Koastal Karl
Voyager 
Been on every BC Ferry now!!!!!
Posts: 7,747
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Post by Koastal Karl on Feb 14, 2011 9:06:58 GMT -8
I am planning to do a day trip down to Anacortes and I am wondering if anyone knows how busy the border will be Friday mornings Southbound into the US and Friday evenings Northbound into Canada?  Is there any way I can get stats or info on the busiest times to cross the border??? I am planning to drive over on the 7am ferry from Swartz Bay to Tsawwassen then drive down to Anacortes and take the 11:20am Sealth sailing to Orcas and then the 12:55pm from Orcas to Anacortes. Then do some other stuff in around Bellingham then drive back to Tsawwassen for the 9pm ferry to Swartz Bay. |
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Post by Ferryman on Feb 14, 2011 10:39:02 GMT -8
If I were you, I'd plan by default that it would be at least an hour to get across the border on a Friday. You never know though, it could be easy to get through and you could just cruise right on through. I'd say the 11:30am ferry should be alright to try and aim for. Make a Plan B in case something buggers up.
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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 Feb 14, 2011 11:04:46 GMT -8
My plan B would be to take the 2:05pm from Anacortes to Friday Harbour and the 3:40pm from Friday Harbour to Anacortes which again is the Sealth which is one of the ships I want to travel on. Coming back shouldent be a problem as we would have lots of time for the 9pm. Although the Saturday schedule from Anacortes to the San Juans on that ship look better so I dont know which day yet I would go.
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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 Feb 17, 2011 13:53:07 GMT -8
Would Friday evenings northbound be busy at Peace Arch??? What about the truck crossing is that usually faster??? If we left Anacortes by 6pm would we make the 9pm from Tsawwassen is what I am wondering?? Although I guess there is the 10:45pm to Duke Point if we had to go to Nanaimo!
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Post by Kahloke on Feb 17, 2011 19:04:26 GMT -8
Would Friday evenings northbound be busy at Peace Arch??? What about the truck crossing is that usually faster??? If we left Anacortes by 6pm would we make the 9pm from Tsawwassen is what I am wondering?? Although I guess there is the 10:45pm to Duke Point if we had to go to Nanaimo! I don't know, obviously, but I wouldn't think it would be too bad this time of year. The last time I was up in Canada was January 8th/9th. We crossed the border (heading north into Canada) at Peace Arch a little before 18:00 on a Saturday night and there was no wait - no one in front of us even. You never really know. It's about an 80 minute drive from Anacortes to the border. If you leave Anacortes around 18:00, that puts you at the border around 19:20. Even if you have a 30-40 minute wait, which I kind of doubt you will, you should still be able to make the 21:00 sailing out of Tsawwassen if it isn't full. |
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Post by lmtengs on Feb 17, 2011 20:03:45 GMT -8
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Post by Kahloke on Feb 17, 2011 21:02:46 GMT -8
Keep in mind, too, you'll have plenty of time to make up your mind about which crossing you want to use. There is an electronic reader sign with border wait information before you get into Bellingham, and then again before you get to Blaine. Unless the wait times at either Blaine crossing are really long, it's not worth going to any of the crossings further east. Aldergrove might be "do-able" but Sumas is too far away. There's no way you'd ever make the 21:00 sailing from Tsawwassen if you had to detour out to Sumas. Honestly, I don't think the border wait will be that bad at Blaine, but you'll find out  |
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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 Feb 19, 2011 18:15:16 GMT -8
Well it looks like we might actually do this on a Saturday. Anyone know what Sat mornings are like Southbound and Northbound in the evening?? Probably not to bad I wouldent think.
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Post by Kahloke on Feb 23, 2011 12:37:52 GMT -8
Highway 20 from Burlington to Anacortes is very good, it's somewhat like the Pat Bay Highway (4 lanes for much of its length, and few stop lights. It's freeway like past a road junction that goes north to Bow-Edison (east of the canal high rise bridge). Two lanes from Burlington to a short distance west, and then turns into 4 lanes. Actually, Hwy 20 is 4 lanes all the way into Burlington now. WSDOT finally widened out that last stretch from the Mount Vernon turnoff road to Burlington. |
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Post by Barnacle on Feb 23, 2011 22:53:41 GMT -8
If I were you, I'd try to do the B.C . part of the trip first, and snag the afternoon sail to Sidney if possible. Avoids the border times and provides tons of time to get to Anacortes, and it's only a short drive back home to Vic. Hasn't been a Sidney sailing this time of year since 2002, and the afternoon sailing is Summer schedule only... KARL et al--be advised that if you change your day to Saturday or Sunday, there is a different schedule in play on the weekends. |
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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 Feb 24, 2011 16:15:59 GMT -8
It's not an hour and half from the border to Tsawwassen it's only like 30 mins. It's about 1hr and 20 from Anacortes. The trip I was doing either this Sat or next Saturday would just be from Anacortes to Friday Harbour and spending a few hours in Friday Harbour then coming back. I will probably go again the spring and do the trip from Sidney to Friday Harbour and then either explore the island or just island hop on the Evergreen State then go to Anacortes then stay over probably take the car and maybe go ride the Chetzy the only thing with doing that and walking on from Sidney is have to go back to Sidney early the next day.
