A December "Thaw Out" trip?

[Ferryman]

This coming Sunday (December 3rd), Alan, Graham, and I are considering doing some sort of Ferry trip. The personal choice of Route, that I've been tossing around, is Route 2. Sure, some of you are thinking, "Why would you want to do a round trip on Route 2? 95% of the Route is sailing in open water!". Well It's better than the 99.9% of open water on Route 30, for one. Plus most of the trips we've been doing lately, have been based out of Tsawwassen. I'd also like to do this route, to see the progress in the berth upgrades at Horseshoe Bay, and Departure Bay.

So this leads me to....Who else is interested?!

I haven't decided whether or not to do the round trip on the Ol' Cow-girl, or the big Oaky........those both sound pretty narsty......but you all know which Ferries I'm talking about....

[Koastal Karl]

I have to work Sunday so I dont think I will be attending. Personally I am getting tired of the newer ferries with the new interior. I want to get on the older ships like the Van Esquimalt, Saanich TSA. I am probably going to do one last trip on the TSA on route 9 on Tuesday then I am off to Edmonton for the weekend. The more times on the TSA the better. hmm you not doing the TSA then I assume Graham??? lol!

[Retrovision]

I'm opting-out of this one, mainly because of budget-reasons coupled with the opportunity to be aboard the Queen of Tsawwassen for one of the last times she's in her original stomping grounds of the Southern Gulf Islands on Tuesday with Karl.

[Mike C]

Naw, sorry, can't due to my horrific schedule for the coming week (christmas parties, eating christmas baking, etc.)

Well, if anyone is interested, again, I'll be doing a trip next weekend abroad in the Southern Gulf Islands on the Mayne Queen, Queen of Nanaimo, and Spirit of British Columbia (for those who heard Chris's itninerary for the Queen of Tsawwassen trip, I think this might be it) vstarting at Tsawwassen, to Swartz Bay, and back again via a transfer at Galiano.
So far, the only member who wants to attend is Jordan, and he is classified as a "maybe."

Sorry Chris, not this time

[Ferryman]

Well, seeming nobody was interested in attending this trip, because they had either better things to do, or they were too cool to come out a do a round trip on Route 2, I ended up going solo. That's fine, it was kind of nice to get out, and well, just relax on the Queen of Cowichan all afternoon. Here's my report on todays trip.....

Horseshoe Bay










Coast Guard, Sir Wilfred Laurier, just off of Nanaimo.


Festive Decorations on the Queen of Cowichan





Departure Bay









and back to Horseshoe Bay

[Mike C]

Nice, dare I say, "Pimpin" photos out there today

LATE EDIT TO MY SCHEDULE: travelling on Sunday Schedule, still sailing via Galiano, however on MV Bowen Queen

Let me know if you want to attend, or I can fly solo, like Chris today.

[Koastal Karl]

How come the night covers were down during the day in that one photo?? Sure looks neat with the snow capped mountains. I hope to get on the TSA on route 9 on Tuesday. Will take the Cumberland too and the SOBC again. I have been on the SOBC alot in the past few weeks,lol getting tired of that ship. It's worth it though to get on the TSA again. Will see if the Cumbie and SOBC has Christmas decorations up yet!

[Doug]

Nice pics, Chris.

Particularly like the one of the Cowichan docked.

Nice Christmas tree, too. Pff, probably fake.

[Ferryman]

Haha yeah, the tree was of course fake.

BTW Karl, the night cover was only down on the window that was behind the tree. I guess it was too much of a hassle to put the night cover on, and off with the tree there.

Another interesting point.....with the Cows latest refit, they've done the same as what they did to the Coquitlam, upgrade the seats on the #1 end (Departure Bay). So now they're the brown seats you see in the forward lounges on the Oak Bay and Surrey.
I guess they'll be upgrading the seats in different sections everytime the ship goes into refit?

[Curtis]

Excellent Photos. Of the trip

[Airchime]

Too bad the snow didn't hang around on the mountains for you Chris.




These two were taken on that nice day between the two storms last week. There was a thick band of clouds over West Van, so the sun couldn't shine on Horseshoe Bay!!

[Airchime]

What's going on out here??

Is this terminal expansion for the Super C's?

[Ferryman]

This is the beginning of the Departure Bay Terminal expansion, as they will be extending the vehicle holding area out. The foot passenger buildings will of course be demolished, and redone, at another location in the terminal. When I had first heard of plans to expand, I thought they would typically fill in an area of the bay with rocks. This time it appears they'll be building above the water.

[Curtis]

Kinda odd seeing 5 poles standing out there.
Great Photos BTW

[Low Light Mike]

prqueenkid16 said:

Kinda odd seeing 5 poles standing out there.

....Here's 5 more, although they are not all standing.

[Mike C]

Well, my trip went okay, other than the fact that no-one showed up

Here's my story:
We're off to a flying start when my mother walks from the Econo lot to Deaprtures on a broken toe. We make it okay, buying our ticket at the automated ticket purchasing kiosk, then set out for Berth #5. We made it successfully aboard the Spirit of British Columbia at 11:00 am, a fairly uneventfu sailing, though my phone did recieve an uninvited text message, welcoming me to the US. After arrival at Swartz Bay, we head over to the Lands End Cafe, and wait for the Bowen Queen to board. We left Swartz Bay nicely at 2:15 bound for Saturna and Mayne. After dodging hundreds of logs in Navy Channel, we arrive in calm waters at Sautrna, setting off again, 5 minutes late, at 3:40. We pulled into Village Bay, wondering why the Queen of Nanaimo was idling aimlessly outside of Village Bay, quickly discovering that the Queen of Cumberland had stolen it's spot in the larger Berth 2. After an easy transfer at Mayne, we leave about 10 minutes late at 4:30, bound for Sturdies Bay, pulling in at 4:55. Leaving Gailano was slow, about 10 minutes too slow, at around 5:15. Of course, we made up this time by doing the Georgia Strait crossing in 45 minutes, arriving on time at 6pm, offloading using Mr. Hahn's overhead walkway at Berth #2, and I managed to catch the ImPark Parking Shuttle to the Economy lot.

Photos to come @ ferriesonthewestcoast.fotopic.net

Let me put it this way folks...

...you missed out.