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Post by Esquimalt Queen on Apr 20, 2009 21:07:54 GMT -8
Here's a big "Thank You" to Wett Coast Kid and Retro for the excellent photos and video!
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Nick
Voyager 
Chief Engineer - Queen of Richmond
Posts: 2,080 
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Post by Nick on Apr 20, 2009 22:02:41 GMT -8
Thank you, so much, for those photos. The ones of the three ships are phenomenal. I am very impressed with BCF for putting the effort in to recognize the contribution the QPR has had to BC's coastal history.
Thank you BCF, and Steve Poole in particular, for making this happen.
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rt1commuter
Chief Steward
JP - Overworked grad student
Posts: 167
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Post by rt1commuter on Apr 20, 2009 23:26:19 GMT -8
I noticed the spacing between the NorEx and the Ugly Greek is much larger than the corresponding spacing with the QPR. I wonder if this is symbolic of the spot the QotN would occupy were she still around? Probably just a coincidence...
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Post by Low Light Mike on Apr 21, 2009 6:02:28 GMT -8
I noticed the spacing between the NorEx and the Ugly Greek is much larger than the corresponding spacing with the QPR. I wonder if this is symbolic of the spot the QotN would occupy were she still around? Probably just a coincidence... "Missing-wing" formation? |
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 21, 2009 6:29:25 GMT -8
I noticed the spacing between the NorEx and the Ugly Greek is much larger than the corresponding spacing with the QPR. I wonder if this is symbolic of the spot the QotN would occupy were she still around? Probably just a coincidence... "Missing-wing" formation? Flug I think you mean a "missing man formation". There are two versions deployed by airforces. In one, a v shaped formation of 5 or more aircraft approach, and just before it is front and centre the second from the middle aircraft pulls up in a steep climb. In another the V simply approaches in a 5 or 7 man formation with the second from the middle aircraft missing. I have seen the Snowbirds do it following a crash of one of their vintage Tudor aircraft. The most moving I have seen was at Langley in Virginia, a wing of aircraft was returning from deployment on an aircraft carrier just after the first Gulf War. It was Easter time and I can't recall the year. Witney Houston that night did her famous welcome home to the troups concert if someone is curious. Two formations of F14's screamed over the field. Each in the missing man formation. The woman beside me at the fence told me neither were war casualties but "other" deaths whatever that meant. Coincidently my parents leave on Thursday for the Langley Air Show and they claim it is the best they have ever seen. Farnborough is bigger but spread over a couple of days and half civilian so they found it less "exciting". I have never seen either and would some day like to do both. So you see Geekness is sometimes multi-disciplinal  and mult-generational  . Sometimes not. Maybe someone can photoshop a pic of the QoftN into the pic. I am sure BCFerries will be pleased that our sentimentality keeps bringing up the ill fated ferry. Not that I am guilty at all of that (turns sarcasm button off). ***Never mind Flug already said it. I will step away from the laptop as I have had copious amount so of Benilyn to deal with a chest cold. So if my posts are even more nonsensical than usual that is why . |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,956
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Post by FNS on Apr 21, 2009 7:00:56 GMT -8
04-21-2009 0730PDT  The QUEEN OF PRINCE RUPERT passes Port Hardy. She passed without entry, though.   This may be the last time we would see her on a BCF tracker. I suggest you save these images to your computer and backup drives for posterity. As you can see, I provide you with a clean chart and one with her inset. |
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Post by northernwanderer on Apr 21, 2009 8:01:50 GMT -8
Greetings from aboard the gracious Queen of Prince Rupert! Good to see you up here Graham! Anyway, we're currently just North of Alert Bay and heading to Tsawwassen. Our ETA for Tsawwassen is 2100 though we're not sure if we can keep that. We left Prince Rupert late due to a lot of heckling with pallets of left over crap from the NA that the Prince Rupert terminal had to deal with and didn't want any of it laying about. Anyway, We'll be stopping into Tsawwassen for about an hour max to drop of the crew's vehicles. Then we'll be heading up the river to Dea's and will be mooring to the wall as opposed to a berth, hence the tsawwassen disembarkent of vehicles. We have nothing to eat except left over cake, sour milk and questionable tank water. My god I wish they could get the air conditioning working, its bloody boiling in the mess room right now, and my cabin L-19 is like a sauna!
