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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 9, 2022 16:22:29 GMT -8
On the Queen of Cumberland last night! Thanks for this set of photos. I love this type of long-exposure photography
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 8, 2022 7:52:01 GMT -8
In Island Class news... Most vessels are now in their home regions. One of the last puzzle pieces is a swap between the K'ulut'a and Aurora. On October 17th the Aurora will leave Quathiaski Cove bound for her home port of Alert Bay. She'll overnight at the government dock before returning to service on the 18th. K'ulut'a will depart Alert Bay before the first scheduled sailing on the 18th and proceed down to the Quathiaski Cove layby berth to serve as the training vessel for Route 23 crews in November and December. Island Nagalis, in the meantime, is penciled in to remain in Buckley Bay until required for Route 23 service. Thanks for this update. I enjoyed a few days on Quadra Island recently, and so my spouse and I did a stop-by at the lay-by berth on Pidcock Road. It was good to see the Island Aurora close-up, and to work some photos with the Aurora in the foreground and the PRQ in the background. ---------------- [We stayed on the Heriot Bay side of Quadra Island, and we used our sightings of Tachek to tell us what time of day it was. When we're on vacation without schedules, the ferries still show us the regular passage of time]
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 2, 2022 17:57:40 GMT -8
Welcome. It is great to have you "Aboard" here. I know what you mean about the classic feel. In a few days I will be riding the Powell River Queen (likely for my final time on that ship) and it too has that old 1960s feel. Hey, I myself have that same vintage, although I'm not a classic, except maybe a classic ferry nerd. Cheers ! Thanks! I have seen a lot of your videos actually! I've always considered your video on the queen of nanaimo's horn to be one of the best out there! It's very clear and great quality! (Your video from Sep 14, 2016) Enjoy the Powell River Queen! I have not read up on the history of that particular vessel but I will definitely take a look! Thanks about that video comment. Much appreciated. The Powell River Queen was originally the same as both her sisters, Bowen Queen and Mayne Queen. But Powell River Queen was on the Jervis Inlet route (Earls Cove to Saltery Bay) which has more truck traffic than one lane can handle, and so the ship superstructure was modified. It's like if your mouth was part-way open, and then a dentist used an instrument to keep your mouth open wide, all the way across. (I do bad analogies)
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Post by Low Light Mike on Oct 2, 2022 17:07:28 GMT -8
Greetings! After a few months of being a guest to this forum, I have decided to finally register an account! Welcome. It is great to have you "Aboard" here. I know what you mean about the classic feel. In a few days I will be riding the Powell River Queen (likely for my final time on that ship) and it too has that old 1960s feel. Hey, I myself have that same vintage, although I'm not a classic, except maybe a classic ferry nerd. Cheers !
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 29, 2022 22:01:54 GMT -8
For Kwuna's 2013 refit down-south, she was towed from Haida Gwaii by a tug boat. I did a photo essay of ferry & tug as they went through Seymour Narrows and past Campbell River. Fun times chasing, back in the day.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 24, 2022 20:17:46 GMT -8
Thanks very much, Dane and Northwesterner. I was hoping to be able to read this. (I had been checking the Times Colonist website for the past few days)
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 20, 2022 9:00:05 GMT -8
This is from almost 17 years ago: Myself and Karl Adelman on board the Queen of the North ferry, on October 1, 2005. This was a repositioning trip between Port Hardy and Tsawwassen, after what would end up being the ship's final summer season. QotN Oct 1 2005 by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 19, 2022 21:35:45 GMT -8
Bad news in this forum's 'family'. I have just read that Karl Adelman has passed away. This from a Facebook post put up this evening by his mother. I have no information beyond that he has passed. Karl is/was a long time contributor to this forum and I for one will miss him & his contributions hear on the WCFF & on FB.
Rest in peace, Karl ...
Thanks for letting us know. This is really sad. If there was an entry for "Ferry Fan" in the dictionary, you'd find a photo of Karl there, in his blue jacket.... He sure loved the ships and being on the water.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 12, 2022 6:37:35 GMT -8
Kwigwis and Gwawis had some minor improvements done in Deas including modifications to the approaches for the gallery decks. Thanks for the vessel move information, and for the photo-essay (in the other thread). Question on the Island Class gallery decks: I haven't driven on/off those deck ramps, but my walkabout impression was that it's a tight corner for a vehicle to steer off the ramp, while avoiding the main ship bulkhead at the main car-deck ramp. 20210103_163845 Island Aurora by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr I'm assuming that it's easier than it looks, for a vehicle driver. But similar to the garage-deck hatches when the Salish Class ships were new, is there passenger hesitancy to drive up to those gallery decks? Just curious. New things are often confusing for users.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 12, 2022 6:29:28 GMT -8
Regarding the Queen of Burnaby, and the disposition of the ship:
Apparently the 'Burnaby will be towed south to Mexico, presumably for ship-breaking.
Apparently it will be a Seaspan tug that does this tow, and all was being readied when the Seaspan strike postponed things.
