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Post by Ferryman on Apr 3, 2007 22:34:06 GMT -8
Just one of my weekly thoughts here....
With some of the latest Ferry News Releases, I've been starting to lift my eyebrows up with some of these issues. I've noticed alot of tempers flaring among a few of the members on this board, regarding these issues. Just to adjust the somewhat negative atmosphere we have going on right now, I just thought I would reflect back on some of my memories. I encourage all of you to post a memory or three, or as many as you like.
When I think back to my memories of Ferry trips dating as far back as I can remember, I always had the impression BC Ferries was a great operation, with nothing wrong with the way things were run. Of course the Ferries were having certain issues at the time, but I had no idea, with my uneducated mind. I started researching the Ferries after I got to tour the Queen of Alberni's bridge when I was 10 years old, and the Captain signed a postcard of the Ferry for me. At the time, I thought that was so neat. But it was probably partly due to my younger age, already being fascinated with alot of things.
Some of my memories go back to the toddler days when the Queen of Victoria was in service. I remember these days, as my mother is somewhat of a Ferry Fan, and she always reminds me of when I would bawl my eyes out everytime we would ride the Victoria, because of the Ferries' vibrations. I can actually remember this being a scary thing to experience, for a child my age at the time.
I could go on for paragraphs about my little memories aboard these Ferries. But I won't, as I know some of you would brush right over this post, plus it's past my bed time.
Now over to you. Let's hear a memory, or a bunch of memories of travelling on the Ferries.
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Post by Scott on Apr 3, 2007 23:04:46 GMT -8
Yeah, I remember being on ferries as a kid too:) Whenever the ferry would tilt over a bit when turning, I'd always be a bit afraid it would tip all the way over:) We'd run back and forth in a vain attempt to balance it out. And when I was little I was scared of the ferry horns ... they still catch me by surprise sometimes. But I don't cry about it anymore:)
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 4, 2007 5:04:34 GMT -8
Great idea Chris. You just have to turn on the news to get an ear and eyefull of negativity.
We either went right to the restaurant or outside to the bow when we boarded the ferry. When we went outside we used to play a game with every ferry departure. The one who could predict the exact moment and not jump when the horn went off won something. Sometimes a chocolate bar, sometimes a milk shake, etc. etc. Of course no one ever won and we always jumped.
Another strange memory is the smell of the ocean mixed with diesel exhaust from the Pacific Stagecoach buses or trucks. When I smell something similar today I think immediately of the ferry.
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Post by Barnacle on Apr 4, 2007 6:29:39 GMT -8
Well, obviously, my memories are of a different fleet than yours, save for a trip on the Mill Bay in 1976. (I have photos, somewhere at Mom's house.) Earliest memory is that of taking a ride on the "new" ferry on the Seattle-Winslow run in '76 (the Spokane and its gold-and-orange carpet)... taking the Kaleetan to Sidney that same year, and sitting at Orcas Island loading traffic while the Evergreen State stood off, waiting to access the same dock. Riding the Evergreen State back from Sidney another trip a year later, with Dad wondering whether we'd make it on the boat (no reservations then ;D).
But mostly I have fond memories of going around Puget Sound in 1989 with Dad, capturing the entire WSF fleet (with the exception of the Evergreen State and Olympic) on film. That was a fun summer. Thanks to EvergreenFleet, some of Dad's pictures are published now. That project kicked off right after Dad passed away and it seemed a fitting tribute in memory of all the times we spent taking the ferry to Kingston for breakfast at the Kingston Inn. Both Dad and the Kingston Inn are gone now, but I don't ever work on the Yakima or Hyak without thinking of them both.
Edited to fix incorrect italics tag
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Post by markkarj on Apr 4, 2007 6:44:50 GMT -8
I spent a lot of time on the BC Ferries (particularly the Spirits) when I was doing my undergrad degree in Victoria, and shuttling back and forth to the mainland to see family in Vancouver when I wanted to get away for a few days.
