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Post by Curtis on Apr 14, 2011 20:40:30 GMT -8
I think the biggest loss here is the Bench Seating and Tables. I find that way better if you're socializing with friends. This is one thing about Coastalized Interiors I dislike, they drift away from that Social Feel to something more Uniform and Business-Like.
Back to the subject at hand, it would be nice if they decided to install the nice reclined seating in the saddle lounges to make up for that awful metal seating. Would give people a place to relax in a quiet out of the way area.
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Post by Curtis on Apr 12, 2011 19:41:26 GMT -8
- reduced level of service on route 1 during the January to March period of this year where both Spirits were pulled (one for refit, the other idle) while a Coastal and an 'old V class' substitute. The old BC ferries would have never pulled both Spirits simultaneously. I think this is a sign of the times. Next year, we're likely going to see 2 Coastals and One Spirit Idle. It's likely the only time you'll see 2 Spirits next Off-Season is at Peak Times - The Coastals carry just ten more vehicles than the C class vessels, yet they are 60% heavier, have twice the horsepower, and are less fuel efficient. Are these really better vessels than the old ones? Have we actually proved that the vehicle capacity of the Coastals and 'C's are this close? If you take into account the 'C's have Gallery Decks whereas the Coastals do not, the gap would increase quite a bit. Really though, you have to remember the Coastals were brought in to replace the 'V's and in a way they were more-so built for Route 1. Yes, they are less efficient than the 'V's or the 'C's but the reason for this might be to save the cost of running the Spirits. Hence the reason for what I said above.
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Post by Curtis on Apr 1, 2011 21:09:59 GMT -8
I believe they are trying to model it off the Spirits. (Hence the Name) Of course on a much smaller cartoon style scale. farm1.static.flickr.com/104/301711059_989884fd90.jpg?v=0Here's another photo of the Float. Unfortunately it caught fire at Tsawwassen few years ago so don't expect to see it soon.
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Post by Curtis on Mar 31, 2011 21:13:53 GMT -8
I'll be there for the afternoon once she arrives in Westview. Though, I have to transfer from the Queen of Burn- er, I mean Queen of Richmond first.
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Post by Curtis on Mar 22, 2011 22:59:56 GMT -8
I'd say this is the best place to put this. After 5 Years (and a few revisions here and there) I thought I'd pull out a poem I made in school back in Spring 2006 and revise it one more time. The result, I am very pleased with as I hope you all will be. The Sinking of the Queen of the North Sailing the channel, she gives it her all, Invisible between the mountains tall, With a name shining through like glass, On a bell made of beautiful brass. She sailed head-on and into the night, Until all to be seen was interior’s light, Entering a sound she’d silently cruise. Her course unchanged, what was to lose? The ship sailed on to starboard right, As a nearby island came closer in sight, Then striking land, with a painful screech, Ripping like paper, the hull was breached. A mayday relay was soon called down, Inspiring a rescue by a small fishing town, Whom aided the passengers, and to crew, Who thought all escaped, but missing were two. The ship now joins a centuries-old fleet, Sunk to the depths at one-thousand feet, The company left to mourn, but also go forth, and celebrate the life of the Queen of the North. RIP to Our Fallen Flagship - 1969-2006.
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Post by Curtis on Mar 21, 2011 10:39:29 GMT -8
I Wish a Great Day of Birth to Mr. JST, Jim Thorne!
As for anybody else I haven't acknowledged, Belated Cheers to you all!
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Post by Curtis on Mar 19, 2011 15:57:50 GMT -8
A photo taken last month at Westview Terminal. The construction they've been doing on the Westview Wharf is starting to take form and the Spirt Square stage is being constructed. Once done local bands and other events will take place there. Also looks like nobody will have to pull a Graham anymore when this job is done.
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Post by Curtis on Mar 15, 2011 18:53:26 GMT -8
Best Wishes to you, Dave. It's always heart-breaking to lose a loved one, be strong and you'll get through this.
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Post by Curtis on Mar 2, 2011 15:22:13 GMT -8
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Post by Curtis on Feb 28, 2011 21:35:16 GMT -8
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Post by Curtis on Feb 19, 2011 20:08:09 GMT -8
I like this shot, it really captures the essence of what our intermediate sized vessels are like today.
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Post by Curtis on Feb 16, 2011 22:54:34 GMT -8
I heard a rumour the other day that BCFS is holding back the hiring process right now because of a dispute over whether the Chief Steward Position is a Union Job (apparently it isn't) until that is resolved they aren't hiring anyone. If it's true, that sure isn't helping my chances of getting employed.
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Post by Curtis on Feb 11, 2011 7:27:41 GMT -8
This month is kind of a filler as far as my sig goes. (QoB @ Little River) My avatar however celebrates one year since the Olympics began. (Olympic Countdown Clock)
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Post by Curtis on Feb 8, 2011 21:12:23 GMT -8
I'll tip my hat into this with some more Coho. Approaching Blackball Terminal @ Inner Harbour, Victoria, July 2008.
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Post by Curtis on Feb 8, 2011 11:20:30 GMT -8
We haven't heard or discussed anything about this in the last 2 months... so at this point I think it's safe to say no.
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Post by Curtis on Feb 7, 2011 1:01:59 GMT -8
I see how in some ways this is an effective idea, but at the same time it's a bit unfeasible.
I don't see Route 2 being eliminated because of this, maybe it would divert some traffic though. I also don't see the need for a Terminal at YVR when Tsawwassen is not far away.
