Neil
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Posts: 7,182
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Post by Neil on Jan 30, 2014 21:03:53 GMT -8
Even Chuck Currie would not have dared tell the handful of passengers on the North Island Princess they'd picked a great day to sail... today was unrelentingly rainy with low clouds obscuring much of the scenery up Malaspina Strait. No White Spot entrees to tempt the palate, either; despite the two hour plus sailing time, the cuisine is supplied from the kitchens of Ryan Vending, as usual on the NIP. Chips, chocolate bars, and pop.
Six or seven vehicles on the way up at 10am, and the same coming back at 2:15. Crew matched by passengers. Apparently Texadians are either hunkering down or are using the water taxi.
Either BC Ferries is telling their crews not to talk about the upcoming service cuts, or I just ran into perhaps the least informed crew member in history... she claimed not to know about the threatened changes to the schedule, despite living on Texada.
Saltery Bay is a busy place these days, with thirteen departures a day- fourteen when the Island Sky starts running to Little River. Last time it was this busy was in the '70s, before the Powell River Queen was stretched, when service to Earls Cove was supplemented by the Pender Queen or Queen of The Islands.
Yesterday on the 'Chilliwack, I thought of three more reasons to dislike that tub: the bone rattling vibration, oddly enough at the forward end, along with steep stairwells and low headroom doorways.
Just three shots, at Blubber Bay and the old dock at Saltery- probably the first time I've ever been on a ferry that used it.
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 31, 2014 22:32:21 GMT -8
According to the BC Ferries vessel tracking and Siitech the Island Sky just departed Saltery Bay as of 10:30pm. I wonder why she was late?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 9, 2014 17:58:09 GMT -8
For the second-half of the alternate schedule period, the 2 ships (NIP & I'sky) leave Saltery Bay around 5:00pm (well, the NIP has a 10 minute head start).
But the faster Island Sky will catch up to and pass the slower North Island Princess, and I'm observing this right now, on SiiTech website.
The overtaking happens off of Black Point, south of Powell River. Too bad that this happens in the dark, because it would make a fine photo, from a Powell River beach.
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Neil
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Post by Neil on Feb 9, 2014 19:05:29 GMT -8
For the second-half of the alternate schedule period, the 2 ships (NIP & I'sky) leave Saltery Bay around 5:00pm (well, the NIP has a 10 minute head start). But the faster Island Sky will catch up to and pass the slower North Island Princess, and I'm observing this right now, on SiiTech website. The overtaking happens off of Black Point, south of Powell River. Too bad that this happens in the dark, because it would make a fine photo, from a Powell River beach. When I rode the North Island Princess last week, she seemed fairly speedy. I'm so used to the Quinitsa and Kahloke these days- which I think are operated at seven or eight knots- that ten or eleven seemed pretty fleet footed. The Island Sky was much faster, and whenever I stand on the main car deck of the 'Alberni, it seems positively turbo charged.
I kind of like it that the fleet has so many different experiences in that way.
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Feb 9, 2014 20:11:01 GMT -8
Me and Scott were on the Island Sky today! The crossing from Little River at 2pm ended up taking almost three hours due to the dock conflicts at 5pm we had to wait for the NIP to leave! And we used the small berth cause the Wack was in the main berth! Coming back at 5 we left 20 mins late and arrived 5 mins late! We were heading back at full speed! It was a fun afternoon on a very rare route!
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Post by Mike C on Feb 9, 2014 21:15:36 GMT -8
I know there will be a few trip reports coming in over the next few days, so I will share mine.
I spent the past three days with Curtis (a huge thanks to him and his parents for their hospitality!), and cruising Malaspina on the Island Sky.
Day One (Friday): I traveled to Nanaimo to straighten some things out at VIU, and continued my journey north to Powell River on the Island Sky. An obligatory stop at the vacuum store was made, and I boarded the 18:35 sailing, the final trip from Departure Bay to Saltery Bay. The crew on board was ecstatic to return to Comox the following day, and the terminal staff at Departure Bay felt a mutual disdain. To my surprise, 90% of the sailing outside, and reading my new favourite book. Upon arrival, I boarded the shuttle and met Curtis in Westview.
