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Post by Low Light Mike on Jan 7, 2007 20:59:04 GMT -8
Right, Skeeter is at Camp Caillet, by Brannen Lake. I always mess that one up.
ooops. ;D
So, what's your ferry interest?
What do you like riding, and what has piqued your interest here?
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Post by Balfour on Jan 8, 2007 10:08:06 GMT -8
Mardi Gras is organized by my old group, the 15th Maquinna Rovers or the 15th Capilano.
I'm no longer involved in the scouting movement because I'm too busy with a full-time job as a Ski Instructor on Grouse.
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Post by Coastal Drought on Jan 11, 2007 23:05:04 GMT -8
Sorry I haven't responded in a while. I have not been feeling 100% lately. I spent most of this week resting (and working!!!!! lol) in order to feel better. (I got sick the day after I got back home from my family's annual (albeit last season due to a lack of snow at the start) Christmas ski trip up at Mount Washington). Since I don't really have a favourite ferry, I will pick one out of the blue. The one that I am picking out of the blue will be the Spirit of Vancouver Island and BC. (Due to the Pacific Buffet on both vessels). Gee, what has piqued my interest (sorry about the exaggeration at the very beginning) is the very interesting conversations and (sometimes) arguments.
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D'Elete BC in NJ
Voyager
Dispensing gallons of useless information daily...
Posts: 1,671
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Jan 12, 2007 7:58:13 GMT -8
Well, I've been reading the forum for awhile now, so it made sense to join in on the conversation. My name is Jon, and while I have defected to the US I grew up between the Fraser Valley (mom) and Texada (dad), so ferries were an integral part of my life for many years, and still are when I am home. Since I am all the way over here, I am hoping to follow the history of the many east coast ferries to add a another flavour to the discussions on the board. That said, greetings to all. Jon
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Post by Curtis on Jan 12, 2007 8:04:54 GMT -8
Welcome Aboard, Jon Enjoy This Forum and Return Often.
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Post by Coastal Drought on Jan 13, 2007 21:28:11 GMT -8
Come to think of it, there is a scouting camp that I will try to get to this year because I work now since November of last year. (Darn work! LOL) The scouting camp is actually next month up located up at Manning Park. I will most likely have to take the Queen of Saanich (with many thanks to BC Ferries (NOT! LOL) for taking the Spirit of Vancouver Island out of service for annual refit) to get to Manning Park. Before I forget, the name of this annual winter camp is called Rovent. So don't be surprised to see me gone when the time comes. (I'll announce the dates when the event gets closer).
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 4, 2007 23:00:45 GMT -8
Thanks for joining up, and introducing yourself.
It's always good to know how far-reaching this forum can be, to various interests in this topic.
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Post by royalroadscaptain on Feb 10, 2007 19:18:10 GMT -8
Hi everyone, I just signed up and I thought I'd introduce myself.
I am a prof. of communication and culture at Royal Roads University in Victoria. I've been interested in the ferries and marine transportation in general ever since I moved here from Eastern Washington. Lately I've begun to study the ferries as part of my job by talking with people all over coastal BC. I have spent a good deal of time doing so on Protection Island, Gabriola Island, and Salt Spring Island. Soon I'll be hading up to Prince Rupert and to the Queen Charlottes. Within the next few years I want to travel on every route, and talk ferries with as many people as possible on every coastal community.
I like to learn about technology and culture by listening to people's stories, having part in conversations, looking at photographs, etc. I've written a few articles that have appeared, or are about to, in academic journals (and I'm currently writing a book). They have dealt with issues like the relationship between ferry transportation and collective sense of time ("island time"), technology and everyday life, sense of space and place, and more.
I look forward to taking part in this forum.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 10, 2007 19:44:04 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Feb 10, 2007 23:04:02 GMT -8
Welcome, professor. I look forward to hearing from you and reading your articles (please let us know "when and where" to find them). I like considering ferries, not just from a transportation, technological, or economic point of view, but from the perspective of how they affect communities socially and shape people's day-to-day lives.
We're a diverse bunch on this forum, so you'll find everything from chit-chat to full-blown intelligent debate.
BTW - Royal Roads University is one of my favorite places to visit in Victoria. Hatley Castle and the gardens overlooking the sea there is just beautiful almost any time of year.
