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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 6, 2007 20:14:27 GMT -8
So why does barnacle rate an interview, anyway? I was still using the old exchange-rates, and thought that 869 American was still the equivalent of 1,000 Canadian. But seriously, I think HornbyGuy is just upset that I didn't ask him the Monty Python Holy-Grail question, because he was all set to answer " What is the source of your speculation?" I was thinking that my style of Journalism was more like that of Erin Cebula at BCTV-Global or perhaps Leah McLaren at Globe & Mail. Both very fine journalists that I try to emulate at every opportunity.  Or maybe it's Dennis Miller from Weekend-Update. ----------------------------------------- (but in case anyone's wondering what the "criteria" is for having an interview done, I can tell you that it's simply at my whim). |
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Neil
Voyager 
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Post by Neil on Jun 7, 2007 10:38:52 GMT -8
(but in case anyone's wondering what the "criteria" is for having an interview done, I can tell you that it's simply at my whim). You interview on a whim? Does Christiane Amanpour interview the President of Syria on a whim? Does Barbara Walters ask Lindsay Lohan about the profound effect that Gandhi has had on her life simply because she feels like it? Does Ron McLean talk to Don Cherry just to show the product buyers at Harry Rosen what they should be ordering in for the fall season? No. They do it because the world needs to know. Egad, man, raise your standards a bit. And if there is any spare time between interviews, perhaps you could give us the scoop on a former correspondent of this fair forum who has been busy erasing all signs of his existence, depriving members of a veritable encyclopedia of maritime insights. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the lottery ticket scandal. The public is curious, and journalism requires bulldog tenacity, not whims. |
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Neil
Voyager
Posts: 7,095
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Post by Neil on Jun 7, 2007 15:11:49 GMT -8
Well, if you took me seriously, I've got an aircraft carrier you might be interested in (although that tale might have pre-dated your joining this august board). Signed, Hornby W. Guy (W. for 'Whimsy', my middle name.) |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 7, 2007 17:46:13 GMT -8
And if there is any spare time between interviews, perhaps you could give us the scoop on a former correspondent of this fair forum who has been busy erasing all signs of his existence, depriving members of a veritable encyclopedia of maritime insights. I'm wondering if it has anything to do with the lottery ticket scandal. I've dug around, and can say that the foreign-correspondent still frequents this forum, but just hasn't posted anything for a while. But he's still a regular visitor, and feels our love, as he is strong in the Force. Now, re "Whim-Gate", I'm thinking of replacing the whim-method with something else. Interview selection methods being considered include: - hypnosis - advice from Anthony Robbins - random # generator software, to match to someone's post-count. - online plebiscite However I'll likely continue to use a dictatorial abuse of power, guised as something else. |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 19, 2007 17:13:30 GMT -8
For those keeping up with regular posters, you'll likely notice a few UserName changes.
- Hornbyguy is now "Neil".
- Tsawwassen-Terminal is now "MisterA".
I'll leave it to them to explain any reasons or meanings for the re-brand. For now, T-Terminal's new name reasons are a mystery, but we can be sure that the change was well thought-out and somehow references public infrastructure.
ps: If Neil changes to "Coastal Neil", this will be yet another sign of the coming apocolypse......
