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Post by WettCoast on Jul 19, 2014 9:18:53 GMT -8
Here I am on Queen of Tsawwassen. Or maybe it's Taku. Or maybe it's Coho. Or perhaps you've gone up the river to Silverdale & you have done a mega-major clean up on the Sidney... Blackball has certainly done a wonderful job of maintaining this 'old girl', the M/V Coho.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 20, 2014 2:38:59 GMT -8
Here's my trip video of MV Coho, on a July 17, 2014 sailing from Port Angeles to Victoria.
The 2nd half of this is the Victoria section, from Ogden Point to the Bellevlle St. terminal.
enjoy the trip!
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SolDuc
Voyager
West Coast Cyclist
SolDuc and SOBC - Photo by Scott
Posts: 2,055
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Post by SolDuc on Jul 20, 2014 5:59:00 GMT -8
Here's my trip video of MV Coho, on a July 17, 2014 sailing from Port Angeles to Victoria. The 2nd half of this is the Victoria section, from Ogden Point to the Bellevlle St. terminal. enjoy the trip! I like the Mr. Horn cameo appearances...
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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MV Coho
Jul 20, 2014 15:45:11 GMT -8
Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 20, 2014 15:45:11 GMT -8
anyone know the procedure in Victoria when you take the Coho??? I assume you go through customs in Port Angeles??? How long did it take you Mike to go through customs in Victoria??
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Post by Starsteward on Jul 20, 2014 15:54:14 GMT -8
Here I am on Queen of Tsawwassen. Or maybe it's Taku. Or maybe it's Coho. Or perhaps you've gone up the river to Silverdale & you have done a mega-major clean up on the Sidney... Blackball has certainly done a wonderful job of maintaining this 'old girl', the M/V Coho. Blackball's Spaulding designed 'old girl' has indeed cost them a king's ransom in face lifts, tummy tucks, and Botox sessions, as well as countless gold bars worth of Internal surgeons' tinkerings with heart, digestive, and vascular upgrades required to conform with the latest U.S. Federal and Coast Guard regulations. Blackball's treatment of their Grand Dame, Ms. Coho, is every aging dowagers' dream come true. Our Spaulding dowagers have not been as fortunate. The Queen of New Westminster's flirt with ageless beauty will unfortunately be dashed sooner than her early 1900's single bridge designed cousins have recovered from their scheduled major surgical procedures. Perhaps Ms. Coho's many admirers could be warmed with a graceful curtsy, and a glint in her eye, as she retires into a loving boudoir and 'slips into something a bit more comfortable'. All our old Spaulding girls could have been as fortunate as Ms. Coho, sadly only two remain who have neither luck nor time on their side.
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MV Coho
Jul 20, 2014 16:09:02 GMT -8
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 20, 2014 16:09:02 GMT -8
anyone know the procedure in Victoria when you take the Coho??? I assume you go through customs in Port Angeles??? How long did it take you Mike to go through customs in Victoria?? On my arrival in Victoria, the main wait at Canada Customs was the cars in front of me. Once I got to the booth, it was a quick minute or so. Probably only a 15-minute wait. I was near the end of the ship.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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MV Coho
Jul 20, 2014 16:20:17 GMT -8
Post by Koastal Karl on Jul 20, 2014 16:20:17 GMT -8
you ever taken the Coho the other way from Victoria?? I wonder if it is like the WSF in Sidney where you have immagration to go through??
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MV Coho
Jul 20, 2014 16:41:23 GMT -8
Post by Kahloke on Jul 20, 2014 16:41:23 GMT -8
you ever taken the Coho the other way from Victoria?? I wonder if it is like the WSF in Sidney where you have immagration to go through?? I've done Coho both directions, and both with a car and without a car. With a car, it's the same as in Sidney. You need to arrive 90 minutes prior to departure so US Border Protection can do their immigration pre-clearance. When you disembark in Port Angeles, you go through Customs. This information is on Coho's website for future reference.
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MV Coho
Jul 24, 2014 20:03:47 GMT -8
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 24, 2014 20:03:47 GMT -8
Coho, seen from Port Angeles on July 17, 2014 Out near the spit The classic arrival shot She throws a bow line to a jetty, then pivots back into the berth. Just like how Princess of Vancouver used to arrive in Nanaimo's CPR dock...