I don't know why, but I've always enjoyed the sailings, even in rough weather. I guess I just like riding on big boats.
Being in the Northern Interior (Prince George), I don't get much time near the ferries these days... meaning I have to live vicariously through this board.
When I buy my next car, one of the adventures I have planned is a trip down the Inside Passage on board the Northern Expedition, down the island to Victoria, then back to the mainland on board one of the Super-C class ships.
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Post by Mike C on Apr 4, 2007 20:35:59 GMT -8
I've been riding the boats all my life. And watching them. Ever since Little Mikey can remember, he's been riding Route 30 every summer, at least 2 round trips per summer. L'il Mikey also got a tour of the Queen of New Westminster when he was younger (he can't remember how old he was) and he has spurred on his nickname "Ferryman." In Comox, Mikey would watch in fascination the Queen of Sidney veer around the point in Little River off to a place far in the distance, where you can see the smoke pooring out of the mill, where the city never seems to be asleep: Westview & Powell River. As the years grew older, he decided that he'd pursue this interest a little more, noticing that constant changes and vessel shifts seemed to be occurring on the Little River-Westview run. When it was the Queen of Tsawwassen veering around the point headed for Powell River, he wasn't to concerned, and convinced himself that this was probably temporary, that his Sidney would be back soon enough. Back home, on one of his regular trips across the Pattullo Bridge, he noticed what appeared to be a large white boat, with the same two letters that was printed on every ferry he knew: B.C. On a trip to the New Westminster Quay, he took a look at the vessel, and on the side it read "Queen of Sidney." His heart sunk faster than the Queen of the North, and he realised that BC Ferries had moved on to the Queen of Tsawwassen as their boat. The next time he visited his summer house in Little River, he noticed a much bigger ferry running on an apparent different schedule. He pulled out the binoculars and read the side. In big block lettering it read "Queen of Burnaby." At this point, he questioned if he would ever see a Sidney-class vessel on the route again, rather than this large tub. Mikey would never again actually "witness" a Sidney-class ferry on the Powell River run. Though, this white tub grew on him. It looked nice, even with the big ugly solarium on the roof. Soon enough, this became his favourite ferry of them all. And it still is. April, 2003: BC Ferries hits big news: The Privatization. The ride on the Queen of New Westminster that summer made him laugh a little; with the plain-blue smokestack on Expo-stripes - the Queen of Alberni had what appeared to be mating-slugs painted on the smokestack with the same Expo-era stripes. Then he saw the Queen of Burnaby, and it rounded the point with what he thought was the best looking paint job in the fleet. The blue stripes on white paint reflected in the waters of Georgia Strait as it approached the Little River dock. That's truly something Mikey will never forget. ------------------ oh, and MarkKarj - you mean Northern Explorer  |
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Post by nolonger on Apr 5, 2007 1:49:55 GMT -8
Well as one of the guilty parties re: negativity and ill temper I'll offer something. I have many happy memories of my time at the ferries. Too numerous to mention really, but one of my favorite things to have had the opportunity to do is when youngsters come up for bridge tours with their parents and to sit them in the QMs chair and let them have their hands on the wheel. Usually the auto pilot is on and they only think they are really steering but the looks on their faces is priceless. Also the look on their parents faces. An appreciative thank you look but without words being said. I'll miss that.
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Post by Hardy on Apr 5, 2007 5:43:29 GMT -8
Well as one of the guilty parties re: negativity and ill temper I'll offer something. [...] but the looks on their faces is priceless. Also the look on their parents faces. An appreciative thank you look but without words being said. I'll miss that. It's comments like that, notmuchlonger, that definately put the human spin back on the day to day operations that go on onboard the ferries. Thanks for sharing that.  |
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Post by markkarj on Apr 5, 2007 6:11:24 GMT -8
oh, and MarkKarj - you mean Northern Explorer I stand corrected My brain isn't working so close to the long weekend. |
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