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 19, 2007 20:10:50 GMT -8
Speaking of MisterA, he is just about at the 3,000 post mark. He likely has the highest ratio of non-ferries-posts to ferries-posts in the entire forum. This is mainly because of his transit topic passion, as well as the occasional social comment. GAJ, thanks for all of your participation here. I've learned lots from your posts.  |
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Post by Retrovision on Jun 19, 2007 20:45:20 GMT -8
Thank you for your aknowledgement, Mr. Horn. If anyone is wondering, my first 'handle' change, since trying gypsy, to 'misterA' is an overall re-categorization of how I've wished to project myself for a long while. I consider all mass transportation sacred and will never abate in my quest to promote it as a feasible alternative to the internal-combustion engine, a form of conveyance that I and many condemn. My current identity as 'misterA' is mostly a tribute to, one of my two middle names, Arnold, the name of my Gramps (Grandpa on my dad's side), an avid mariner throughout his life from serving aboard our county's Merchant Marine fleet regularly between the Bahamas and Halifax, both his and my family's homeland, by way of British colonization and the Eleutherans rejection from Britain, to becoming head steamship inspector for Canada's east coast. Long live Lambert Aronld Johnson, my gramps, and his legacy. |
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Mill Bay
Voyager
Long Suffering Bosun
Posts: 2,885 
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Post by Mill Bay on Jun 20, 2007 16:59:36 GMT -8
.... but you still haven't got us any photos of a BC Ferries brig, so how about doing something really outrageous onboard... nah, wouldn't work. They'd probably take your camera away before they locked you up... Is that a photo of a ferry in a brig, or someone (such as Graham) in a brig on the ferry that you want? |
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 22, 2007 22:34:05 GMT -8
:)Here's the much anticipated interview with Jim T., known here these days as "Wet Coast Kid". (answers are in bold)
===========================
When did you register as a member on this forum site?
In April 2006, a few weeks after the loss of the North. I guested for a short while under the name JST, my initials.
How did you originally find this site, and what were you looking for?
After the North sinking I was seeking out every scrap of news, which meant that I was ‘Googling’ for info. That is how I found this forum and the other BCFS Proboards forum. I was looking for other who were also in shock and in mourning.
What have your various usernames been?
Always it has been Wet Coast Kid or variations on that. At first it was wetcoastkidjst, and for a while it was Wet Coastal Kid.
What are some of your favourite discussion topics, and why?
Anything to do with north coast ferries, but I do take an interest in the pond crossings, also. I do love the excellent photography that is a hallmark of this forum. Keep it coming guys…
What drives you nuts on this forum?
The MSN English of some posters – i.e. lack of capitalization, punctuation, and bad spelling in spite of the availability of a reasonably descent spell checker. (Although the spell checker should be able to speak the Queen’s English.) This is not unique to this forum, however. Some posts are not that well thought out either.
What makes you smile on this forum?
Good discussion and great photography. The diversity of opinion is great.
Where were you born & raised, and how did ferries impact your early years up to adulthood?
I was born in Victoria in the old St. Joseph’s Hospital. I spent most of my kid years in Gordon Head, attending Gordon Head Elementary, Gordon Head Junior Secondary, Mt. Doug Senior Secondary, and later, UVic. In 1977, I needed a job and migrated north to the upper end of Douglas Channel.
My experience with traveling back and forth between the Island and Vancouver pre-dates BC Ferries. My dad’s parents lived in North Delta, on River Road, just above the Great Northern Railway tracks. A couple of times per year we would go and visit. I vaguely recall doing this on a CP Princess maybe when I was 3 years old. I also recall us waking up very early so that we could drive up to Nanaimo and catch Blackball over. That was probably in 1958 or 59. When BCF came on the scene, the trips became much easier as this was a very short route to where my Grandmother lived, and the frequent sailings were very convenient.
Later, by about 1970, I had become a runner – track and field, and cross country running, and there were frequent rips to Vancouver to meets at Stanley Park and various other places. Sometimes, due to time shortage, we would dress in our track suits and then warm up running laps on the car deck. If the ferry was not too busy the platform ramps made a good spot to do this. By that time I owned a decent camera, also.
How did you brother Dave's photos and drawings impact your own interest in ferries, and in their images?
Very large influence – David is a gifted artist. He has been drawing ships of our part of the world since the 1950’s. He probable has one of the best marine libraries in Canada. He has contributed to several books and magazine articles, including Janes’ Merchant Ships… A very huge influence.
What was a typical ferry trip for you, when you lived on the south coast? (route, ship, purpose, what-you-did-on-board)?
