Kam
Voyager
Posts: 926
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Post by Kam on Sept 2, 2009 10:53:58 GMT -8
That’s a tough one... must be my whole life.
I grew up riding the ferries and as far back as I can remember I’ve loved taking trips on them.
I suppose I started becoming a more in depth fan once I hit 16 and was able to drive. That’s when I started taking notice of all the small details and differences between the ships.
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Nick
Voyager
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,078
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Post by Nick on Sept 2, 2009 11:19:15 GMT -8
The only that was impressive to an eight year old was the automatic toilets. That's as opposed to the automatic toilets on a Spirit, which will keep flushing continually while you're still sitting on them. Actually, Canucks is right... the infamous automatic toilets on the spooks didn't come until their cosmetic upgrades in 2005 and 2006. They had push-buttons before that. So I guess this really solidifies the notion that I'm a ferry geek.... I just corrected somebody on the type of toilet flusher on a ferry. Great. I have been obsessed with ferries for as long as I can remember. My father has worked for BCF since I was a baby, so it's been a part of my childhood. I remember going on the SOBC when she first came online in 1993 and was based out of SWB, and being awestruck at how big she was. From then on, I'd memorize statistics and capacities of ships. Often, we'd go to Vancouver for the day, and visit Science World, the aquarium, Stanley Park, etc. but the best part of the day would be the trip over and back on the ferry.
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Quatchi
Voyager
Engineering Officer - CCG
Posts: 930
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Post by Quatchi on Sept 2, 2009 12:18:14 GMT -8
I like the automatic toilets, creates a nice refreshing breeze, in a nice place.
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Post by QSaanich on Sept 2, 2009 15:15:24 GMT -8
8 or 9 i think.
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D'Elete BC in NJ
Voyager
Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
Posts: 1,671
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Sept 3, 2009 11:44:56 GMT -8
Well I was 6 days old on my first ferry trip, Queen of New Westminster Rte 2. Around then. Yeah, would have been about the same for me...actually my claim to fame is making a bunch of school kids happy as they missed a couple of hours of school when the ferry had to come back to pick up the ambulance and my mother.
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Post by Starsteward on Sept 3, 2009 15:41:55 GMT -8
Date: June 14th 1964 Position: Busboy (had to start somewhere) Ship: M.V. Queen of Sidney Route: 2 Wow, I thought the 'Sidney' although by now a 4 year old ship, it still had that new ship smell about it, everything was new.. and worked properly and I looked forward to beginning my carreer on this new ship. At the time we knew there were other new ships being readied for service as that was the era of the building of the majority of the 'V' class ships and that with any luck our crew would inherit one of them on route 2. Imagine our shock when we our dream of crewing on a brand new ship was derailed when we were unceremoniously dumped onto the gutted out remains of what was once the MV Chinook and found ourselves toiling on the Sechelt Queen! Although we did manage to have some fun moments on the old girl, our dream of a new ship did come to pass as we took over the brand new Queen of Nanaimo, August 4th 1964. After crewing the Sechelt Queen, the 'Nanaimo' was spectacular in every way. After being a 'traitor' and jumping to the CPR the next Summer and the Princess of Vancouver, ...yikes what a barge.. it was back to BCF and another new ship, the Queen of New Westminster, who had a couple of amenities the 'Nanaimo' didn't have, but keeping in mind the crude conditions of the Sechelt Queen, new ships ruled! The following year, not only cemented my 'ferrygeek' but laid the foundations of future maritime adventures both home and abroad when I joined the M.V. Queen of Prince Rupert on May 19th 1967. The QPR became my "Super-Ship" and I could never have asked for a better time of my life. 'Ferrygeek' forever!
