Saltspring Advice

[kevin873]

Hi folks,

I stumbled across this website and figured you would all be experts to help me out with this little dilemna.

I will be taking a group of teenagers (I work at a youth drop-in centre) to Saltspring Island from Vancouver for a camping trip on the weekend of March 31-April 2.

On the BC Ferries website, it only shows two trips to Saltspring from Tsawassen on that date (it's a Friday); one departs at 1030am or so, and the other at 1030pm at night. The morning departure wouldn't work because the kids all have school, and the night one would mean we wouldn't be in until after midnight and isn't practical at all.

Am I reading the schedules wrong or is this the case? Does anyone have any creative ideas or alternate route ideas that might work out?


Thanks,
Kevin.

[Shane]

Im not quite sure if im able to help, I get pretty confused myself reading those schedules(Southern Gulf Islands).

[Low Light Mike]

Kevin:

Forget the idea of a direct connection from Tsawwassen to SaltSpring.

Instead, take a regular Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay (route-1) ferry (they operate every 2 hours, or maybe even every hour on busy weekends?), then do a transfer at Swartz Bay to sail from Swartz Bay to SaltSpring on the Skeena-Queen to Fulford Harbour, on the southern end of SaltSpring.

When you buy your tickets at Tsawwassen, ask for a "Through-fare ticket" to SaltSpring, via SwartzBay to Fulford. That will give you a better price.

The same works in reverse when leaving SaltSpring. Sometimes, SwartzBay can be your friend.

If you're going camping at Ruckle Park, then this works out perfect, because Ruckle Park is closest to the Fulford Harbour terminal.

Better advice: ditch the kids at Tsawwassen. Take the ferry to Duke Point by yourself, and then drive to Tofino for a weekend of surfing

[kevin873]

Thanks for the tip!

Any idea on what kind of a discount is given on a "Through-fare tcket"? Also, because the Swartz Bay - Fulford fare is paid in "return", am I getting jipped by returning to Tsawassen directly from Saltspring on Sunday afternoon (instead of going through Swartz Bay) or is there a discount given on that? Hopefully that makes sense.... thanks.

[jcachristian]

My advice Kevin is to get either the 3pm or 5pm ferry From Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay. At Swartz Bay the Skeena Queen departs at 5pm and 7pm (respectfully) for Fulford Harbour. This is going to be the quickest way to get to Salt Spring.

You may also get the 7pm ferry from Tsawwassen and connect with the Skeena Queen at 9pm from Swartz Bay, but this may be too late also.

Be aware that if you get the 6pm or any even hour sailing from Tsawwassen you will have to wait for 1 hour at Swartz Bay for the Saltspring Ferry.

[Balfour]

I know a few good places to hang out on Saltspring, including Blackburn Lake, but it is a popular camping location for hippies who don't like to wear clothes...

[Low Light Mike]

Kyle Fossett's the guy to give that advice re fares, as he travels from mainland to SaltSpring regularly (the most regular on this board).

He'll likely give you some fare advice sometime in the next couple of days......

[Quinsam]

Well, I would do the same thing, Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay, then Swartz Bay to Fulford Harbour, but if you miss the Skeena Queen, you have to wait for 2 hours for the next ferry.
I know what it is like because I missed the Skeena Queen back to Sidney on 18th September 2005. I was wondering why they didn't have the tachek to take the extra load, it was there, but sitting in the old berth at Fulford Harbour, the answer was she wasn't suitable to load at Fulford Harbour, her bow is lifted, the Skeena Queen's bow is not.

[kylefossett]

kevin873 said:

Thanks for the tip!

Any idea on what kind of a discount is given on a "Through-fare tcket"? Also, because the Swartz Bay - Fulford fare is paid in "return", am I getting jipped by returning to Tsawassen directly from Saltspring on Sunday afternoon (instead of going through Swartz Bay) or is there a discount given on that? Hopefully that makes sense.... thanks.

if you go thrufare from tsawwassen to fulford you will pay the same price as if you went from tsawwassen to long harbour. if going back from fulford in a vehicle you only need one thrufare for the car it is enough proof you were onboard when you go thru the toll booth they will give you the reduced gulf island-mainland price.

remember there is no public transit on saltspring and silver shadow taxi only has to cars. unless you are staying at ruckle park make sure you have a reservation.