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MV Coho
Jul 25, 2014 18:48:56 GMT -8
Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 25, 2014 18:48:56 GMT -8
My video of Coho arriving at Port Angeles, WA. 12:15pm on July 17, 2014.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 12, 2014 10:54:36 GMT -8
On-board views of Coho, from July 17, 2014 forward lounge mid-ship lounge Spaulding forward staircase a bit of history (if you look at the previous photo, this here item is above the head of the man in the red jacket) Victoria's Belleville Street terminal, with Hotel Grand Pacific in background.
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MV Coho
Aug 12, 2014 11:34:09 GMT -8
Post by Starsteward on Aug 12, 2014 11:34:09 GMT -8
On-board views of Coho, from July 17, 2014 forward lounge mid-ship lounge Spaulding forward staircase a bit of history (if you look at the previous photo, this here item is above the head of the man in the red jacket) Victoria's Belleville Street terminal, with Hotel Grand Pacific in background. Would it be a stretch of the imagination, when riding the Coho, that one might flash back to the good old days while riding the Queen of Sidney or Queen of Tsawwassen? Black Ball has done an amazing job of maintaining the 'Spartan' interior of the Coho.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 12, 2014 11:37:56 GMT -8
Would it be a stretch of the imagination, when riding the Coho, that one might flash back to the good old days while riding the Queen of Sidney or Queen of Tsawwassen? Black Ball has done an amazing job of maintaining the 'Spartan' interior of the Coho.
For me (born in 1968), it is what I imagine the early days of BCF's route-1 were like. Exceptions: There is no indoor cigarette smoke on Coho today. BCFerries didn't have a neon signed Duty Free store. Coho's crew is casually dressed, whereas the early BCF crew were more formally dressed.
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MV Coho
Aug 12, 2014 13:23:57 GMT -8
Post by Starsteward on Aug 12, 2014 13:23:57 GMT -8
Would it be a stretch of the imagination, when riding the Coho, that one might flash back to the good old days while riding the Queen of Sidney or Queen of Tsawwassen? Black Ball has done an amazing job of maintaining the 'Spartan' interior of the Coho.
For me (born in 1968), it is what I imagine the early days of BCF's route-1 were like. Exceptions: Although there is no indoor cigarette smoke on Coho today. BCFerries didn't have a neon signed Duty Free store. Coho's crew is casually dressed, whereas the early BCF crew were more formally dressed. From the photos it appears as if all the hand rails are painted green, which adds a bit of a 'dull' look to the overall ambience, whereas BC Ferries has never painted the handrails, rather have left the factory-finish-silver as is. Back in the day, indoor cigarette smoke, even in the dining areas, (including the Captains' table) was, but one of yesteryears' pleasures of having a smoke after a nice meal. Now, I'm not proposing a return to those practises, I'm just sayin'....... As for the more formal dress, all BC Ferry Department folks were head to toe in Khaki shirts and pants. The shirts festooned with the big round green BC Ferry Authority badges. The Catering staff, Stewards, Busboys, and Cleaning staff were obliged to look sharp in their heavy-weight green wool slacks with the green stripe down the leg, white shirts with black bow tie and the white heavy cotton jackets also courting the big green badge. Completing the overall dress requirement package was a pair of non-casual "polished" black shoes. ( The cleaning staff had not yet been made a separate entity and dressed up in blue shirts and slacks with no requirement to look fashionable with the addition of a bow tie Black shoes were initially, also part of the 'de rigour'. Gordon Lightfoot's melody of 'Long before the White Man and long before the rail'...translated very aptly back in the early years to: 'Long before the Union and long before the shop-steward' as the Catering departments ruled by God-like Chief Stewards, could and Did send catering crew home for showing up to work with what they would deem 'appearance not becoming'. Crew members were tossed before 1st sailings of a crew change or after completing one round trip. Many Chief Stewards patrolled the ship during trips in their full uniform, Cap and all. The old black uniform coats had wrap around gold bars on the sleeves which pre-dated the top-side only bars on the jacket sleeve and longer before officers of all departments were issued the 'Epaulet' style jackets, which no doubt cut down on the cost of repairing or replacing the gold insignia stripes. Much of the 'dress code and operations culture' of BC Ferries in the early days was profoundly influenced by both Head Office staff, and Department heads who had served on either British passenger ships or were recruited from the likes of Canadian Pacific, Canadian National, Union etc., or from the Canadian Forces. The 'Dress decorum' of the Southern routes was staunchly enforced in the early days of route 10. Masters, Chief Engineers, and Chief Stewards were rarely if ever seen on duty not wearing their uniform coat. Cap wearing was about the only 'option' Masters and Chiefs seemed to display. I appreciate that this wee diatribe may be a bit tedious, and a call to the return of the demanding 'cultures' of yesteryear, however that was not my intention. I note only, from a historical perspective, that there appeared to be a higher value placed on the relationship between appearance and performance than we find in todays' operations. Operating 'cultures' change over time. Fact! Question: "Is that change always manifested in maintaining the highest performance standards in whatever industry one chooses to critique?" examine?