As a kid it was almost always Route 1 and the V’s. I am fairly sure that I would have ridden on the Sidney and the Tsawwassen in 1960-61, but I do not remember. Once I was in my later teens occasionally I would do a trip on Route 2. In those days I wandered around the ships, checking them out, just like today. I had a camera that used film which was expensive relatively speaking, so we did not take pictures of the chairs or carpets.
If you could have saved one or two pieces of memorabilia from your earlier days on ferries, what would it be? ie. something that would be cool to have preserved now?
A small chunk of the carpet installed on the Q of Esquimalt after she was first stretched; the decals they handed out to passenger at ticket booths during that first summer in 1960, a complete set on BCF sugar packages featuring dogwood blue pictures.
Did you ever take the inside-passage route, before you moved to the north-coast?
Yes, August 1975, QPR Rupert to Kelsey Bay, over night.
Roughly how many times have you traveled the inside-passage route, 1-way, in your life? Can you approximately break it down by ship?
My first trip was in 1975; my most recent at New Year’s 2006/7, both on the QPR. Total number of 1-way trips - about 40, plus another dozen to/from the Charlottes. I would think that I have done maybe 25 IP trips on the QPR versus 15 on the North. More on the Rupert because I am more likely to do this trip in the off season when she is in service. The IP is a lot cheaper in the off season and preferable to 1500 km of wintery roads between Kitimat and Vancouver via Prince George.
What's your favourite parts of the inside-passage ferry route? Favourite times of the trip, favourite landmarks, favourite ways to spend the day?
The narrow channels at the northern end – Grenville and Princess Royal, the various light houses, the opportunity to see whales and other marine/wildlife. There is more on this in other responses below.
What are your favourite places on the Queen of Prince Rupert?
The QPR’s restaurant. Being at the forward end, and a deck up, it is arguably the most scenic place on any BC Ferries’ vessel in which to dine, especially when in transit down Grenville Channel. The food is usually basic, but that is okay. The old aft cafeteria, with its big tables, is a great spot to relax, play cards, work on the laptop, talk with people – a social place. They need to put something like this on the NorAd.
What were your favourite places on the Queen of the North?
The forward lounge, that plexi-glassed in area on the top deck just forward of the mast, the back outside decks aft of the cafeteria. On the whole, most of the ship was pretty nice.
Did you notice lots of changes from the Queen of the North's 2001 major interior upgrade? (ie. did things like the North-Star lounge impress you much?)
I think that there must have been a gap in my QotN trips, a time in which I must have been hitting the QPR instead. In any case, I did notice during 2003 & 2004 trips that they had her looking pretty spiffy, especially areas like the buffet. I would say that she was probably better fitted out in the public areas of the ship then what they have done on the NorAd, in spite of the assertion that the North is only a Volkswagen and the NorAd is a Cadillac.
What was March 22, 2006 like for you? How did you hear the news, how did it affect your day, and where did you get your news from ?
I am a CBC listener. My routine on workday mornings is to get up at about 6:45 am and turn on the radio. On the morning of March 22, 2006 I switched on CBC’s Daybreak North and about two seconds later I had heard the terrible news. For me that day is up there in memory with the Kennedy assassination, the WTC attacks, the first moon landings, and on a personal note, the loss of my daughter. The bad news stretched well past one day. I still have yet to get over it.
On the Queen of the North, did you usually eat at the buffet for breakfast, lunch or dinner, and what was it like? (I've heard it's very good, but I never did it myself)
What we did in our most recent QotN trips (2003, 2004) was to have breakfast and supper in the buffet, and do a picnic lunch on the back deck from our cooler for the mid day meal. In general, I always found the food experience on the North to be good or excellent. Off season trips (Oct through mid May) have usually been on the QPR. If the North was in service the aft cafeteria only was opened.
On an inside-passage or QCI sailing, what would your typical on-ship routine be? ie. explore, sit, sleep, eat, talk with strangers, etc.
