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Post by Ferryman on Apr 13, 2006 9:41:39 GMT -8
Looks like a crazy day on the Queen of Nanaimo today. All 3 sailings out of Tsawwassen are booked, and the RBI shows it booked for tomorrow. What's going on at Saltspring Island on this Easter Weekend then?
All of the other Routes are still holding up pretty good so far. But I bet it will get worse as the day progresses. It looks like I might try and get over to the Island this evening, and I'm driving over, so it should be fun if there's sailing waits!!
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Post by Mike C on Apr 13, 2006 10:54:35 GMT -8
Once I had to wait 5 dreadful hours, do to a 2 sailing wait at Departure Bay.
Remember, IF THERE'S SAILING WAITS AT DEPARTURE BAY, GO TO DUKE POINT!!!!!!!
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 13, 2006 11:09:02 GMT -8
Yeah, I'm thinking I might be going out to Tsawwassen today. Either Duke Point or Swartz Bay is what I'm trying to figure out would be best. I'm going to be going out to Ladysmith, which is about 25 minutes South of Departure Bay, 15 minutes South from Duke Point, and an Hour and 45 minutes from Swartz Bay.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 13, 2006 14:27:42 GMT -8
I would say now the best bet is route 1 as even Tsawwassen to Duke Point there is a 1 sailing wait now. None to Swartz Bay and sailings every hour on route 1!
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 13, 2006 17:29:24 GMT -8
Swartz Bay to Pender Island 6:20 sailing on the Cumbie is full and so was the 4:10pm to Mayne Island. The whole Gulf Islands lot at Swartz Bay is almost full. I have never seen that before! Just crazy!
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Apr 13, 2006 20:15:35 GMT -8
Horseshoe Bay is looking like it got clobbered, that is the only place that has not settled down yet but everywhere else has. Welcome to peak season again.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 13, 2006 21:11:48 GMT -8
just after 10 pm and with only two toll booths open at Tsawwassen there are cars lined up outside Tsawwassen out past the traffic lights. It's crazy for route 30 tonight from Tsawwassen!
11:30pm sailing to Nanaimo on the Oaky has been added which is 40% full.
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Post by Dane on Apr 13, 2006 23:00:24 GMT -8
Do you think the Bowen Queen will sail tomorrow?
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Post by Dane on Apr 13, 2006 23:00:57 GMT -8
Correction, today.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 14, 2006 9:10:47 GMT -8
I can see in the webcam at DB something that looks like the Bowen?? Which I am kind of confused cause Scott said it was gone.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 14, 2006 9:36:54 GMT -8
Well guys, I had the most eventful trip ever with BC Ferries last night. I decided to take Horseshoe Bay last night, as all of the bridges and Massey Tunnel were clogged like a toilet. So I arrived at Horseshoe Bay at about 4:05, and was stuck at the top of the hill outside of the terminal until 7:30. Yes, I sat in my car for nearly 3 and a half hours. I watched the 5, 6:30, and 7:00 ferries leave last night. It was a 3 sailing wait. I don't think I've been anymore annoyed in my life, especially when I finally got in the terminal, and I raced down the lanes, hoping to get on to Oak Bay. Once I got to the cement covered areas, I had to stop. But I could clearly see into the bottom car deck of Oak Bay, and it was only half full. My reaction, "YES! I'M GONNA MAKE IT ON TO THE 7 (which turned out to be like 7:45) O'CLOCK SAILING!". Well it wasn't long until I was very dissapointed when I watched cars from a lane further up the hill ended up filling the rest of the space up on the car deck. The second the last car got off of the ramp on to the ferry, the ramp was raised and Oak Bay left immediatly after. So I decided, I need dinner, and its almost 8:00. So I walked over to the Subway that was nearby, and sat in the abandoned waiting lounge for the Langdale Ferry. After that, I decided to wander over to the Nanaimo waiting room, to see how crowded it was. Turns out I couldn't even get into the room as it was so full, and there was quite the crowd waiting outside of the room too. All of the sudden I hear behind me, "BERTUZI! WHAT'S UP MAN..!" Well, apparently, it couldn't of been Bertuzi as he scored a Goal in San Jose last night.
By 9:00, I see the crippled Queen of Cowichan in the distance. It ended up turning into Howe Sound first, as it's acting as a single ended Ferry at the moment as the #1 end engine is down. So it took alot longer to dock, and we never left until 10:00. By that point, I was tired, and in a miserable mood. So I just sat down in a seat, and fell asleep. As we got further into the Strait, I noticed I was getting pushed around alot in my chair (more than I should be). I was sitting near the back of the Ferry, and the crew never bothered to cover up the windows at that side. I was looking closely at the Vancouver lights, and I was comparing how level the lights were, to the railing of the outer deck. We were going over some huge waves. I go outside to see how big the waves are, and waves were hitting the bow of the Ferry pretty good. I went down to the cardeck, and tried to get some good photos of the waves hitting the Ferry. But it was was too dark, and my flash wasn't quite strong enough, but I managed get a few good shots. Then I heard a beeping siren as I was about to go back up to the cardeck. I just stood there, and was thinking of the sirens people said they heard on the North. Shortly thereafter, the Captain came on the P.A., and announced that one of the Elevators had broken down. That was a pretty huge sigh of relief, and another 45 minutes later, we touch dock at Departure Bay. Then I finally reached my destination about 5 afters I had originally planned.