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Post by Blisswood on Jul 15, 2011 18:46:31 GMT -8
I've lived on Vancouver Island all my life, but I really got interested in Spring 1982. I was on a trip to Saltspring/Salt Spring Island and I saw a double-ended ferry at Swartz Bay. I thought it was the Queen of Alberni...turns out it was the Bowen Queen! Then I started paying more attention to the fleet. I was a serious geek until the late 1980s (collected annual reports, newspaper clippings...all gone now.) I got interested again when I found out the Queen of Vancouver was about to be retired. I managed to get one last round trip on her on Jan. 30/09. It's the only time I've ever done Route 1 solo and round-trip on the same day. I hope to repeat this very soon on the Vancouver's apparent replacement, New Westminster.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,150
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Post by Neil on Jul 15, 2011 19:41:19 GMT -8
The Bainbridge was a pretty wondrous vessel to a six year old, waving goodbye to his dad on a Sunday evening in Snug Cove in the summer of '62. The car deck seemed like such a huge place, with its round windows. The passenger deck would be lined with the unfortunate family members who had to go back to the city, while the lucky ones, like me, got to stay, spending my days paddling back and forth at the beach on a log which I pretended I was captain of, docking at 'slips' between two rocks. It was the very tail end of Bowen's years as a cottage resort; the hotel had closed, and the old playgrounds were falling into disrepair, with the cottages gradually following. I remember, probably from the next few of summers, watching every half hour as the Langdale Queen and Sechelt Queen sailed into or out of Horseshoe Bay, for Langdale. I knew them apart.
I remember clearly the passenger deck of the first Bowen Queen, with the little cabin's wooden benches. It seemed magical to be heading over to Horseshoe Bay on a warm darkening summer evening with the shore lights of all those houses where it seemed to me that the luckiest people lived, right on the water where they could watch ferries all the time.
So, I'd say, six years old for me. Course, the word 'geek' hadn't been invented yet, as far as I know.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 15, 2011 21:32:38 GMT -8
For me growing up in Nanaimo, we'd take the ferries to Horseshoe Bay twice a year (Easter and Thanksgiving weekends) on trips to see my grandparents in Penticton.
I remember detail of the ships, and the highways, an indication that I was a ferry and highway geek back then.
I remember taking the Queen of Surrey one time in 1974 or 1975, I would have been 6 or 7 years old. I also remember the large new "Jumbo" ferries introduced when I was 8 years old, and being curious if "Cowichan" was spelled like the bovine animal or not.
I also remember the unique experience of taking the CP Princess of Vancouver during a BCFerries strike, and the unique layout of the upper car deck that was midships.
All this was cultivated by natural curiousity and by parents who took the time to point out the names and stories of things.
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grk
Chief Steward
Posts: 227
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Post by grk on Jul 17, 2011 9:02:54 GMT -8
I'm an oldie, so my interest in ferries goes way back. I'm from the Toronto area, but travelled out west by train to visit relatives on the Island. I was preschool, probably 5 yrs old. The year escapes me, but the collapsed Second Narrows Bridge was still in the water as we sailed out on the almost new Princess of Vancouver. The return trip was on the Princess of Nanaimo. That sparked an interest in all things marine (and rail), and that is where my career has taken me for many years now, although I'm getting ready for the retirement door soon!
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Jul 17, 2011 15:55:30 GMT -8
:)ferrygeek sounds a bit nurdish, but I will go all the way back to the 1950's when my dad took me down to view all the laid up Princess ships wintering in the Bellville St. docks of old Victoria harbour, all those years ago, which included my present sig. picture. :)mrdot.
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Post by swartzbaydreaming on Jul 17, 2011 16:04:34 GMT -8
Funny, I was almost born on a ferry. Figures..., lol.
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Post by swartzbaydreaming on Jul 17, 2011 16:07:13 GMT -8
I am proud to be called a Ferry-Geek!!! It is in my blood. I wish I still lived closer to the ferries and the coast.
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Post by Queen of Nanaimo Teen on Oct 1, 2011 18:52:19 GMT -8
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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 Oct 1, 2011 19:56:48 GMT -8
Do you actually use those plates and cups or are they display only??
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Post by Queen of Nanaimo Teen on Oct 1, 2011 21:16:49 GMT -8
I have a little minifridge in here with some food, so i use them sometimes. They're also some of my favorite keepsakes, so i wanted to take them with me! ;D
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 2, 2011 7:08:08 GMT -8
Sean: What are you and your french-horn doing in a small dorm-like room in Manitoba?
