Queen of Chilliwack November 23-24

[Quatchi]

HI

So I am going to try and go see the Queen of Chilliwack Again this weekend. Me, my brother, and a buddy are planning to leave chilliwack Friday night and get on a sailing from HSB-Langdale and drive to Earls Cove and stay overnight in my truck. Then we will watch her come and go on the first round trip and then ride her on the second round trip of the day(walk on).

I have a couple of questions though.

1) Is there anything interesting around Earls Cove to go see in between sailings?
2) If I park my truck in the Earls Cove terminal overnight is BC Ferries going to kick me out?
3) If we walk on the Chilliwack do we have to get off at Saltery Bay or can we just stay on and go back to Earls Cove?

Cheers,

PS. Before anyone says what my neighbor said. I know it will be cold at night.

[Koastal Karl]

There is nothing interesting at Earls Cove. Not really a whole lot there to see. There are a few parking spaces at Earls Cove but I am not sure if you could park there overnight especially camping out in your car. You have to get off at Saltery Bay as you have to buy a ticket to return to Earls Cove. You dont have to pay from Earls Cove.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

Cadmunkey,

Not to be too contradictory ;D, but there are many things to do in the vicinity of Earls Cove. Make sure to take a side trip to Egmont during tide change and you can see some of the fastest tidal currents on the planet.

There's local campgrounds if you do a quick search. Here's what I found:

www.sunshinecoasteh.com/egmont/accomm.htm#camp

I have included a link to some of the other local activities available.

www.britishcolumbia.com/regions/towns/?townID=308

[Quatchi]

Man a campground. Why would I want to go there.

Thanks for the info.

Cheers,

[Ferryman]

I hope you don't mind vibrations. You can recieve a fair amount of Turbulence when sailing on this ship. It doesn't matter if you're at the stern or the bow, you're going to be shaken up like a pop bottle. I've always been amazed with the rumble strip they have throughout the car deck ;D .

Ah, the 'wack amuses me.

[Curtis]

Answering Your Questions...
1. There's Nothing at Earls Cove Unless You Decide to Take a Walk along the Road or get a Bite to Eat at the Restaurant.
2. I Have No Idea
3. Yes, You Do Have to Get Off the Ferry if You Expect to Get Back Aboard On the Saltery Bay Side Since it's the Side You Pay on.

[Scott]

Bring lots of blankets:) If you arrive at the terminal after midnight I don't know if anyone would be there to kick you out... I suppose there may be someone doing security. But there are no toll booths and the highway kinda just ends there. And remember, the ferry arrives around 0620 and leaves around 0630 which is an hour before sunrise - so you might not see much. And if it's quite cool out, there's a pretty good possibility of fog in the morning.

BTW, does anyone know why there are only 55 minutes between the first departure from Saltery Bay and the return departure time from Earls Cove when BC Ferries says the trip takes 50 minutes? That's 5 minutes to load and unload. And for most of the day it's 60 or 65 minutes, which still doesn't seem like enough time.

[Koastal Karl]

Probably cause I dont think there would be much traffic at that time of the morning. When me and Graham did the TSA a few weeks back on a Wednesday night out of Saltery Bay on the 7:20pm sailing there was only 3 passengers total and 1 big rig and that was it. I dont think the early morning and late sailings are that busy.

[Ferryman]

If I remember correctly, there is only one of two terminal attendants at Earls Cove. As John pointed out, the highway does just sort of end at the Ferry ramp. I don't see why anyone would have a problem with you parking there over night. Just park in one of the holding lanes. I'm sure the truckers do that all the time. If they have a problem with it, just drive up the road and around the corner from the terminal, and park on the side of the road.

[D'Elete BC in NJ]

There's also about a dozen parking spots alongside the foot passenger "box"

[Shane]

In between sailings, you could always drive to Egmont, thats a neat little side road to a small community near the Skookumchuck Rapids. I've been to Earls Cove at 5:30 in the morning and had to wait for the ferry at 8:30 once, and that was about a month ago, and that was bloody cold and dark, and theres no one out around there at that time, so its really quiet. The only time theres traffic between Pender Harbour and Earls Cove is when the ferry is running. The area around Earls Cove is very beautiful in the winter, so if you love taking photos of the scenery, your not going to be dissapointed!

[Quatchi]

Wow thanks allot.

This trip is sounding better and better all the time. I think we are going to watch the first 2 sailings and get on the 3rd now that I know the first on leaves at 0620. It would be great to see her in the dark. That would give me an idea of what lights to put on her. I remember the Skookumchuck rapids signs the last time I was up there, we might take a gander over there. 2 years ago i was Above the arctic circle on an icebreaker for a month and a half so the cold doesn't scare me anymore. Its funny they always say Hell is hot. Fog sounds good too interesting photo compositions.

Well thanks allot guys.

Cheers,

[Quatchi]

Also whats the wait like at HSB on a friday night going to langdale. I get off work at 3 and want to catch the 7:25. Is this going to be an issue. I live a 2 hour drive from HSB so I am planning on getting there at about 5:30sh.

[Quatchi]

HI

I made a page on my site with pictures from my trip.

www.queenofchilliwack.ca

Cheers,

[Curtis]

Nice Photos, "cadmunkey". I like the picture of the Queen of Tsawwassen.

[Scott]

So how was parking at the terminal cadmunkey? Did anyone bother you?

[Quatchi]

We drove up and parked in the day parking area. Then after the last sailing we asked the attendant if there was an outlet somewhere. He said the only one was on the front of the restaurant. So i parked the truck in the walkway to the restaurant and the attendant laughed at us. We got some odd looks in the morning and a few people asked if we were selling coffee but other than that nothing.

Wasn't bad at all.