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Post by royalroadscaptain on Feb 11, 2007 19:06:47 GMT -8
Thank you Flugel Horn, thank you John. This is a very friendly hangout And thank you so much for the reference. That site is now in my favorite list! I'd love to share with you what I've written. Hey, as a matter of fact soon enough I might be looking for ideas and stories! In the meantime, if you'd like to read what I've got feel free to send me an email at phillip.vannini@royalroads.ca and I'll send you the two pieces. I'm sure the copyright demigods won't mind if I copy and paste a a teaser for you kind folks here. This is an excerpt from the Protection Island paper: ....We’re taking pictures today. It’s hard to pass for a local, as much as we would like to. To top it off, we’re standing right by the mailboxes with no seeming intention of looking for mail. “Hello”—greets us an older man carrying a handful of bills and junk mail, smiling as he subtly limps towards us. “Good morning”—we reply, almost in unison. “Hi there little one, what’s your name?”—he asks Autumn, slowly bending down on his knees, slightly above her eye level. “Ha”—she knowingly replies, as just as knowingly I glance at April, wordlessly communicating a sense of achievement. As company to an “open person” (Goffman, 1963) we have become well aware of how our baby is turning out to be an ethnographer’s dream: no potential informant will walk by without acknowledging her bubbly presence. In the city we mostly get hurried smiles. Here, people stop. “Say: my name is Autumn”—I suggest to her, without much success; she seems by far more keen on collecting maple leafs in the middle of the road than chewing fat with strangers. April and I aren’t, though. “Good day for a walk, eh?”—April says to the man. “Lovely day indeed. Nothing like walking on the island on a morning like this.” “Do you do a lot of walking these days?”—I inquire, eager to initiate yet another conversation. “That’s why I moved here fifteen years ago!—rebuts the man, adding: “I used to live on Gabriola Island. You can actually kind of see my old house from here if you step a bit this way.” “I love Gabriola!”—exclaims April. “Well, I used to love it too”—the man says—“but there are roads everywhere there. And they’ve kept building more and more over the years. The ferry lets out a good pair of dozens of car every hour, and you just can’t walk in the middle of the road like you can here.” “I bet your old property value has at least quadrupled since you’ve moved”—I suggest. “If not more than that”—the man continues—“So many people have moved to Gabriola. People come to Protection all the time hunting for a house too. You see a lot of Americans who sail up from the coast during the summer. They anchor their boat in the harbour, paddle to the pub, and fall in love with the idea of living on a small island and wanna move here. So they go to town and call a realtor. They come back with the poor guy. They get off the ferry, and right away he buys them a beer at the pub and tells them what a fairy tale land this is. Then they follow the steps up the hill for the first time, walk here to the circle, and they realize that our roads aren’t paved, that we really do get around in golf carts, bicycles, and by foot. And all of a sudden it dawns on them! They stare at the circle and go: ‘Oh, look at that, there really are no cars! I’ll be damned!’” April and I giggle in agreement, the old man smiles and continues: “And right there and then you can see the realtor going: ‘oh poopoo, here we go again.’ Because he knows what they’re gonna ask next” “How do you bring your stuff home?—I jump in. “You got it. That one, and: ‘what do you do with your trash?’ It’s unbelievable. It’s almost like after taking a passenger-only ferry, and after not having seen a bridge, they still expect that somewhere, somehow, there are cars, cabs, friendly chaffeurs, and delivery trucks. Like it’s some Disneyland for wanna-be, part-time tree huggers, like we planted these trees here to make it look pretty, or like we pretend to have nothing but a foot-passenger ferry while actually we have a big ferry terminal for deliveries and quick access way in the back!”
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Post by Scott on Feb 11, 2007 23:38:24 GMT -8
That's good! I'll send you an email! I know what you mean when you talk about having a little girl along:) My daughter is 19 months and very popular with complete strangers! I've never been to Protection Island, but I'd like to go. I don't know if you found this out during your trip, but the ferries are old lifeboats off the Queen of the North - modified of course.
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Post by rhmark on Mar 18, 2007 21:34:31 GMT -8
New member - found the forum on the web. Have been riding ferries to our family's cabin on Mayne Island since I was born (which, for those interested, was in 1973). Have an affinity for the Queen of Sidney - was the first ferry on which I rode, was the ferry that took me from Mayne to the Salt Spring hospital with an injury and is the ferry on which I shared some great times with my grandfather. Now its the Queen of Nanaimo, for which I am growing a similar affinity. Have ridden most if not all of the ferries plying the southern Gulf Islands/Swartz Bay, those running through Howe Sound, up the Sunshine Coast and those running between Horseshoe Bay and Nanaimo. Never had the opportunity to ride the PacifiCats - likely in part a protest on my part to premise for their construction. I plan on riding aboard this year's inaugural Anacortes/Sidney run on April 1st. Feel free to visit some of my pictures (in early days) from the Northern Adventure at www.mawhinney.ca and email me anytime at mark@mawhinney.ca. Best wishes, rhmark.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 18, 2007 21:41:56 GMT -8
Welcome Aboard, Right-Honourable Mark.
It will be good to get your Mayne Island stories and perspectives re the ferry topics. You can also expect some vacation-advice requests from me, re the Gulf Islands.