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Post by Queen of Nanaimo Teen on Oct 2, 2011 11:40:34 GMT -8
I am rediscovering my mennonite heritage at the Canadian Mennonite University, studying music (to go into Music Ed.)
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Post by Barnacle on Oct 2, 2011 12:51:29 GMT -8
I was about to ask what you were doing in Manitoba. Then I saw the dorm room and thought, 'ah.'
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piglet
Chief Steward
Posts: 138
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Post by piglet on Oct 2, 2011 17:35:14 GMT -8
Guess I have been around ferries (till being shipwrecked in Oilberta) most of my life. I grew up on sailboats in the Gulf islands and was watching/dodging ferries from around the time the first boats went into service. I would still "love" to meet the captain of the Mayne who docked it in Saturna and made such waves that I was tossed out of a quarter berth on our Thunderbird that was tied up to the public dock next door (sometime in the 60's). The first time I ever got our old ev'y running on the boat was when we lost the wind and dad had nodded off and one of the V boats was approaching lol. Amazing how that kicks up the power you have in your body. The one thing I remember was that the waves kicked up by the V class were higher and more numerous after they were stretched. An odd thing to remember but as you pass through them in a 26 footer you tend to take them personally (especially when your beloved brother doesn't tell you they are coming and your suntanning on the foredeck lol).
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Post by lmtengs on Oct 2, 2011 19:18:51 GMT -8
Guess I have been around ferries (till being shipwrecked in Oilberta) most of my life. I grew up on sailboats in the Gulf islands and was watching/dodging ferries from around the time the first boats went into service. I would still "love" to meet the captain of the Mayne who docked it in Saturna and made such waves that I was tossed out of a quarter berth on our Thunderbird that was tied up to the public dock next door (sometime in the 60's). The first time I ever got our old ev'y running on the boat was when we lost the wind and dad had nodded off and one of the V boats was approaching lol. Amazing how that kicks up the power you have in your body. The one thing I remember was that the waves kicked up by the V class were higher and more numerous after they were stretched. An odd thing to remember but as you pass through them in a 26 footer you tend to take them personally (especially when your beloved brother doesn't tell you they are coming and your suntanning on the foredeck lol). The wake of a Spirit, even when you're on an 85-footer... that can be slightly frightening. Or a cruise ship on that same 85-footer. I was on the tall ship when a cruise ship radioed and asked to make a close pass to let it's passengers get photos of us. They seemed to have forgotten to slow down though, and the wake nearly rocked us 30 degrees!
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Post by Ferryman on Oct 2, 2011 21:28:30 GMT -8
I wasn't really sure where to post this, but I got sick of looking for a thread. Since I moved to Manitoba, many of you have probably thought that i have given up my life of ferry geekiness. This is not the case however, as shown in these photos. Sean: I have to ask, HOW were you able to acquire all of that stuff? In particular, did you make a deal with Donella for the Flag? Any idea which ship the chair came from too? What's the story of it all?
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Oct 3, 2011 9:24:41 GMT -8
Sean: I have to ask, HOW were you able to acquire all of that stuff? In particular, did you make a deal with Donella for the Flag? Any idea which ship the chair came from too? What's the story of it all? Probably the same way I have. Apparently Donella has been downsizing lately, ( due to lack of space, I believe her reason was ), but she's offered to give me the pair of engineers overalls she has since they fit me so well . No negotiating required, other than the fact I have to meet up with her at some point. I also realized I'd never voted in the poll ( Sorry Nick ), but I have now!
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Post by chinook2 on Oct 3, 2011 13:23:43 GMT -8
When i noticed the difference between a Victoria and a sidney class.
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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 Oct 3, 2011 16:58:01 GMT -8
I have to say too I havent been as interested in the ferries as I used to. I havent even been on a forum trip since like last Nov. I still love riding the ferries but my trips this year have really been down compared to before. Plus right now it's so expensive and tight on money is also a factor.
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