All of the above depending on weather, time of the day, whether or not it is daylight, and just where we are in a voyage. For instance, when in the middle of Hectic St., there may not be a lot to see except rolling sees and the dim outline of distant shorelines. I do explore the ships a lot, take in the scenery, take pictures, read a bit, talk to strangers and crew, etc. I will east also. The food experience varies from very good to very poor.
My wife will tell you that I don’t sit still for very long. These days I travel with a laptop and will edit photos almost s soon as they are taken. Unfortunately uploading them to my Photo Bucket account is not yet possible when in the middle of Hectic St.
What personality traits make you a ferry-fan? ie. are you a fine-detail person in the rest of your life?
I have been told that I get too bogged down in the details. I do not know what quirks in my personality draw me to ships and trains…
What are your 3 most favourite hikes, or most memorable?
I have done a lot of hiking, back packing, canoeing and back country skiing over the last 30 years. Favourite backpacks would be the Rockwall in Kootenay National Park, Berg Lake in Mt Robson Park, and Donjek River back pack in Kluane Nat. Park, Yukon. To that, I would add the coastal trips on the West Coast Trail, and Cape Scott (done last summer). For day hiking you can’t beat Lake O’hara in Yoho National Park, BC. Back country skiing – Mt. Assiniboine and the Tonquin Valley, both in the Rockies. Canoeing – the Turner Lake chain in Tweedsmuir Park near Bella Coola. I could go on.
What's a typical day-off-work like for you?
Get up, shovel some snow, climb on the roof, scrap off some moss, check generator attached to downspout to ensure that enough power is being generated to continue operating the computer…. In short I do all the sort of things that southerners expect people who live on the North Coast would do.
Seriously, it depends on the time of the year and weather. I do spend far too much time on this computer. Occasionally I get out to hike, ski, garden, walks, camp, etc. When Rebecca was alive we would often take her for long walks with her riding in her wheelchair. She liked that. She also enjoyed ferry rides. The vibration, I think, was soothing.
BTW, ferry trips generally require more than a weekend, unless I drive over to Terrace for a trip on the Usk ferry, which I do maybe once every three years.
Do people in your immediate-family share your interest in ships and photography? If not, do you have advice on receiving tolerance from spouse/children?
David and I, of course, share a strong interest here. For the others there is passing interest or mild indifference. As for spouses and others close to you who think that you are some kind of pervert, my advice is to ignore them, at least a bit. You need a certain amount of freedom, the ability to do your own thing. So go on that Sunday outing with other ferry nerds starting from SWB on Route 1 to Tsawwassen, then route 30 to Nanaimo, then Route 2 to HSB, then 3 to Langdale then Jervis Inlet and the Burnaby back to Van. Is. All in one day. Have fun – too bad for those who do not see such as a splendid way to spend a day.
Your daughter Rebecca passed away this past year. How did she change you as a person? What life-lessons did she teach you during her life?
Rebecca (we called her Becca) was born severely physically and mentally handicapped. She was probably about six month old when we first realized that this was the case. We organized our lives around her needs, doing the best job we could of caring for her. In return, she gave us her generally gentle and sweet disposition. We often traveled with her. We can tell you all about which ferries are the best for accommodating the needs of the handicapped. Many times we have rented the handicapped staterooms on the QPR and the North. We won’t have reason to do that on the NorAd. On one or two weekends per month Rebecca went to Respite Care in Terrace. It is then that we would escape to go hiking or skiing, or whatever. She would also go to Respite for a full week or two once each summer. That is when we would get away for a longer break such as last summer’s Cape Scott hike and Discovery Coast ferry trip. Those of you who b*tch and complain about paying taxes should know that those taxes go toward supporting many useful services like Terrace’s Respite Care home. Having been blessed with having a child like Rebecca I can tell you that without tax-payer support for such facilities raising a child like Rebecca would be impossible. Count your blessings.
