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Post by Scott on Aug 4, 2009 17:49:22 GMT -8
Are there any salt-water cable ferries anywhere else in the world?
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Post by Scott on Aug 1, 2009 20:59:29 GMT -8
Terrace Mountain fire in the Okanagan seems to have exploded this evening. They had it 90% contained, but now it seems out of control. www.kelowna.com/
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Post by Scott on Aug 1, 2009 16:50:01 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Jul 31, 2009 22:09:34 GMT -8
I took a few trips on Wednesday night. Talked with another photographer and one of the deckhands. Enjoyed the sunset. A tugboat was coming up the river so the captain took a long way around it. Trip ended up being at least 15 minutes. Noticed a lot of interaction between the crew and regular passengers (mostly in cars). It really is the end of an era and the end of relationships between people and two communities. Yes, the Golden Ears Bridge has replaced the ferry but it's a 6 lane highway between downtown Maple Ridge and downtown Langley. Albion and Fort Langley will likely feel the impact of no ferry.
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Post by Scott on Jul 30, 2009 16:06:48 GMT -8
Wow, that PacifiCat webpage is still up eh?
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Post by Scott on Jul 29, 2009 16:37:37 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Jul 29, 2009 16:01:52 GMT -8
Wouldn't it be nice to head down to SanFrancisco or Los Angeles this week to cool off? Only mid-20's there;) Even Mexico City is only at 26C.
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Post by Scott on Jul 29, 2009 6:37:44 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Jul 28, 2009 21:36:21 GMT -8
The figure is around $1m, which includes pension and other attachments. It is a bit much in my mind. The contract is approved by the Board of Directors in an in-camera session. Personnel matters of this sort are rarely exhibited in public. His position is not the same as owning a Timmie's in Rutherford Mall. But the report will be made public. My guess is that the Ministry of Finance will audit the serviceables of each and then propose changes. Very doubtful that BC Ferries would be stripped of its semi-independent stature and returned as a Crown Corporation as it was in the past. Patience. Wow, he's worth more than an Albion ferry! Maybe he bought one to convert into his own personal northern yacht;) Interesting that government would do this. There's been stories in the news recently of rumored cuts to health care services to save money. Wouldn't be surprised to see this "review" become an excuse to cut costs at Translink and BC Ferries.
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Post by Scott on Jul 28, 2009 21:33:01 GMT -8
Where would two K-barges be needed up north? I could see one on the airport route, but wouldn't just one be an improvement in service, let alone two?
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Post by Scott on Jul 28, 2009 21:28:23 GMT -8
The Fastcats if they're turned into yachts will have the jet drives gutted and thrown in the bin as there are most likely better propulsion units out there, as wil the electronics (which date from the mid 1990's), lifesaving gear and I would guess alot of the insides would go too. The engines would be thrown in the garbage as they are older MTU models and a yacht would want engines with far more fuel efficient power. Pimp My Fastcats. The Washington Group? Of course they were cheering. They obviously made money on the sale Yeah, they did a good job advertising the ferries to a place where they have more money than they know what to do with. The luxury yacht idea seems to make more sense than using them as ferries. They'd probably want to replace the bow doors as well.
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Post by Scott on Jul 28, 2009 18:15:48 GMT -8
Nice. Can't wait to see the details. If they sold for a lot more than 20 million, it might make the Liberal government look bad. And they must be planning to use them, not scrap them, or else I doubt they'd be transporting them by heavy lift ships. Very interesting.
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Post by Scott on Jul 28, 2009 17:04:59 GMT -8
How often do you sift through your collection, just to enjoy it or to research something?Probably a couple of times a month. EGFleet and I get into a time line or structural-point debate about that often, and we both scurry to the binders to hash it out. (He usually wins. ;D ) I'd like to hear one of those debates;) What are the pros and cons of each way of organizing things?
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Post by Scott on Jul 28, 2009 16:55:15 GMT -8
Coastal Ferry Services Contract lists the following "unregulated routes" that are contracted out by BC Ferries:
Dodge Cove - Prince Rupert Lasqueti Island - French Creek (Centurion VII) Kyuquot - Tahsis - Gold River (Uchuck III) Bamfield - Barkley Sound - Port Alberni (Lady Rose / Frances Barkley) Ahousat - Hot Springs Cove - Tofino Alert Bay - Sointula - Port McNeill (is this an additional passenger service?) Prince Rupert - Tuck Inlet Hartley Bay - Prince Rupert
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Post by Scott on Jul 26, 2009 21:17:01 GMT -8
Nice shot of the Alberni. We all like nice close up photos of the ferries, but the ones I like best are when the ferries are shown in the beautiful setting of the coast (our header is another fine example).
