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Post by WettCoast on Jun 20, 2017 10:00:21 GMT -8
The summer sailings commenced mid-May. Can't speak to 1966 as I was still toiling away on route 2, however if memory serves correct I believe the summer schedules for routes one and two also commenced mid-May. 21 May 1966  |
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Post by WettCoast on Sept 19, 2017 18:43:59 GMT -8
Bear Cove Dawn ... The Northern Expedition, about to commence loading @ Bear Cove Terminal, Port Hardy - 10 August 2017 at about 6 AM  © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr
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Nick
Voyager 
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,080 
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Post by Nick on Nov 24, 2017 16:56:31 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Nov 24, 2017 17:51:04 GMT -8
John MacFarlane and Orval Bouchard: 2 classy and interesting people who do their work very well. It was nice to read a Nauticapedia article on that ship and her crew. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Feb 8, 2018 16:14:58 GMT -8
Here's an article on Captain Orval Bouchard, senior master of the Northern Expedition. John MacFarlane does excellent marine history writing. HERE |
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 10, 2018 6:12:45 GMT -8
Northern Expedition rests @ Prince Rupert's Fairview Terminal prior to departure for Port Hardy 9 March 2018 JST, posted @ Bella Bella, where there is cell service ...  © WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 13, 2018 19:27:41 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Mar 17, 2018 14:21:48 GMT -8
Having not taken my inaugural ride on the 'NorEx' yet, I'm curious as to one design feature of her from pre-build days. Didn't initial lay-out drawings of the 'NorEx' include a stand-alone bar/cocktail lounge or am I just way off here?  The 'bar/lounge' thing, especially on route 10 has always been a curious on again, off again sort of thing. The 'Queen of the North' had a permanent bar. |
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Post by Scott on Mar 17, 2018 14:31:41 GMT -8
Having not taken my inaugural ride on the 'NorEx' yet, I'm curious as to one design feature of her from pre-build days. Didn't initial lay-out drawings of the 'NorEx' include a stand-alone bar/cocktail lounge or am I just way off here? The 'bar/lounge' thing, especially on route 10 has always been a curious on again, off again sort of thing. The 'Queen of the North' had a permanent bar. The original design from Steen Friis included a standalone piano bar. That was later modified by incorporating the bar into the Vista Restaurant (buffet), similar to the Queen of the North, but with no grand piano. The bar and buffet are only available during the summer season. |
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Post by Starsteward on Mar 17, 2018 20:19:45 GMT -8
Having not taken my inaugural ride on the 'NorEx' yet, I'm curious as to one design feature of her from pre-build days. Didn't initial lay-out drawings of the 'NorEx' include a stand-alone bar/cocktail lounge or am I just way off here? The 'bar/lounge' thing, especially on route 10 has always been a curious on again, off again sort of thing. The 'Queen of the North' had a permanent bar. The original design from Steen Friis included a standalone piano bar. That was later modified by incorporating the bar into the Vista Restaurant (buffet), similar to the Queen of the North, but with no grand piano. The bar and buffet are only available during the summer season. Thanks for the update 'Scott', much appreciated. I would really like to see BCFS create and institute innovative, imaginative marketing plans to actually set a GROWTH target for the months of January through the end of March. 'Empty-nesters', with or without adult children predominantly from the E.U. and the U.K. are targeted successfully by many other foreign tourism groups. I would do a big push for the same demographic group from the Mid-West and Northeastern States of the U.S. |
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Post by Mike on Apr 1, 2018 16:39:35 GMT -8
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Post by Scott on Apr 2, 2018 1:25:36 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 2, 2018 14:13:08 GMT -8
Ripple Rock was reduced in height, 60 years ago today. I drove up to Campbell River Saturday afternoon to see the NorEx as she made her way down to FMU. These photos are from chasing her from Seymour Narrows to Miracle Beach.