I see the Pros: -Eliminate Route 19 as a vehicle route. (Passenger-Only route similar to Newcastle/Protection could open) -Cut the crossing time of Route 30 in half (It makes more sense to run through Tsawwassen) -Make the Mid-Island Route more Cost Effective -New route for laid off Route 19 Employees -Less need for a third Route 30 vessel since the route is shorter -Possible to extend highway from the Valdes Terminal to Galiano Island
But also Cons: -Valdes Island is too Remote -Cost of Bridges, Highways, Terminals, Etc. -More Distance to Travel to get to terminal (potential loss of Route 30 customers) -Lays off Route 30 Employees or adds extra travel time for them. -Shuts down Duke Point as a Major Terminal (Only 15 years after being built) -Elimination of Route 19 (Which also eliminates a prime ferry spotting site for us)
There's plenty of reason to do it, but it's also a big gamble. If somebody proposed it now, I have no doubt it would lead nowhere.
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Post by Curtis on Jan 21, 2011 17:52:38 GMT -8
That is just brilliant! I am so jealous of this guy. I wonder if he's still in possession of it?
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Post by Curtis on Jan 21, 2011 1:36:28 GMT -8
- June 2008's minutes mention a business opportunity for BCFS in Dubai. BCFS people were taking a trip to Dubai in June 2008 for this. Wasn't BC Ferries thinking of expanding the company at one point for whatever reason outside not just BC but Canada? I seem to recall an announcement sometime in the last 5 years about a department of BC Ferries for international operations that never came to fruition. Though I think this if it isn't just in my head was long past by then. Perhaps they were going to look at a vessel like that Norwegian vessel they were looking at a month and a half ago.
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Post by Curtis on Jan 19, 2011 1:24:50 GMT -8
My Frequent Ferry putting my location into account is the Queen of Burnaby. The NIP is a close 2nd in this category, however most of my trips on Route 18 are mostly Non-Formal round trips taken for fun. Trips on the Burnaby however are more formal as I often travel with my parents on a day or multi-day trip, she has been my Frequent Ferry since about the time she returned to BC Ferries 10 years ago and was placed on Route 17. Before this, my frequent was the tandem of the Tsawwassen & Chilliwack on Route 7 plus the Surrey on Route 3. Most of the time we would be visiting relatives in the Lower Mainland. They moved around the same time the Burnaby came back. Since we didn't have much reason for going to Vancouver at the time, day trips to Courtenay or Nanaimo were the way to get out of town and Hence the Burnaby became my Frequent Ferry.
In the last few years, the Burnaby's luster has slowly depleted in my eyes. It could be a number of things... Length of Voyage, Her Somewhat-Coastalized Interior, photographing the ship plenty of times before, I could go on. So what would I change?
-One thing they could do is bring back the arcade machines since she lost them after her 2007 upgrade to make way for the kids area. Could waste a few minutes looking at them and sitting in the chair for the racing arcade game.
-More food options would be nice, I wish we could have the White Spot Menu up here or perhaps they could have a Sitka Coffee Bar Style operation in the Forward Lounge
-Wi-Fi, or a TV Lounge would be a great addition, why not? These features would be great time killers
-And, I don't know, PAINT Her.
Now that I think about it, most of these answers would apply if my Frequent Ferry was the Island Sky.
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Post by Curtis on Jan 15, 2011 12:46:24 GMT -8
Here's a pic of a copy of "The Wave" from 2006. Okay, back to the QotI now.
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Post by Curtis on Jan 15, 2011 12:45:36 GMT -8
Image of the Kuper on the Cover of "The Wave"
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Post by Curtis on Jan 7, 2011 17:46:33 GMT -8
It just crossed my mind that I haven't don this in quite awhile. So here are the Avatars... The SoVI's Funnel, The Mill Bay's Funnel, and the SoBC pointing towards the exit to Active Pass. and here are the Sigs... Queen of Nanaimo with the SoBC in the Background. Village Bay, Mayne Island. WCF Voyagers on the Bluffs, Galiano Island. Photographing the C-Cel down below in Active Pass. Queen of Oak Bay Departing Departure Bay, Nanaimo. Brentwood Bay as Viewed from the Deck of the Mill Bay in Dock. and Finally, the SoBC Exiting Active Pass taken from the Cemetery, Galiano Island.
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Post by Curtis on Dec 31, 2010 13:41:26 GMT -8
1. Number of Trips: I'm gonna take a wild guess that I did approximately 40 single trips.
2. Best Trip: Probably the Voyager's Remembrance Day Trip. Definitely a day I won't soon forget. Coming a close 2nd was another voyager trip in October which was the first time I set foot on Galiano Island.
3. Weirdest Moment: Probably goes back to the CirclePac Trip in September. This didn't happen on a ferry but it was during the trip... Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip-Yip. Uh-Huh, Uh-Huh!
4. Biggest Surprise: The FOI Request on Vessel Replacement and what would replace them. (Made me realize that our Venerable Vessels aren't long for this World)
5. Most Followed News: Seeing updates on the Chetzemoka.
6. Least Favorite Moment: Probably when the Burnaby wouldn't sail last week in the days before Christmas because of rough weather. (Which was probably because of the "Slow Boat to Little River Incident" on the Chilliwack a few weeks before)
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Post by Curtis on Dec 28, 2010 15:28:28 GMT -8
I finally got around to uploading Part 3 of my 4 Ferry Tours in a day. Here she is... the Cumberland.
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Post by Curtis on Dec 28, 2010 15:28:12 GMT -8
The Bowen Queen's Whistle Departing Swartz Bay...
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