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Post by Scott on Jul 26, 2009 20:51:06 GMT -8
Kam, I checked your Flickr account shots, and the other photos are great too! I especially like the one of the Celebration of Light taken from Nanaimo (maybe you could post it in here if you get a moment) - that's awesome, I didn't know they could be seen that well from that far away. Late edit... found the photo Kam took in another thread so I'll post it here: Celebration Of Light with Queen of Alberni in foreground taken from my deck in Departure Bay
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Post by Scott on Jul 26, 2009 16:06:16 GMT -8
I'm sure there are some good technical ways of getting lightning shots. I put it on "no-flash" mode, put it on a solid, flat surface, and held the button down;) It kept taking photos.. probably exposed for 3-4 seconds at a time. Thank goodness for digital photography... I took about 60 or 70 but only about 20 or 30 had lightning in them;)
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Post by Scott on Jul 26, 2009 13:42:21 GMT -8
Here was the view last night from Capitol Hill in Burnaby.
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Post by Scott on Jul 25, 2009 19:29:52 GMT -8
The current weather from the Weather Network for Vancouver is "Light Thunderstorm". Here in Burnaby it's pretty intense... never really seen anything like it except in Ontario.
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Post by Scott on Jul 23, 2009 17:48:58 GMT -8
www.cknw.com/Channels/Reg/NewsLocal/Story.aspx?ID=1118444A whale watching boat has sunk off Mayne Island today. The Explorathor, operated by Vancouver Whale Watch, based in Steveston, was carrying 32 passengers at the time of the sinking. All were rescued by a nearby whale boat operated by the same company. Apparently it hit a submerged log. The CKNW news article (linked above) has some good photographs of the sinking. Looking at the Current Conditions on the BC Ferries website, it appears that no ferries were involved in the rescue.
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Post by Scott on Jul 19, 2009 13:15:51 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Jul 18, 2009 20:13:16 GMT -8
A good source of information from Kelowna including live radio coverage: www.am1150.ca/
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Post by Scott on Jul 18, 2009 18:52:03 GMT -8
Looks bad - I read on one report that there were embers landing on the other side of the lake. I know a lot of people who live in that neighbourhood.
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Post by Scott on Jul 18, 2009 17:45:20 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Jul 18, 2009 12:45:20 GMT -8
How old where you when you got started safekeeping and "collecting" your things? Did you have any archivist tendencies before you became interested in ships? I can't really remember. I've got some old things from when I was a kid, but never started putting a collection together until I was in my mid-teens. It probably took over as I began losing interest in hockey cards;)
Did you store things haphazard at first? How soon until you set up your current method of storing and safe-keeping? Or are you still keeping things all-over-the-place? Yes, at the beginning, things were haphazard. Posters were taped on the wall without any consideration of keeping them in good condition, etc. Now things are still all-over-the-place, but with a bit more attention paid to preserving them.
How do you keep you keep-sakes safe? (if a keep-sake could keep safe ) So far my little girls haven't shown too much interest in them;) The postcards and schedules are in binders.
What are some of the most valued item in your collection; the things you enjoy keeping the most? I don't think I have one single thing worth very much in terms of dollars. I like the books most... good reading and reference. Also every schedule going back to the mid-1990s and numerous ones going back to near the beginning.
What are the things in your collection that have the most "ability to make ferry-nerds gasp" value? I don't have any real gasp-worthy things, I don't think. Maybe a few rare postcards, not sure. Should show some of you guys someday and see if it's anything special.
What are the things that you once had, but now have lost or thrown-out, that you sure wish you still had? An old ferry hat is gone I think. Some of my old posters are pretty much garbage now.
How long do you think you will keep your collection? Like the other guys, I guess I'll keep it as long as I can. Then pass it on to a museum or to someone else who appreciates it for what it is.
Is your collection still growing? Yes, but not as fast as it used to. About as fast as BC Ferries publishes new schedules/pamphlets/postcards:)
What were the years in your life when you added the most items to your collection? ie. when was the most growth, and why? I can't really pin a year where I added more than usual. Slow and steady to the present:)
How do you show-and-tell your collection with others? Who, besides forum ferry nerds, have shown interest (not pity-motivated "courtesy interest)) to your collection? I've only shown a few people and that's just whatever is in the binders.
How often do you sift through your collection, just to enjoy it or to research something? A few times a year I'll try to organize it better and sometimes I'll look something up for reference.
How frustrating is it trying to find something that you think you have (or know you have), but can't find it easily? Happens all the time - so I'm used to it;)
Any other thoughts about your style of collecting? I'd be interested in the advice of any of you guys who are more skilled in archiving things.
Any advice for new collectors of ferry-related items? Free ferry schedules will be worth a few bucks in 20 years;)
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