Although life is much easier now, we miss her terribly.
As a north-coaster, who grew up on the south-coast, how has your new locale changed you, and changed your viewpoints? ie political issues, resource issues, transportation issues?
Perhaps I now appreciate the view from beyond Hope much more so than I would have. My political views have not really changed much over the years except that today I am completely jaded. Choosing sides means choosing who is least worse. In any case, no matter which party is in charge their decisions are always made with an eye to where the bulk of the voters live. I am, as most of you have probably figured out, sitting just a tad bit to the left of centre on most issues. That makes me a soft NDP’er provincially, and a soft Liberal federally. But I detest all of them, most of the time, some more than others. On resource issues I now know just how bad most southern journalist are in balanced coverage of most issues. Raife Mair is a case in point. His coverage of the issues around Alcan’s KCP project 10 years ago was the most deceitful bit of journalism perhaps in BC’s history. I am sure that he would not have had the courage to admit that were it not for the Kenney Dam upstream on the Nechako River much of the town of Vanderhoof would have been under water a few weeks ago. The level of the Fraser as far south as Mission might have been a half a metre higher, also.
Regarding transportation – my wish list:
1 – Ferry service from Kitimat to Port Hardy at least once per week. This would better serve the needs of most of the population of BC’s North-West.
2 – The Houston-Kitimat Connector is built, and to primary highway standards. This would reduce the time taken to get from here to Prince George by about 90 minutes (6.5 versus 8 hours), and would give us another way out when mudslides and other events take place.
3 – I am not expecting either of these to happen in my life time although we may hear promises around election time.
As a north-coaster, what types of comments from south-coasters (especially on this forum board) irk you the most?
Canadians tend to get really irritated when some Americans demonstrate an appalling ignorance re their northern neighbours. The same goes for northern Canadians with regard to their ‘southern’ counterparts often demonstrated level of knowledge of anything existing beyond Hope….
Just so everyone knows, yes, we do have paved roads and flush toilets. We do speak English. We even have cell phone service (though only from Telus) and high speed internet. I dare say our electricity is probably more reliable than is the norm in most of Vancouver. Kitimat, believe it or not is a port city, perhaps BC’s third largest. There are hotels in Prince Rupert, and even in Kitimat. Does anyone in southern BC actually realize that the bulk of the population on BC’s North Coast actually lives on the inner coast – i.e. Terrace and Kitimat? The southern based media hardly even realizes that we exist. When the big retailers decide to put up one of their big boxes in this part of the world they do so in Terrace, not Rupert.
How big is your photo collection of ferries? Are there boxes of negatives somewhere in your garage that haven't seen light in years? Are there more hidden gems that you haven't yet posted?
Mostly I have slides starting from about 1970* and going up to about 1990 - maybe about 7000 of them, 5% of which would be of the ferries. I also have maybe another 5000 negatives, many from before 1990, many from after. I acquired my first digital camera in 2001. I have a pretty good collection, but my brother’s is much better (for the ferries that is).
If only he could find more of the negatives. The Quality of my older pictures really does not measure up to what I am getting out of the digital equipment today. I wonder if the images (colour and grain) are deteriorating due to age, or they were like that from day 1.
*1970 – I bought my first Pentax ‘Spotmatic’ with screw mount lens.
Looking back in hindsight, would you have liked to have been on the Queen of Alberni on August 9, 1979 (as a foot passenger, so no vehicle to be concerned with)? What would you likely have been doing at the time she hit Collinson Reef?
I have imagined myself being on the North on that infamous night in March 2006. I have never imagined myself being on the Alberni on that 1979 trip. If I had been on I would no doubt have been on the forward end, taking in the views, as is my custom on most any ferry passing through Active Pass. I would have seen the whole thing happen, and maybe even have taken pictures.
What are your 5 favourite current ferries, and why?