Day Two (Saturday): Curtis and I traveled to Saltery Bay, and took the Island Sky to Blubber Bay and Comox. The sailing departed Saltery Bay on time, however the docking at Blubber Bay took some time. We had to reverse-in, and vehicles bound for Blubber Bay had to back-off the ship. We took on forty vehicles, and departed for Comox about 20 minutes late (we spent about 30 min in the dock). We experienced the new berth at Little River (well, there isn't much to experience besides seeing it in operation) - sleek, new, and extremely quiet. The dolphins were brand-new, and had barely been scraped by previous dock fittings. Fast-forward to 2:00: we departed again about 10 minutes late, due to some issues with the new berth - contractors were swarming the berth and ship for 20 minutes leading up to the sailing. Upon departure, it was a nice cruise back to Saltery Bay.
Day Three (Sunday/Today): Traveled south via Route 7 and 3. Thanks to Jordan, Julien and Curtis for coming out!
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 10, 2014 9:49:28 GMT -8
Day Two (Saturday): Curtis and I traveled to Saltery Bay, and took the Island Sky to Blubber Bay and Comox. West Coast Ferries Forum is now "Two for Two" in the inaugural sailings of Routes 17A & 17B. We're there on the scene, to get the news first. haha
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Feb 22, 2014 13:39:40 GMT -8
When me and Scott took the Island Sky from Comox to Saltery Bay the first weekend we were delayed in arriving at Saltery Bay due to the Queen of Chilliwack being in berth and dock conflicts. I am wondering now if this is a daily situation now where the Island Sky is delayed on the 2pm sailing??? I have seen lately though the Chilliwack has been dealyed due to dock conflicts.
I want to try and get on the Chilliwack still and going from Comox would mean I dont have to drive over but the only sailing I would do would be the 2pm from Comox which is the one that has been delayed before. I would miss the 5:05pm sailing on the Chilliwack but would make the next round trip unless the Chilliwack was the one delayed then I might be able to make hte 5:05pm. It would be really nice if BC Ferries would of thought of this before doing these schedules. You think the would of known certain times there would be not enough room at Saltery Bay.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 13, 2014 19:54:48 GMT -8
Here is another video record of the temporary route, this being Route-17A: Comox to Saltery Bay and return, with a stop at Blubber Bay. - morning of March 9, 2014; the final day of the temporary routes.
I'm happy with this bit of preservation work.
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Post by priver on Jan 10, 2015 12:21:55 GMT -8
If you look at bc ferries schedule a they are showing the queen of burnaby going to drydock on the 19th of Jan till the 25th of Jan. The island sky will be doing a triangle route between comox powell River and texada and the Nip is going to be covering route 7
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Koastal Karl
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Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
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Post by Koastal Karl on Jan 10, 2015 12:41:23 GMT -8
why not use the Chilliwack? I am sure she would be able to run on route 7!
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Post by Curtis on Jan 10, 2015 14:02:01 GMT -8
If you look at bc ferries schedule a they are showing the queen of burnaby going to drydock on the 19th of Jan till the 25th of Jan. The island sky will be doing a triangle route between comox powell River and texada and the Nip is going to be covering route 7 For a second there I almost thought estate2014 was back on the forum. Then I took a glance at the Route 17 Schedule and was surprised to see this was the truth. www.bcferries.com/schedules/mainland/copr-current.php?scheduleSelect=sch01091503.htmlCertainly an odd choice, but with the Bowen Queen occupied on Route 8 and no other vessel (or at least one they want to use) available, this is their best option with the Burnaby needing repairs. why not use the Chilliwack? I am sure she would be able to run on route 7! I'm sure they could use the Wack for this if they so wished, but I think this decision is based off the number of days and the number of crew needed. While the Chilliwack has a much more adequate vehicle capacity for replacing the Island Sky, she requires more crew to operate than the Sky all while carrying less passengers. Not to mention they'd have to pull her out of Deas, and familiarize crews. For just a week, I think Route 7 can cope with a smaller vessel. 3 years ago you might recall Route 17 had to use the NIP and Tachek while the Burnaby went down for emergency repairs.
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