[Dane]

What type of youth group is it? You may be eligable for a discount.

[Retrovision]

kevin873 said:

Hi folks,

I stumbled across this website and figured you would all be experts to help me out with this little dilemna.

I will be taking a group of teenagers (I work at a youth drop-in centre) to Saltspring Island from Vancouver for a camping trip on the weekend of March 31-April 2.

On the BC Ferries website, it only shows two trips to Saltspring from Tsawassen on that date (it's a Friday); one departs at 1030am or so, and the other at 1030pm at night. The morning departure wouldn't work because the kids all have school, and the night one would mean we wouldn't be in until after midnight and isn't practical at all.

Am I reading the schedules wrong or is this the case? Does anyone have any creative ideas or alternate route ideas that might work out?


Thanks,
Kevin.

The standard route 9 Friday schedule calls for LH (Long Harbour) to TSA VIA Milk Run (I.E. all SGI stops, minus Lyall Harbour, made) First thing, then TSA - SGI VIA Milk Run, Then, at a different departure time than most milk runs from LH, LH - TSA Direct, I.E. the only routing of a BCFerry (M (Monday) to F (Friday)) VIA N. of Prevost NB to TSA VIA AP (Active Pass)... and that's where I fall off, err, I don't know the schedule, out of trips I've taken, off hand.

[Retrovision]

tsawwassenterminal said:

kevin873 said:

Hi folks,

I stumbled across this website and figured you would all be experts to help me out with this little dilemna.

I will be taking a group of teenagers (I work at a youth drop-in centre) to Saltspring Island from Vancouver for a camping trip on the weekend of March 31-April 2.

On the BC Ferries website, it only shows two trips to Saltspring from Tsawassen on that date (it's a Friday); one departs at 1030am or so, and the other at 1030pm at night. The morning departure wouldn't work because the kids all have school, and the night one would mean we wouldn't be in until after midnight and isn't practical at all.

Am I reading the schedules wrong or is this the case? Does anyone have any creative ideas or alternate route ideas that might work out?


Thanks,
Kevin.

The standard route 9 Friday schedule calls for LH (Long Harbour) to TSA VIA Milk Run (I.E. all SGI stops, minus Lyall Harbour, made) First thing, then TSA - SGI VIA Milk Run, Then, at a different departure time than most milk runs from LH, LH - TSA Direct, I.E. the only routing of a BCFerry (M (Monday) to F (Friday)) VIA N. of Prevost NB to TSA VIA AP (Active Pass)... and that's where I fall off, err, I don't know the schedule, out of trips I've taken, off hand.

P.S. Please Email, [e-mail] if you want to find out the times associated with thedepartures mentioned above.

[BrianWilliams]

A late note on the "Through Fare" connection at Swartz Bay --

As of last year, anyway, connecting from a TSA sailing to Skeena Queen required a drive out of the terminal on Hwy 17, looping around the first hwy exit, and re-entering Swartz Bay terminal.

When time is tight (we had 20 min to make our Fulford Harbour sailing), it's a bit tense. BCF should provide an in-terminal route to meet Skeena Queen, I think.

[kylefossett]

brianwilliams said:

A late note on the "Through Fare" connection at Swartz Bay --

As of last year, anyway, connecting from a TSA sailing to Skeena Queen required a drive out of the terminal on Hwy 17, looping around the first hwy exit, and re-entering Swartz Bay terminal.

When time is tight (we had 20 min to make our Fulford Harbour sailing), it's a bit tense. BCF should provide an in-terminal route to meet Skeena Queen, I think.

been about a month since brian posted this but i just noticed it. in all schedules it states that the throughfare is for the next available sailing. does not guarantee an immediate connection

[WettCoast]

Can through fares be done via routes 2 or 30 and the Crofton-Vesuvius route?

[Mike C]

Uhh, let me think, umm, no. Nice try though.

[kylefossett]

wetcoastkidjst said:

Can through fares be done via routes 2 or 30 and the Crofton-Vesuvius route?

to bad but it can't happen