- I was told this by an acquaintance recently, who heard it from someone acquainted with the tug boat operators. So take this as you will, for whatever it's worth.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 8, 2022 5:59:54 GMT -8
It looks like the community wants to rename the Kuper to Ken Thomas, there could be possibly of sixth vessels being renamed in BC Ferries history. Found HereJust so that no one is mislead by this post, the FAC meeting mentions an interest in renaming the ship. "Ken Thomas" was mentioned in the FAC minutes as a person speaking at that meeting, not as a possible K-Name for the K-Ship.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 5, 2022 8:53:17 GMT -8
The Hillcrest Shay #1 steam locomotive is currently nearing completion of a multi-year rebuild project. For the occasion of Labour Day weekend (September 3-5, 2022), the Shay was dressed-up and placed outside for people to get a close look at the 28-ton historic logging locomotive. The first part of the video shows the Shay locomotive being pushed back into the shed at the end of the Saturday event. Observing the Shay moving-parts in motion was amazing. The second half of the video shows various scenes earlier during the Saturday morning. I wanted to show the care and attention by the members of the rebuild team, and then to also show the fun that the various visitors were having. It was great to hear the bell ringing and to hear the steam whistle. This was seen by me on Saturday September 3, 2022 at the BC Forest Discovery Centre, in North Cowichan, on Vancouver Island. All photographs shown in this video are mine, from that day. More Information Here
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Post by Low Light Mike on Sept 1, 2022 10:49:25 GMT -8
On August 1-3, I took the largest-scale ferry trip I've been on since 2017, a three-day excursion into BCFerries Land to ride the Powell River Queen one final time, amongst other things. It was an intense seventy-two hours of ferry-riding; the itinerary was organized chaos, and if a ferry possibly could be shoehorned in, it was. Overall, it was a fun time. I'll post the story in bits and pieces here over the coming days/weeks. Thanks very much for this. It was very enjoyable to read and to follow-along vicariously. PS: Oxford Comma appreciation
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 25, 2022 15:31:54 GMT -8
Half of the Nanny is already broken down. See at 05:13 in this video She looks a bit like Queen of the Islands, now.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 19, 2022 12:25:50 GMT -8
I'm trying to recall the year Quinsam replaced Quinitsa on the Gabriola run - I'm thinking 1982 (and Quinitsa replaced Klitsa on the same route in 1977, if I remember correctly). Yes, those are the years when each ship went into service, and they each first served on the Gabriola Island route.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Aug 1, 2022 19:55:19 GMT -8
On July 30/31, 2022, I did an all-night photography trip, mainly in the Buttle Lake area of Strathcona Provincial Park on Vancouver Island. On my way back home towards Nanaimo, I found myself near Comox at dawn. So I decided to stop at Little River ferry terminal to make some photographs of the Salish Orca ferry. I did photos there from 4:46am to 5:21am. The first sailing would leave at 6:15am, but I was on my way home by then. Here is how the ferry looked to me: DSC02208 - Salish Orca ferry by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr DSC02227 - Salish Orca ferry by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr DSC02215 - Salish Orca ferry by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr DSC02205 - Salish Orca ferry by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr My favourite one of the set: DSC02199 - Salish Orca ferry by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr DSC02257 - Salish Orca ferry by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr DSC02249 - Salish Orca ferry by Mike Bonkowski, on Flickr
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 30, 2022 8:31:54 GMT -8
...or a cable ferry could be used.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 22, 2022 9:52:47 GMT -8
Does anyone recognize the name of the person who is BC Ferry Services Board chairman? The BC government is most definitely back 'at the wheel'. Oh yes, indeed. Here's the news release for the recently-appointed new board chair. Link Here
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 22, 2022 9:08:50 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 22, 2022 8:52:20 GMT -8
...and the torch passes again, this time on an interim basis to Jill Sharland. But the real story is the "effective immediately" forced departure of CEO Mark Collins on July 22, 2022. CBC News Story hereThere's no official news release on the BCF website, yet. I will update when it's posted.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 22, 2022 8:36:22 GMT -8
Here's a news story of a fire today onboard the MV Holiday Island, forcing an emergency evacuation of the ship. News Story Here
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 13, 2022 13:22:10 GMT -8
BC Ferries' Kahloke approaches Shingle Spit terminal, Hornby Island, with Denman Island in background. On my trips over & back, the car deck was full. This was mid week, early June, not exactly beach weather. Do they run this vessel in a 'shuttle mode' to squeeze in extra trips when it gets busy, or is that just a thing with the BSC? The Kahloke will shuttle on the Hornby route, during busy times. On another matter for this route, Lambert Channel is a wind-tunnel, and the ship often sails a storm-course to prevent excessive "Rocking and Rolling."
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 2, 2022 6:07:39 GMT -8
THU 2022-06-02 0351PDT She's back at her "aiming" spot again off the shores of Alang. Big thanks FNS for keeping us updated on her location. I appreciate you and your work.
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 16, 2022 18:10:02 GMT -8
Kennicott at Campbell River, May 6 2022 (slightly blurry)
Nice photo. This time of year is the good time for us "South Coasters" to get good photos of the Alaska ships.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 27, 2022 18:11:39 GMT -8
Is this a good time to ask forum member Neil if there are ferries in North Macedonia? (I waited until after the Canada - Jamaica match, to ask this).
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