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Post by rhmark on Mar 19, 2007 18:21:49 GMT -8
Not quite Right Honourable, but appreciate the reference! Ask away re Mayne. Heading over on Friday and look forward to the trip aboard Queen of Nanaimo. It's alwasy terrific to leave the busy city and relax watching the sunset as I cross the Georgia Strait!
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Post by Retrovision on Mar 19, 2007 19:16:04 GMT -8
Welcome, Mark. I think that also a few of us will be interested in your opinion about the new trial schedule for the Queen of Nanaimo on Fridays.
Cheers, Graham
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Post by Balfour on Mar 19, 2007 20:15:00 GMT -8
It's always terrific to leave the busy city and relax watching the sunset as I cross the Georgia Strait! I can totally relate to that and that's really the reason why I like riding ferries. Watching all the scenery go by on a warm summer evening with that warm summer wind is something that I always look forward to when traveling on a ferry. Welcome aboard!
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Post by rhmark on Mar 21, 2007 19:12:22 GMT -8
Tell me about the new trial schedule. I just took a look and to my dismay the QoN will, as of April 1, leave Tsawwassen at 4:10pm. If this is the case I'm not sure that I like it. It means having to be out of downtown Vancouver by 2:30pm (at the absolute latest) in order to have enough bandwidth to get to the terminal in time for one's reservation. Not realistic for us working stiffs. 6:30pm is definitely better (it may mean that I'll have to go over Thursday nights, which is okay too!)
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Post by zudnic on Jun 4, 2007 18:18:38 GMT -8
Did another intro post elsewhere. Short version have relatives working with BC Ferries. So get some special treatment. Like going to the Bridge, not lining up for the Buffet, heck I've even had free trips, and at times if I drive on my car is first to get off....
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Post by Mike C on Jun 6, 2007 20:56:10 GMT -8
Welcome Aboard, Zudnic! Don't take those privileges for granted though. Some of this have to stand in line for the Buffet, pay for our trips, last on the ferry, and get declined when we ask to visit the bridge. That's what it's like to be just 'another customer' Welcome Aboard.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Jun 9, 2007 11:52:56 GMT -8
O.k....
Finally gonna try and get it right:
Still just a new member, at least to this club... I've been around the bcferries yahoo group for years, but mostly only a closet member... didn't know this board existed
Kinda upset since I think I missed out on some good trips that you guys went on...
Most recent ferry trip was a trip to Victoria on May 9th, with some decent pictures of the SOVI... the Queens of Saanich and Vancouver, moored at TSA and Swarts Bay, as well as some of the Gulf Islands runners.
I'll try and post some photos later, once I get to this place familiarized, and get a photo-site setup somewhere... it was an incredible bright and beautiful day.
Other than that... Just wanted to introduce myself properly... I read the post on people who weren't giving proper intros, and I already hit the wrong thread once, so I hope I got the right one now...
Other than that... favorite ferries:
Of all time: The Susy Q. (I've even talked with someone who actually used to crew her.)
Second favorite: The Tsawwassen and Sidney twins... I feel really bad for the Sidney.
After that: I always considered the old Langdale Queen to be particularly beautiful... her final name "Lady Grace" was particularly fitting for such a distinguished ship.
Some minor favorites... I really feel akin to the Mill Bay... and the Tenaka looks so unique and classy, just like the old coastal steamships... after that I'd go for the Tachek, Quadra Queen II, NIP, the Nimpkish and its siblings, the Powell River class then all the K class...
The V-class are also on my list of ferries that I still need to see as well.
I put all the rest after, since I've ridden the C-class and Spirits more than any of the others and I want to get to do some more interesting and smaller vessels.
So there you have it, and I hope my spelling is good.
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Post by Balfour on Jun 9, 2007 12:18:37 GMT -8
Great to have you with us, Mill Bay!
I'm a member of the Yahoo Group too, but also a closet member. I've seen a lot of Yahoo Members sign up here because of the very little posting over there, and the recent spam. I think you will find this place a great place for all kinds of ferry discussion from the politics of it all to the enjoyment of riding a ferry on a summer evening.
Oh and Beware of Flugel Horn, he also mods this place, and is the King of Sarcasm.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 9, 2007 13:03:33 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 9, 2007 13:10:23 GMT -8
Hey, with your use of the "...." to separate your thoughts, I feel like we are Brothers, man. ;D
Good to have you on this forum.
ps: Didn't I see you at the Semicolon-Symposium in London last year?
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Mirrlees
Voyager
Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
Posts: 1,013
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Post by Mirrlees on Jun 11, 2007 20:40:55 GMT -8
Hello everyone, I've been reading this board almost every day since the QoTN sinking. I guess you could say that i have been a life-long ferry nerd. My favorites are: Sidney,Spirit and YES Dane, the V-class! I am a self-employed landscaper/groundskeeper and i do all the mechanical work on my machines as well. I find that after a rough day reading this forum is a nice way to top off the evening. Looking forward to some engaging conversation. CHEERS
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