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MV Coho
Aug 12, 2014 15:56:40 GMT -8
Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 12, 2014 15:56:40 GMT -8
Coho boarding at Port of Angels: - 12:45pm sailing on July 17, 2014 Leaving Port Angeles
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mrdot
Voyager
Mr. DOT
Posts: 1,252
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Post by mrdot on Aug 12, 2014 16:12:08 GMT -8
:)indeed what a shame we couldn't have maintained our first BC ferry with the same tlc! :)mrdot.
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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 Aug 12, 2014 16:14:04 GMT -8
It's actually amazing Mr Horn got some interior photos as he usually is not inside at all it seems lol!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 12, 2014 16:18:13 GMT -8
It's actually amazing Mr Horn got some interior photos as he usually is not inside at all it seems lol! haha, I was only inside briefly, and that was because I needed to use the washroom. It was a lovely day to be outside, and I had lots of filming planned. I was happy with the results.
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MV Coho
Aug 13, 2014 14:31:08 GMT -8
Post by Kahloke on Aug 13, 2014 14:31:08 GMT -8
Coho arriving in Victoria, August 9, 2014:
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 14, 2014 7:24:17 GMT -8
Black Ball Ferry Line, a company that knows its history and isn't afraid to share it. - what a concept.... ------- Port Angeles passenger building: The architect, the owner and the ship-builder.
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MV Coho
Aug 14, 2014 11:03:39 GMT -8
Post by Starsteward on Aug 14, 2014 11:03:39 GMT -8
Black Ball Ferry Line, a company that knows its history and isn't afraid to share it. - what a concept.... ------- Port Angeles passenger building: The architect, the owner and the ship-builder. A very nice touch by the folks at Black Ball to share the history of their company with the travelling public. Very classy touch, especially the old steamer trunk.
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MV Coho
Aug 14, 2014 11:12:05 GMT -8
Post by Starsteward on Aug 14, 2014 11:12:05 GMT -8
:)indeed what a shame we couldn't have maintained our first BC ferry with the same tlc! :)mrdot. Amen, mrdot. Amen. Our first two ferries, maintained with the same level of Black Ball 'TLC' would continue to meet the needs of our travelling public. Rather than see that disgraceful mess languishing up on the shore of the Fraser River, I am so glad that at least one of our beloved ships was able to get a new lease on life in beautiful tropical Fiji.
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SolDuc
Voyager
West Coast Cyclist
SolDuc and SOBC - Photo by Scott
Posts: 2,055
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MV Coho
Aug 16, 2014 23:08:26 GMT -8
Post by SolDuc on Aug 16, 2014 23:08:26 GMT -8
a bit of history (if you look at the previous photo, this here item is above the head of the man in the red jacket) Well, I guess the Coho can be part of a different circlepac than the classic one, but it's still a circlepac!
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MV Coho
Aug 17, 2014 10:46:09 GMT -8
Post by Starsteward on Aug 17, 2014 10:46:09 GMT -8
a bit of history (if you look at the previous photo, this here item is above the head of the man in the red jacket) Well, I guess the Coho can be part of a different circlepac than the classic one, but it's still a circlepac! Does Ms. Streisand know she has a room on a ferry boat named after her? Does anyone have the scoop on why this room was named after her?
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KE7JFF
Chief Steward
Posts: 106
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MV Coho
Aug 28, 2014 21:36:11 GMT -8
Post by KE7JFF on Aug 28, 2014 21:36:11 GMT -8
So one of my friends who works in the marine shipping trade tells there was a rumor that Black Ball was looking at acquiring a 2nd ship for its fleet; anyone else hear this? I can't imagine them looking to replace the Coho but I could see them creating a new route...
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