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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 30, 2010 20:09:32 GMT -8
Sorry for the late notice, but I forgot to issue the usual forum invite for our traditional "Spring is Here!" group ferry trip. It's set for Thursday of this week.
This year we've chartered the surplus ferry Queen of Richmond for our event. Many thanks to our sponsors for helping make this happen, and of course to the BC Gov't for giving us the gaming-funds grant.
Ferry departs Deas Dock at 9:00am, and then sails up to Horseshoe Bay and then on towards Woodfibre where we will have a photo opportunity for the new home of the ex Queen of Vancouver. Ferry returns to Deas by 3:00pm. Parking is available at the model-plane park.
Member Coastal-Skier is again doing the arrangements for the bar. We'll be serving up mugs of our newly brewed WCF-ale, with food-colouring in it to make it a nice pastel-blue colour.
Member P.Kennleyside will be doing demonstrations of hand-held GPS devices, to help us learn how to do charting while sailing. I asked him when he would be starting the session, and he just said "Patience...".
We'd also like to do a ferry memorabilia show-and-tell session. So please reply to let us know what item of your prized memorabilia you will be bringing........so that we can start getting excited about these gems. - I plan on bringing my laminated route-map of the old Blackball route from Bainbridge Island to Jervis Inlet. That's probably my most prized piece of history in my collection.
See you there. Please RSVP in this here thread. See you this coming Thursday !
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Post by Kahloke on Mar 30, 2010 20:37:37 GMT -8
Ooo! Ooo! Count me in! I trust Ferryman will be driving...er...piloting? - I plan on bringing my laminated route-map of the old Blackball route from Bainbridge Island to Jervis Inlet. That's probably my most prized piece of history in my collection. Cool! And that one left from Eagledale, too, on the other side of Eagle Harbor, so your map is, indeed, a rare gem. I'll be bringing some truly rare photos I took of Royal Victorian (ex & current Queen of Burnaby) at Orcas Island back in the 90's during her very brief stint on the Anacortes - San Juans - Sidney route. Unfortunately, it never really panned out. She was only on the run for 13 days when WSF pulled the plug on that experiment.
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Post by Balfour on Mar 30, 2010 20:57:56 GMT -8
I've been working hard on on the new WCF ale. I will also be revealing and sampling a new beer commemorating BC Ferries' 50th Anniversary. ;D
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Mirrlees
Voyager
Bathtub!
Deck Engineer- Queen of Richmond
Posts: 1,013
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Post by Mirrlees on Mar 30, 2010 21:11:36 GMT -8
I will bring my photos of Queen of the North on Route 17 making the turn-around at Westview! I'll meet you guys in Horseshoe Bay.
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 30, 2010 21:43:50 GMT -8
Will Neil be attending? I have a BCF 1968 schedule for him that he can add to his marvelous collection. It details the planned 2-boat daily Inside Passage service, with the QPR & QKB operating opposite one another. The front cover of the schedule has an artist's drawing of the twin ferries passing one another with Boat Bluff light house in the background. This is really a collector's item.
Unfortunately WAC Bennett killed the plans to build the QKB just days after the 1968 schedule went to print.
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Post by Ferryman on Mar 30, 2010 21:46:39 GMT -8
Yes, I'll be the there as the Captain that day. Perfect timing, Mr. Horn.
We had the engines fired up for the first time on the Richmond in nearly a year today. She sure belched out alot of smoke. The horns finally recieved a bit of a tuning because they sounded like a dieing seagull last year. I'm hoping for more of a thurough documenting of this trip. This year I won't be able to film it because I'll be stuck doing more important duties....such as making sure this ship doesn't run aground.....for the third time. I was hoping Mill Bay would be able to handle the video camera duties again.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Mar 31, 2010 5:44:43 GMT -8
I've been working hard on on the new WCF ale. I will also be revealing and sampling a new beer commemorating BC Ferries' 50th Anniversary. ;D Is that the one where one batch was so powerful the keg exploded and nearly took down the neighbours garage?