A lot of the crew who are attached to the old girl have shed a tear or two. This is an epic voyage in my career and I can't help but get a little choked up knowing that she will no longer ply the waters of British Columbia. She is a graceful lady and has worked hard long years and served the people of the coast very well. I am infinitely pleased to be aboard her during her decomissioning sail south, and to have worked aboard such a wonderful, classy lady.
Interestingly enough, some of my favorite memories are of the QPR teaching me a lesson and telling me not to get too cocky. Last summer I flew down 14 steps of pain in the Port quarter companionway (I still have a bump on my leg from the huge bruise it left) And when going into Ocean Falls under command of Captain "The Polish Prince of Darkness" Shiraz, hard over to midship to hardover I smashed my jaw spinning the old brass wheel sweatting like crazy.
So, If you want a last ditch effort to take a photo of her, Tsawwassen at 9pm is your best option, and it takes roughly an hour and a half to get up the river and tugs secured.
Yours truly,
-Carl L.
Deckhand
Queen of Prince Rupert.
PS: Graham, I can't wait to see your Photos! I was on the wheel during the 3 vessel photo shoot on Sunday, and Monday I was down below with the Bow door during the ceremony.
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 21, 2009 8:50:46 GMT -8
I plan to be in the area of Seymore Narrows now to see her sail past. I'm trying to track her on Siitech to time it just right. I'm somewhat doubting that it was be as late as 14:00 before she cruises through the narrows, since she's making good time right now.
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Post by northernwanderer on Apr 21, 2009 9:05:04 GMT -8
My next wheel turn is at 1100 so I'll tell you what our gps position is and what our updated eta of Seymour Narrows is.
Yours Truly,
Carl L.
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,956
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Post by FNS on Apr 21, 2009 9:39:05 GMT -8
My next wheel turn is at 1100 so I'll tell you what our gps position is and what our updated eta of Seymour Narrows is. Yours Truly, Carl L. I think the term you would use is "trick". I get this term from one of the BC Ferries books I have in my collection. The meaning of this is: "A period of time at the helm". 04-21-2009 1030PDT  She is now more than half way between Port Hardy and Kelsey Bay, her original southern terminus. |
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Post by northernwanderer on Apr 21, 2009 9:45:33 GMT -8
Our hostlers Wife is going to be on the Campbell River fishing warf and we'll be blowing the ships whistle for those fallowing us down.
And as for a trick at the wheel, Thats just a random piece of jargon with no nautical history. I've been offshore working on cruise ships and on offshore anchor handling tug and supply vessels operating in the oil fields. I'm pretty sure I know what a wheel turn is.
Yours Truly,
Carl L.
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,887
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Post by Mill Bay on Apr 21, 2009 9:53:40 GMT -8
My next wheel turn is at 1100 so I'll tell you what our gps position is and what our updated eta of Seymour Narrows is. Yours Truly, Carl L. I think the term you would use is "trick". I get this term from one of the BC Ferries books I have in my collection. The meaning of this is: "A period of time at the helm". 'Trick' is more often a railway term, referring to the shift rotation on duty, most often in reference to the lonely souls working the night shift, or 'third-trick'. Maybe they thought they'd been tricked into being stuck on the night shift |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,956
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Post by FNS on Apr 21, 2009 10:11:23 GMT -8
Thanks for the lessons on the use of the word "trick". I've learned something new today!   With the QPR out of range on the northern "in-service" tracker, BCF has taken her plotting out and added the NORTHERN ADVENTURE. |
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Post by northernwanderer on Apr 21, 2009 11:20:17 GMT -8
Current Position:
50 Deg 22' 127" North
125 Deg 42' 593" West
We slowed down to twos on the sticks and dipped into Kelsey Bay so the QPR could say her final goodbye to her old friend. Back on 10s and roughly within the next hour/ hour and a half we shall be entering Seymour Narrows. We also saw a humpback whale waving goodbye to us. The sun came out for that occassion. It was quite delightful.
Yours truly,
Carl L.
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Post by Northern Exploration on Apr 21, 2009 11:33:08 GMT -8
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,956
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Post by FNS on Apr 21, 2009 11:57:10 GMT -8
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Post by Ferryman on Apr 21, 2009 12:08:55 GMT -8
Quickly checking in from Campbell River. It's getting ready to rain  Cheers! |
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Post by Nickfro on Apr 21, 2009 12:39:05 GMT -8
The Queen of Prince Rupert has put the pedal to the metal, running thru Seymour Narrows at a blistering 21.5 knots!
