... I'll most likely will be based out of Comox for this one because of our place in Little River.
I'll have to get back to you folks on what weekends would work, but I'll really have to see... I'll play it by ear for now.
If anything, I'll probably be on 6:30 am boat out of HSB, catch the 10:10, do a round-trip being back in Comox by 1:20... shooting for the 5:45 out of da Point, after a bit of rest at my place in Little River.
...put me down for maybe.
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Post by Curtis on Mar 30, 2008 12:28:17 GMT -8
Just give me a day on the Weekend and I'll see what I can do. I want to get aboard the Tsawwassen at least once before she retires later this year.
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Post by Balfour on Mar 30, 2008 14:39:10 GMT -8
I might be in on this too. It all depends on the weekend, and what is going for me. I have a lot of stuff up in the air right now...
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Mar 31, 2008 8:50:52 GMT -8
I think we should do it April 26 and 27 which gives us more time to plan it. The previous weekend is a V class trip unless you wanted to do two trips in one weekend if the Powell River one was just a day trip. I will need to know soon if it is the 12th or the 13th but the later dates would work best.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Mar 31, 2008 8:59:51 GMT -8
April 20th V class trip could easily be moved to the 27th since that schedule runs until the 30th of April.
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Post by Balfour on Mar 31, 2008 9:21:31 GMT -8
As far as I know, the 19-20th weekend would probably work best for me. I'm busy on the 26th-27th. The 12th-13th is very much up in the air for me right now so put me down as a maybe until I say otherwise.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Mar 31, 2008 9:42:20 GMT -8
12th-13th is not only a no but a definite can't do. 26th-27th I could compromise. (BTW V class farwell trips says May 11th) "May 11th - Queen of Saanich - 2:00pm Tsawwassen - Queen of Vancouver - 6:00pm Swartz Bay"
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Koastal Karl
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Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 1, 2008 16:57:10 GMT -8
There is also a V class trip on April 20th too and May 11th Dan. We could also stay in Powell River and do a roundtrip on the Wack from Saltery Bay. I really dont care about the southern routes like Langdale as I am getting tired of the coastalized ships. I want to travel on ships like the Tsawwassen and the Wack (I dont mind the Wack) and the Vs. But whatever works. I think we need to plan to a date now and whoever can come can come. If it is going to be an overnight trip I need to know cause I have booked Sundays off but will need to arrange something for a Saturday if we plan to go overnight.
I can very easily pick a date for this but it was Chris's I idea so we need to get going on this as it is already April.
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