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Post by Balfour on Mar 31, 2010 9:01:25 GMT -8
I've been working hard on on the new WCF ale. I will also be revealing and sampling a new beer commemorating BC Ferries' 50th Anniversary. ;D Is that the one where one batch was so powerful the keg exploded and nearly took down the neighbours garage? Yup that's the one! I've toned it down so it doesn't blow up this time.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Mar 31, 2010 10:09:11 GMT -8
Is that the one where one batch was so powerful the keg exploded and nearly took down the neighbours garage? Yup that's the one! I've toned it down so it doesn't blow up this time. I think the goal was "1% of alcohol volume for each year of BCF existence". That's one strong ale...........makes barley-wine look like fairy-pee.... ;D
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Mar 31, 2010 10:11:05 GMT -8
Is that the one where one batch was so powerful the keg exploded and nearly took down the neighbours garage? Yup that's the one! I've toned it down so it doesn't blow up this time. Good, because the ship's carpenter was getting tired of making you new barrels...plus I think the weapons officer was getting a little jealous!
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Post by Curtis on Mar 31, 2010 10:46:21 GMT -8
Can only wait for the fun to begin tomorrow. Just need to find my boarding pass.
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Post by lmtengs on Mar 31, 2010 18:31:44 GMT -8
I'll come and bring my QotN life-jacket! How are the weather conditions gonna pan out on that day? Foggy as usual, I expect?? We won't be able to get many good photos of the Ex-Queen of Vancouver then It'll still be a good trip Are we entering via the MCD, then? Make sure to stock up on Sunshine Breakfasts! I'll help cook if someone else is willing to buy the food.
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Post by Scott (Former Account) on Mar 31, 2010 19:18:38 GMT -8
Yes, we will be boarding by the MCD.
The Queen of Surrey has finished its refit and will be heading back to Langdale early tomorrow morning. Because of this, we will be boarding the 'Richmond at Berth 1 at 9:00 AM tomorrow...
See everyone tomorrow! ;D
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Post by BreannaF on Mar 31, 2010 21:16:29 GMT -8
Just wanted to send a note from the road that I was on my way to meet everyone again for the trip!
I sure don't want to repeat the trouble with taking pictures from last year. I tried some of that fine ale last year, and while it was great, perhaps it was a bit too good and may have affected the quality of my photography. I sure hope to not do that again.
I left right after work this afternoon and my trip so far was "ferry geek direct". That means that coming up I-5, I took a left over the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to Bremerton. Rode the Kitsap over to Seattle. After having a quick dinner at Ivars, I headed back over to Bainbridge on the Wenatchee, then up to Kingston and back over to Edmonds on the Spokane. It was quite a trip this afternoon, and I took SOOOO many pictures. Too many to show for now, but it will make for a nice trip report for later.
Well, I'm almost to the border, so I had better sign off for now, so I can get plenty of rest for the big day tomorrow. See you all then! ;D
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 1, 2010 8:42:28 GMT -8
You sleepy heads!! I got to the terminal early and was ushered aboard the QofR for a managers discretion sailing. Since the loads were light, all 20 of passengers, we were treated to unlimited Sunshine Breakfasts and BC Clam Chowder. Typical for the QofR, mid-sailing the ferry came to full stop and while we drifted we were all asked to sign the confidentiality/secrecy agreement. No one refused but I had a strong feeling that anyone who had would have been given a oar and an inflateable raft. BTW (shortform just for Flug) a complimentary dry run of the Spa Service for the Spirits is set up the forward lounge. I am not sure if it will be repeated for the 9am.
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Post by Mike C on Apr 1, 2010 10:06:12 GMT -8
Update from on board: After the free trial of the spa service/massage therapy, I am currently in an excess of pain and unable to move from the comfortable, dogwood chair, and am now on the 11 AM.
Updates pending as events unfold... Ernie's hour is coming up shortly.
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D'Elete BC in NJ
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Post by D'Elete BC in NJ on Apr 1, 2010 11:35:25 GMT -8
Queen of Richmond was seen sailing towards Howe Sound with Pasage Island on the starboard hand and Bowen Island on the port hand. A webcam at Burrard Bridge captured the vessel, she is the small white speck off Bowen Island on a line of sight from Kits Point out to Bowen Island. Having reached Horseshoe Bay at approximatly 1120, she continued on her course north, steaming towards Anvil Island. Unfortunately one of the kegs brought aboard was painted white with serial numbers, leaving one of the Deck Apes to mistakenly place it on a a life raft rack when lifeboat drill was starting to commence once the ferry was offshore from Richmond, north of Sand Heads. A turn of the release handle let the keg slide down the rack and splash into the water and later sank. Captain Scott is currently investigating the incident. No, no, it's okay, it was just a barrel of nails I put aside just in case we had a repeat of last year's little fiasco...no ale was harmed!
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Post by Kahloke on Apr 1, 2010 19:35:27 GMT -8
I thought Captain Ferryman was supposed to be the skipper today. What happened?
