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Post by Mike C on Apr 10, 2006 16:52:33 GMT -8
I recently recieved a message from BC Ferries alerting me that the Bowen Queen will be doing extra sailings on Route 3 (Langdale)  . It will probably be lapped several times by the Queen of Coquitlam and Queen of Esquimalt. This means that 3 vessels will be on route 3. This I find difficult to believe. I feel sorry for passengers travelling route 3 this Easter. Who would want to ride the Bowen Queen on route 3?  They better be running the snack-bar, or they'll be some hungry and unhappy passengers on-board. The crossiing time will be about an hour... comments on this? |
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Post by Dane on Apr 10, 2006 17:27:56 GMT -8
Its been done before... I'm not sure how much slower she is than the Esqu., it's gotta be pretty marginal
Can you post the message? It hasn't made it to their website yet.
Thanks
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 10, 2006 18:04:34 GMT -8
I recently recieved a message from BC Ferries alerting me that the Bowen Queen will be doing extra sailings on Route 3 (Langdale) . It will probably be lapped several times by the Queen of Coquitlam and Queen of Esquimalt. This means that 3 vessels will be on route 3. This I find difficult to believe. I feel sorry for passengers travelling route 3 this Easter. Who would want to ride the Bowen Queen on route 3? Actually, I, for one, would want to... After all, when the Bowen Queen does route 9a (TSA - SGI), she takes almost an hour (maybe 50 minutes, at the least) just to cross the Straight of Georgia, let alone going any farther. |
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Post by Mike C on Apr 10, 2006 18:45:45 GMT -8
Here you go, fresh off the press: The Queen of Esquimalt will provide additional sailings on both the Horseshoe Bay – Departure Bay, and the Horseshoe Bay – Langdale routes over the Easter weekend. The Bowen Queen will also supply extra service at peak times on the Langdale run. www.bcferries.com/news/files/06-024extraeastersailings.pdf |
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Post by Dane on Apr 10, 2006 19:02:35 GMT -8
hmmm no schedule though, perhaps they're discretionary sailings, or it's just not published yet? Ill be curious to see
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Post by Mike C on Apr 10, 2006 19:04:39 GMT -8
It says "Peak Times,"so I assume that they're just going back and forth when there is heavy traffic.
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Post by just visiting on Apr 10, 2006 19:10:06 GMT -8
manager discrection sailings
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Post by Dane on Apr 10, 2006 19:11:28 GMT -8
manager discrection sailings Thanks... maybe ill go hang out at Hoseshoe Bay and try and catch a roundtrip in the afternoon. |
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Post by Mike C on Apr 10, 2006 19:13:55 GMT -8
Yup, I've never been on the Bowen Queen.
Like I said, I hope they run the snack-bar. I don't feel like eating lunch out of a vending machine.
After the Queen of Cowichan tour, I may hop aboard for Langdale.
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Neil
Voyager 
Posts: 7,307
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Post by Neil on Apr 10, 2006 21:15:07 GMT -8
The novelty of taking the Bowen Queen to Langdale would be well worth forgoing the delights of ferry food. Did Hahn just win the lottery or something? This extra concern for the travelling public is quite out of character. Too bad we don't know when the sailings will be.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 10, 2006 21:19:24 GMT -8
I wonder why they're anticipating it to be really busy on Route 3? Then again it takes like 5 hours for the Esquimalt to get back to Horseshoe Bay, and ready to go to Langdale again. I would love to take the Bowen Queen for a ride on Route 3, but only if I don't end up going to the Island this weekend.
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,307
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Post by Neil on Apr 10, 2006 21:43:04 GMT -8
It seems unusually sensible for them to be thinking, "we've got a spare vessel which doesn't cost too much to operate: we might we make use of it?" Maybe this means they might use the Tachek to supplement somewhere this summer- usually it's just in reserve, I believe.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 10, 2006 21:46:43 GMT -8
Yeah, they brought the Tachek down last year to assist the Cumberland, as it was having mechanical difficulties. I guess it was its first time back down here operating on the Southern Gulf Islands Route in like 8 years.
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 11, 2006 5:41:18 GMT -8
Yup, I've never been on the Bowen Queen. Like I said, I hope they run the snack-bar. I don't feel like eating lunch out of a vending machine. I wouldn't hold your breath; if they didn't have snack bar service for the much-longer route 9a, then i doubt they'll have it on supplemental service to Langdale in the off-peak season. That (opening the snack bar) would be above and beyond the minimum window-dressing needed to shut the people up, which is all that most of the "surprising changes" from Hahn are, necessities after a PR nightmare such as the sinking of their (unofficial) Flagship. |
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 11, 2006 6:10:49 GMT -8
It's interesting to note that RBI only has one extra round-trip sailing (by the Esquimalt) on route 3 between Friday and Monday, on Friday.
...no wonder they need the Bowen. What have they done in similar situations in the past (i.e. same time of year, same # of boats available)?
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Post by Mike C on Apr 11, 2006 15:41:29 GMT -8
So a ferry trip on the Bowen Queen seems to be falling into place by itself. Who's coming?
Me (Very Likely)
Jordan (Likely)
Dane (Quite Possibly)
Anyone Else? And when should we go?
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Post by Balfour on Apr 11, 2006 15:49:29 GMT -8
We should probably go sometime in the mid-afternoon on Friday. It gives me time to sleep in, and Mainlander to get all the way to HSB from Delta.
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Post by Dane on Apr 11, 2006 15:52:50 GMT -8
So it's doing Friday sailings? I can do Friday anytime.. or Sunday after about 2pm.
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Post by Mike C on Apr 11, 2006 15:55:25 GMT -8
Friday is good, mid-afternoon sounds like a good idea.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 11, 2006 16:44:09 GMT -8
I might go if I don't end up going to the Island either tomorrow or Thursday. Hey, maybe if we timed it right, we could go over on the Esquimalt, and come back on the Bowen, or Vice Versa. Too bad they're not posting the Bowens Schedule.
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Post by Balfour on Apr 11, 2006 16:49:35 GMT -8
Are you suggesting we all go into Gibsons or something along those lines?
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 11, 2006 16:53:49 GMT -8
Maybe, but if the Esquimalt and Bowen Queens departures are too far apart, just stick with going on the Bowen.
I was just thinking it would be cool to switch it up a bit, seeming it's a trip on the Bowen Queen for an hour each way, with small passenger areas.
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Post by Mike C on Apr 11, 2006 17:02:59 GMT -8
What he's saying is: I need to be at Horseshoe Bay at 9:50 am, so that we can get on the Esq, or be at Langdale by 11:30 to get the Esq. To directly translate, he saying: Let's have some fun and meet at HSB so we can ride the Esq and the Bowen Queen, to add some spice to our trip.
If this is what were going to do, count me out, I'll never be able to make it to HSB before 10:00 am from Delta, unless I got the first Skytrain of the day out of Scott Road.
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Post by Balfour on Apr 11, 2006 17:07:23 GMT -8
If we want to spice it up, we can take the Queen of Coquitlam back to HSB.
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Post by Mike C on Apr 11, 2006 17:13:09 GMT -8
Notice that on RBI, the Queen of Esquimalt sailings are all booked?
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. It will probably be lapped several times by the Queen of Coquitlam and Queen of Esquimalt. This means that 3 vessels will be on route 3.