Both Spirits – very comfortable to travel on, the QPR, the Mayne Queen (a recently acquired affection), the Chilliwack (for being so quaint). Perhaps, in a year or two, I will become fond of the NorAd, but that seems unlikely.
What are your 5 favourite non-current ferries, and why?
Victoria is my home town. Guess what, I have always been partial to the Queen of Victoria, and to CP’s Princess Victoria from an earlier time. I do not know if I can fill the list out to five vessels, but if I could turn back time I would go for a ride on the Pender Queen, and also the Suzy Q. I would also love to take the old CP boats, esp the midnight boats. My parents took the night boat (Princess Joan, I think) from Victoria to Vancouver on the wedding night – New Year’s Eve 1943/44. Just in case you are wondering I was born 10 years after that trip. OH, another thought, I need to add the Q of the North to this list.
What is your favourite configuration of the V-Class ships?
I know that some (Dane in particular) don’t like the V’s/B’s. I am one who does, but I do realize that they have reached their time for retirement. They looked best during the 1970’s when they were stretched but unlifted, just like the Burnaby and Nanaimo look today. When these ships are busy they are like cattle boats, but so to are the C’s, especially the Alberni.
What is your favourite livery style?
Basically reverse chronological order with mating slugs being rather hideous. I dream that one day the brass at BCFS’s will have a brain wave and decide to bring back the ‘classic’ pastel blue BC Ferries, along with the dogwood.
What's you all time favourite ferry-food item?
BCF clam chowder – they have been offering that for decades now and it still tastes good. I really enjoyed the BBQ supper laid on for the passengers last summer on the Q of Chilliwack en route from Port Hardy to Bella Coola.
What are your favourite ferry terminals, to spend a 2 hour wait at?
Any of the busier terminals because there are lots of comings and goings. Swartz Bay is probably best. Worst terminal to while away a wait – maybe that would be Duke Point, or Bear Cove.
Did you ever play Pac-Man or Frogger in the ferry's arcade?
No, I am not now, nor was I ever, into video games. Sorry, I am quite boring in that respect.
Do you think the Nor-Ad will eventually be well suited to her routes as a BC Ferry?
No, I doubt it. Too many things wrong with her. BCFS’s will have to spend another $25 million to make her half right. Here’s hoping I am wrong.
Any other comments?
You did not ask me these questions:
If you could take a picture, just any picture of BC Ferries somewhere, sometime, what would that be?
I would be back on an Active Pass beach, on Mayne Island perhaps, this time around. I would have the latest digital 10 mega pixel SLR hanging around my neck with a 12 to 250 mm zoom attached. The date – July 1960. The time about 15 minutes to 12 noon. I am expecting, any second now to see the MV Sidney round Helen Point en route to Tsawwassen, and, from the other direction, the MV Tsawwassen entering the pass off of Sturdies Bay. And I am going to get the perfect shot of the two passing in the original form, and original dogwood pastel blue and I will post the pic tonight for all to see…
If you could boss around other forum members what assignment would you send them out on?
I would send out the photographers (Graham, Scott, Chris, Karl, Dan, etc.) to document the last year for the V’s on route 1. Most importantly they would be required to produce the quintessential photo of passing V’s in Active Pass. Their opportunity ends after Labour Day, 2007.
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Jim, thanks for taking the time for such an excellent conversation. Much appreciated.
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Post by Low Light Mike on Jun 24, 2007 13:41:50 GMT -8
About 19 Minutes Ago, this Forum beat the previous record of 63 for Most Users online. It's now 65 and was recorded at 11:11 AM...and from the looks of it, the Majority of these users were guests. Wow, that's an interesting spike in readership. Thanks for pointing that out. At least it wasn't 65 Asia-Pacific network spammers, doing their usual spamming of this forum.... ;D I wonder what the special attraction was today, or if it was just fluke. |
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Or maybe it's Dennis Miller from Weekend-Update.