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 1, 2010 20:00:06 GMT -8
I had a good time today, with the various duties and responsibilites that come with such a trip.
Thanks to all those who were involved and helped make it happen.
Thanks to Paul for doing the charts and to Jordan for the kegs.
I can't wait for next year.
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Post by BreannaF on Apr 2, 2010 22:37:44 GMT -8
Well, as you all know by now, I missed the 0900 departure for this epic trip. I am truly saddened by the events. In fact, I just got home from my trip North. As I said in the post above, I had spent my trip up riding every ferry in sight and taking loads of pictures. Well, the whole trip unraveled on Thursday morning. I woke bright and early from the hotel in Bellingham, and I was really anxious to get started. I mostly skipped breakfast, but I did grab a couple of apples from the breakfast bar in the lobby. It felt good to be heading up to BC for a long weekend, and the crossing at the border was pretty clear. Well, things went downhill from there. I pull up to the smiling agent, hand him my passport, and he starts to frown. What is THAT you are trying to bring through here. And, on the seat on my right, is a half eaten apple. Oh the humanity! Now there will be forms to fill out and paperwork to do. How could I have been so stupid! Anyway, it became apparent after an hour that I wouldn't make it in time for the cruise, so I decided to turn around at the border and head back. After all, I could find something else to do on my weekend off. Well, I approach the border on the US side. They seem skeptical when I tell them that I had turned around at the border -- like some extra scrutiny might be needed. He asked me why I had been going to Canada, and proudly told him that it was just to ride around on ferries all weekend, including a ride on the Queen of Richmond. Hummm, he said. Apparently he hadn't heard of a ferry called the Queen of Richmond, and thought I was trying to fool him, so they took me aside and searched everything. He actually accused me of lying to him! In the end, they let me go on my way, but they confiscated my camera, saying that they wanted to investigate why I might be in possession of so many pictures of potential strategic targets like ferry boats. Somehow, he didn't believe my explanation of why I had been on three different ferries the previous day, and was "evasive" about why I was going to spend a few more days randomly riding ferries. "Who else in Canada could verify that you were going to go to a ferry enthusiast event?" he asked. "Well, I said. You can ask Flugel Horn. Or Coastal Skier. Or Ferryman...." Somehow, he wasn't impressed with the names of my contacts. So, I prepared to drive away, labeled as a suspect, and minus my camera and a half-eaten apple. The border agent then typed a few more things into his computer, then said, "Wait a minute!" What else could it be now? He told me to wait a minute, and went off to get something. Apparently, in another similar event in 2002, they had kept my camera then, too. They were done with it now, and were just waiting for me to return so I could collect it. So now I have my old camera back, the one without a zoom feature on it, but it's back. Actually, I was looking at the old camera, and found that I still had a few pictures on it. In fact, there were even a few of the Queen of Richmond: In the first picture, the top of the QoR can be clearly seen just to the left of the Pacificats: In the next photo, the QoR is obviously right behind the first row of ferries: Finally, in this photo, the Queen of Richmond (in the foreground) is clearly seen transiting Active Pass: With this information in hand, the border agent let me go -- directly into the care of the Whatcom County Sheriff who decided to hold me for 24 hours to investigate the state of my mental health and whether I was a threat to myself and others. Apparently I am not too much of a threat, since they let me go home. All in all, an interesting adventure! Looking forward to next year's spring cruise! ;D
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,886
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Post by Mill Bay on Apr 3, 2010 8:52:20 GMT -8
Update from on board: After the free trial of the spa service/massage therapy, I am currently in an excess of pain and unable to move from the comfortable, dogwood chair, and am now on the 11 AM. Updates pending as events unfold... Ernie's hour is coming up shortly. Suffering from too much excess pain? Sounds like time to go work it off up in the rigging. Ernie's hour will be taken up by and extended commentary about spelling and punctuation styles, courtesy of the rather peculiar language a certain reporter in this thread used in his posts. Maybe that's the Queen of Richmond effect, or maybe it's just a bunch of marine-lingo but I find it fascination and worth a good episode's broadcast. Guess the selected song for this trip was once again ' Stop the World, I Want to get off'. Always fitting after drinking the onboard bilgewater on the Queen of Richmond.
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Post by Barnacle on Apr 4, 2010 4:03:51 GMT -8
Thanks for making the trip down San Juan Channel for the photo op, guys! I really appreciated it. Unfortunately, I didn't realize until about an hour later that there wasn't any film in my camera.
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