March 31, 2018The following images posted by this account are copyright © S.A. ~ Unauthorized use is prohibited.
 BC Ferries - Northern Expedition southbound in Seymour Narrows. by Scott, on Flickr |
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 22, 2018 9:05:32 GMT -8
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 23, 2018 11:29:48 GMT -8
I never realized the 'NorEx' had that 'squat' a backside to her. From a distance the breadth of her stern doesn't appear as wide as it does in the close-up.
Perhaps the vessel's name and port of registry on at least one side of the ramp might be an appropriate addition.
I have some ideas for the other side of the ramp but I dare not give BCFS any silly ideas they might copy from the folks that run 'Translink' in Greater Vancouver.
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Post by Mike on May 8, 2018 8:51:44 GMT -8
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Post by Low Light Mike on May 8, 2018 12:50:47 GMT -8
Perfect morning light. Thanks for being there to make this photograph. I'm assuming that this was too early for the usual 'stock photo' Lions Gate shipspotting people. |
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Post by Mike on May 8, 2018 13:30:26 GMT -8
Perfect morning light. Thanks for being there to make this photograph. I'm assuming that this was too early for the usual 'stock photo' Lions Gate shipspotting people. I didn't see anyone else taking photos of her, so I believe it was too early for the shipspotters. |
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Post by WettCoast on Jul 3, 2018 18:06:15 GMT -8
My son Ben came home to Kitimat for a few days. He and a friend came north via the ferry (Northern Expedition) and are now driving back to Vancouver via Prince George.
The weather for their ferry trip was not the best. Ben tells me that they did do something unusual with the route that they took in that they missed Bella Bella altogether. Apparently there was a commercial fishing opening in the vicinity of BB that would have slowed the NorEx considerably with dodging boats & nets. So the crew chose an alternate route via Johnson & Return channels. I am uncertain if this route also includes the infamous bit of water known as Gunboat Passage.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jul 3, 2018 19:22:47 GMT -8
MSo the crew chose an alternate route via Johnson & Return channels. I am uncertain if this route also includes the infamous bit of water known as Gunboat Passage. This would be north of Gunboat Passage. The Johnson/Return route is what the Route-40 Queen of Chilliwack would take on Sunday nights on her trip from Klemtu to Ocean Falls. This route goes along the northside of Cunningham and Chatfield Islands. |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 20, 2018 21:39:21 GMT -8
Revenge for the Northern Adventure versus the Northern Expedition - Prince Rupert harbour* 19 August 2018 *The photo looks as if the NorAd is about to ram the NorEx, but of course this was not the case. The NorEx is seen here just underway for Port Hardy, via the Inside Passage. The NorAd is heading into the just vacated Prince Rupert berth where it will soon start loading for Haida Gwaii. These Prince Rupert harbour 'meets' between these two vessels are a frequent occurrence during the summer season. 
© WCK-JST by Jim Thorne, on Flickr |
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Post by WettCoast on Aug 23, 2018 22:13:31 GMT -8
A fine summer 'expedition' south to Vancouver Island begins in Prince Rupert's harbour aboard BC Ferries' Northern Expedition.
No, the NorEx has not acquired any new masts (like the SoBC). Those are cell phone & other communication towers on Digby Island, across the harbour from Prince Rupert.
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Post by WettCoast on Mar 25, 2019 21:29:52 GMT -8
Northern Expedition entering Rupert Harbour in perfect weather on Sunday, following a 22-hour overnight journey north from Port Hardy - 24 March 2019.
I'd say that she is looking pretty good following six months of fall & winter seas in Hecate Strait & Queen Charlotte Sound. She is due to be relieved by the NorAd so she can go south for her annual refit.
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Post by WettCoast on Apr 3, 2019 20:22:55 GMT -8
Another shot of the NorEx in Rupert Harbour on the afternoon of March 24 ... |
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Post by Mike on Jun 17, 2019 8:42:55 GMT -8
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