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,956
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Post by FNS on Apr 21, 2009 13:11:04 GMT -8
The Queen of Prince Rupert has put the pedal to the metal, running thru Seymour Narrows at a blistering 21.5 knots! The narrows' current is running a good flowing speed to the south as seen in the Bloedel area webcam. 04-21-2009 1400PDT  Here she was by Bloedel.  A sequential still video of this capture will be on YouTube this evening. |
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 21, 2009 13:21:33 GMT -8
Excellent to have real-time postings from northernwanderer!
I'm pleased that you guys did a dip into Kelsey Bay on the way as that was the terminal I worked out of during my time on the QPR. We could never be too sure of arival times at Kelsey Bay when the tides were running as there was a good chance a Captain would wipe out the port side of the ship or bounce off and end up half a mile down-stream in Johnstone Strait. It too a crafty, skillful Master to come into the bay at the right speed, right angle and try to get the port bow close enough to the dolphin so he could, get a line ashore and use the dolphin as a pivot to get the stern around straight and then 'give-er' pedal to the metal so as to get by the current that ran just outside the bay.
Good to hear the planned whistle salutes to the various communities as you head South.
Carl, sorry to hear about the lack of rations aboard, I may have left a chocolate bar behind in Cabin P 15 from my last trip aboard on April 1st.( I had come up to do what was supposed to be the last round trip)
Had some good chats with your 'Black Prince of Darkness', during the trip and also with Chief Engineer Lloyd Sim.
I'm going to get some pictures today at Tsawwassen and at Deas if all goes according to plan.
I agree, the Queen of Prince Rupert has been a fine ship over the course of her service and like you stated, I too learned some valuable lessons of various nature during my time aboard her and her retirement has left me feeling like I'm about to lose a dear friend.
Many of our forum members have mentioned the point that there was indeed something 'Special' about this ship and I believe those of use who have worked or sailed aboard her truly know what the 'Special' really means.
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Post by Starsteward on Apr 21, 2009 13:34:44 GMT -8
Oh dear!, I knew it would happen..... I shouldn't have played that bell-ringing video from the ceremony as I did have a very teary moment but a huge thanks to Wett Coast Kidd and Retro for posting some amazing pictures and video.
I'm lousy at photoshop so I concurr with Flug that someone should take up the challenge and produce a picture of the sail past that includes the Queen of the North.
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Post by Canucks on Apr 21, 2009 13:46:16 GMT -8
Oh dear!, I knew it would happen..... I shouldn't have played that bell-ringing video from the ceremony as I did have a very teary moment but a huge thanks to Wett Coast Kidd and Retro for posting some amazing pictures and video. I'm lousy at photoshop so I concurr with Flug that someone should take up the challenge and produce a picture of the sail past that includes the Queen of the North. I am pretty good with photoshop but don't have any photos of the QotN. If someone wants to PM me one they don't mind being used in the photo then I'd be happy to do it. |
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Post by northernwanderer on Apr 21, 2009 16:36:43 GMT -8
Starsteward, good to hear your story We're just south of Texada Island now headed for Tsawwassen in way of Tango Alfa. So we won't be entering Dea's until sometime past midnight due to the low tide. My girlfriend is too kind waiting up to pick me up when we're finally off. The crew will sleep onboard for the night and fly/drive back to their respective places in the morning. I'm rather annoyed that I'll have such a short chance for sleep, I have to get home, add more clothes to my bags then fly up to Rupert with HawkAir to join the Expedition. Depending on whats going on, I should update a few times later. We've now resorted to eating the emergency rations for the lifeboats. Their not too bad actually, their very simular to shortcake in flavor and texture but slightly less crumbly and a bit of a berry flavoring. Definately not filling though I think we might try for something when we get to Tsawwassen. I live there so I could just Order a pizza to the ship lol. Yours truly, Carl L. |
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FNS
Voyager
The Empire Builder train of yesteryear in HO scale
Posts: 4,956
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Post by FNS on Apr 21, 2009 17:13:47 GMT -8
04-21-2009 1804PDT  Here as promised is my YouTube presentation of the QUEEN OF PRINCE RUPERT passing the Bloedel area of Seymour Narrows. The clock on this source still shows PST. Enjoy!
04-21-2009 1853PDT  We see the COASTAL INSPIRATION and QUEEN OF PRINCE RUPERT closing in on each other. Must be a special passing arrangement for another exchange of farewell whistles.  |
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,887
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Post by Mill Bay on Apr 21, 2009 18:33:22 GMT -8
Nearing Tsawwassen   [/center] |
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and mult-generational 
. Sometimes not.