So like I said, it was a pretty eventful evening, and will be fun trying to get back on Monday!
But you guys will have to wait to see the photos sometime on Monday.
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Post by Shane on Apr 14, 2006 17:03:02 GMT -8
Wow! Sounds like a crazy night.
I hate it when theres alot of sailing waits and you want to get to your destination.
It once took my dad 9 hours to get to Vancouver from Powell River during the summer, but that was when the Powell River Queen was on the Saltery Bay run and the Queen of Alberni was on the Langdale run.
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Post by Mike C on Apr 14, 2006 17:06:03 GMT -8
Hmm, took me 9 hours to get from Comox to Delta. The 2 sailing wait at DPTB, and the Oaky was running 30 min late.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 15, 2006 14:50:45 GMT -8
Yeah, it was a pretty crazy evening, so I'm gonna be smarter on Monday, and catch the 8:30am sailing.
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Post by Political Incorrectness on Apr 16, 2006 21:37:48 GMT -8
I checked RBI, tommorow the only sailing that still has spaces out of Departure Bay is the first boat out, Duke Point, first and last departures, Swartz Bay, 12:00 noon sailing to 6:00p.m. sailing.
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Post by Curtis on Apr 16, 2006 21:46:09 GMT -8
Wow! Sounds like a crazy night. I hate it when theres alot of sailing waits and you want to get to your destination. It once took my dad 9 hours to get to Vancouver from Powell River during the summer, but that was when the Powell River Queen was on the Saltery Bay run and the Queen of Alberni was on the Langdale run. Shane, Didn't you say to me once that there was a time when the Sunshine Coast Queen was on the Langdale route that there was traffic backed up for miles? |
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Post by hergfest on Apr 16, 2006 22:01:18 GMT -8
Looks like things went pretty smoothly today at the major terminals. The Esquimalt did two round trips, and the Bowen Queen did three which minimized sailing waits.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 17, 2006 10:53:22 GMT -8
I was really lucky this morning, and the Ferry Gods were on my side.
Ok, I'll admit, I slept in about half an hour too late, and ended up arriving at Departure Bay at 8:10 (5 mins after Oak Bay arrived). The ticket lady told me I still might have a chance to get on, but she doubts it, and I'll be taking the 10:30. So I'm sent to this new lane sort of far from the cluster of cars waiting to get on, and sure enough my row ended up going, and the line was cut right behind my car. So, I ended up being the last car on, which was pretty cool, compared to Thursday evening!
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Post by Retrovision on Apr 17, 2006 15:26:51 GMT -8
See, karma really does work for those of us who promote the ferries.
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Koastal Karl
Voyager
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Apr 17, 2006 15:54:12 GMT -8
I have never been the last car on a ferry but maybe like the last two or three. Happened on the SOBC once and also the Bowen Queen from Fulord too.
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Post by Quinsam on Apr 17, 2006 20:05:23 GMT -8
I have been the 2nd last car on a ferry before, the Queen of Saanich on Feb 1st or 2nd from Swartz Bay, the SOVI was out of service doing trials for Transport Canada.
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Post by Dane on Apr 17, 2006 21:03:53 GMT -8
I was the last car on a ferry 2 years ago out of Horseshoe Bay. I was happy to be so lucky, but the gate left a black mark on our car that never came out.... although we sold it like 4 days later so we didn't try too hard.
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Post by Quinsam on Apr 17, 2006 21:23:48 GMT -8
What type of car was it? Mine is a 1996 Ford Mercury Sable wagon.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 17, 2006 22:08:30 GMT -8
This was the situation today, trying to fit in that spot.... (Red arrow points to my car)  |
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Post by kylefossett on Apr 19, 2006 14:47:28 GMT -8
Looks like a crazy day on the Queen of Nanaimo today. All 3 sailings out of Tsawwassen are booked, and the RBI shows it booked for tomorrow. What's going on at Saltspring Island on this Easter Weekend then? All of the other Routes are still holding up pretty good so far. But I bet it will get worse as the day progresses. It looks like I might try and get over to the Island this evening, and I'm driving over, so it should be fun if there's sailing waits!! Whats going on on saltspring? Nothing just a typical weekend in the spring and not yet a summer schedule so the crowds are looking worse then really are |
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