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Post by lmtengs on Feb 24, 2011 16:48:24 GMT -8
It's not an hour and half from the border to Tsawwassen it's only like 30 mins. 15 minutes in light traffic from/to Peach Arch/Pac Highway, if you're speeding between 6-12km/h. Watch for cops on the 99 though, they love setting speed-traps down that stretch of road. |
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Post by Kahloke on Feb 24, 2011 16:55:20 GMT -8
Karl's right about the driving times. I've done Tsawwassen to Anacortes a few times before. The only wildcard is the border - you never know what the Lineups will be like until you get there.
BTW - WSF has already published the Spring 2011 Sailing Schedule, available through their website. For ANA-SID, this is what it looks like:
Westbound
Lv Ana: 8:30am
Lv FH: 9:55am
At Sid: 11:10am
Eastbound
Lv Sid: 12:05pm
Lv FH: 1:55pm
Ar Ana: 3:00pm
Most likely it will be Chelan operating the route.
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Post by EGfleet on Feb 24, 2011 19:28:03 GMT -8
Hasn't been a Sidney sailing this time of year since 2002, and the afternoon sailing is Summer schedule only... KARL et al--be advised that if you change your day to Saturday or Sunday, there is a different schedule in play on the weekends. Current summer schedule has this routing eastbound. Sidney B.C. Friday Harbor Orcas Anacortes 12:05 1:55 ----- 3:00 The west bound sail starts at 8.30 AM, so that would mean an overnighter in Anacortes to make it to the terminal. From Anacortes, two hours to the border (5 PM) and then an hour and a half to Tsawwassen, so there would be arrival in time for the 8 o'clock boat back to Swartz Bay, allowing for lots of road time. Keep in mind there is a requirement to be at the Sidney Terminal well before sail time for customs, etc. If I were Karl, I'd start on the Sidney side and sail east. Much better and there's better flexibility in arriving at Tsawwassen. That can't possibly be the "current summer schedule." First off, Orcas was dropped last year. The ferry only goes from Anacortes to Friday Harbor to Sidney. They dropped Orcas when touring watches were done away with on the international boat. Secondly, there is no summer schedule released from WSF yet because the legislature hasn't worked through the ferry budget yet. Currently plans drop the evening sailing in the summer to allow the Chelan to work the evenings in the islands, which will drop the fifth boat from service in the islands. Oh, it will be Chelan.  The Elwha is scheduled to be in Eagle Harbor at the start of Spring Schedule. The latest maintenance schedule (updated today) actually has the Chelan down as the Sidney boat for the first time. |
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Post by Barnacle on Feb 24, 2011 22:32:25 GMT -8
Karl keeps saying he is planning on making this trip "this Saturday or next..." Why are you all nattering on about Spring and Summer schedules? ;D
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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 Feb 25, 2011 16:35:59 GMT -8
Probably be next Saturday if we do this trip! The one good thing if they drop the evening sailing during the summer is the afternoon sailing will have to stop at Friday Harbour meaning we can get off in Friday Harbour and explore the island for the afternoon then go to Anacortes! Cant do that with the stupid evening stop at Friday Harbour. Although it makes it harder as a walk on as you have to back early the next day to Sidney unless you take a car with you! What is the busier sailing in the summer the direct afternoon sailing or the evening?? I have taken the evening sailing a few times but never the direct non stop one. The boat might be more full if they only had one sailing in the summer! Be nice if they have more though as far as convenience goes.
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Is there any way I can get stats or info on the busiest times to cross the border??? 
The Elwha is scheduled to be in Eagle Harbor at the start of Spring Schedule. The latest maintenance schedule (updated today) actually has the Chelan down as the Sidney boat for the first time.