Friday, 9 October 2009
No fun in Tsawwassen
By lunchtime today, 4-6 hour queues were building for ferries to Vancouver Island at the start of the Thanksgiving weekend. By 2pm, it was a 4 hour wait to get to Victoria and a 6+ hour wait for ferries to Nanaimo. Happy holidays!
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Challenging times for BC Ferries
Last week it was the washrooms aboard MV Quinsam being closed, following the apparent failure of the sewage disposal system installed just a few months ago during the first part of the vessel's mid-life refit.
Yesterday, BC Ferries announced reduced capacity on its Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route starting 13 October, while the giant S-Class vessel Spirit of British Columbia (410 cars, 2,100 passengers) is taken out of service for annual maintenance and recertification. In its place the 45-year old Queen of New Westminster will accommodate only 270 cars and 1,300 passengers.
Just as the Thanksgiving weekend gets underway, a generator fire aboard the second S-Class vessel Spirit of Vancouver Island has resulted in the cancellation of 4 out of the 14 round trips today on the busy Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route. Holders of Assured Loading Tickets on that route today will find that they are not being honoured, meaning that they will have to join the line-up like everyone else. With 1,600 fewer car spaces each way today, that could be a pretty long line.
Yesterday, BC Ferries announced reduced capacity on its Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route starting 13 October, while the giant S-Class vessel Spirit of British Columbia (410 cars, 2,100 passengers) is taken out of service for annual maintenance and recertification. In its place the 45-year old Queen of New Westminster will accommodate only 270 cars and 1,300 passengers.
Just as the Thanksgiving weekend gets underway, a generator fire aboard the second S-Class vessel Spirit of Vancouver Island has resulted in the cancellation of 4 out of the 14 round trips today on the busy Tsawwassen-Swartz Bay route. Holders of Assured Loading Tickets on that route today will find that they are not being honoured, meaning that they will have to join the line-up like everyone else. With 1,600 fewer car spaces each way today, that could be a pretty long line.
Wednesday, 7 October 2009
Tuesday, 6 October 2009
The ultimate cruise?
Okay, so I don't have time to read the Boston Globe online. But if I hadn't, I could have missed the opportunity of a lifetime. Maybe the final opportunity. Let's see if I can remember the detail - I'll probably get it wrong.
A trans-Atlantic cruise is being offered in April 2012 to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Fred. Olsen's cruise liner "Balmoral" will follow Titanic's wake from Southampton, England on April 8 and arrive at the spot in the North Atlantic where Titanic sank on April 15. Icebergs permitting, a memorial service will be held onboard exactly 100 years after the liner sank, between 11:40 p.m., on April 14, 2012, and 2:20 a.m. on April 15.
Survivors will then head to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they can visit the three cemeteries where Titanic's victims are buried. With luck, the final stop on the cruise will be New York, Titanic's intended destination.
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The cruise will include menus from the original voyage, a live band offering music and dancing from that era and, for those booking the cheaper inside cabins, the opportunity to watch passengers from suites and balcony staterooms sail away in their lifeboats as the ship goes down.
A trans-Atlantic cruise is being offered in April 2012 to mark the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic. Fred. Olsen's cruise liner "Balmoral" will follow Titanic's wake from Southampton, England on April 8 and arrive at the spot in the North Atlantic where Titanic sank on April 15. Icebergs permitting, a memorial service will be held onboard exactly 100 years after the liner sank, between 11:40 p.m., on April 14, 2012, and 2:20 a.m. on April 15.
Survivors will then head to Halifax, Nova Scotia, where they can visit the three cemeteries where Titanic's victims are buried. With luck, the final stop on the cruise will be New York, Titanic's intended destination.
The cruise will include menus from the original voyage, a live band offering music and dancing from that era and, for those booking the cheaper inside cabins, the opportunity to watch passengers from suites and balcony staterooms sail away in their lifeboats as the ship goes down. Apparently all lower-grade inside cabins and some suite categories are already sold out. For those of you with an insatiable desire to re-live the tragedy, there's still time to visit http://www.titanicmemorialcruise.co.uk/
Ironically, it was Fred. Olsen's parent company, Harland and Wolff, who built the Titanic.
I feel we should offer a free holiday in Gabriola to the first passenger to swim ashore?
I feel we should offer a free holiday in Gabriola to the first passenger to swim ashore?
Monday, 5 October 2009
Before and after
It's not in my nature to cut down healthy trees, but sometimes it has to be done....
..and the logs will be warming the family next year.
Saturday, 3 October 2009
Trains, Planes and Automobile - but no bus
Long distance travel either works, or it doesn't. It only takes one slip up to throw the whole journey into disarray. Delays, queues, missed connections or just bad weather. They can all turn an adventure into a mysery. This morning, the air traffic control computer at Prestwick, Scotland, broke down and grounded all transatlatic flights from the UK. But that was today, and by the time that chip got fried I was catching up on my sleep back here in Gabriola.
My journey from home to home (Aylesbury, UK to Gabriola, BC) actually went remarkably well - despite learning 24 hours before departure that Pacific Coachlines had suspended the direct coach between Vancouver Airport and Nanaimo from this week because of poor usage. Plan B was now required.
The plan was to travel by train to Gatwick Airport; fly with Thomas Cook to Vancouver and get to Gabriola before the gate closed at 11pm.
Stage 1 : train from Aylesbury. Must check that Leaf Fall hasn't started, as trains all leave 3 minutes earlier for 3 months of the year, just inviting you to miss them. No, leaf fall starts Sunday 4th October, so the 07.15 train will indeed leave at 07.15. Next week it will be 07.12! The wheels under my luggage hold out all the way to the station this time. Good omen.
Stage 2 : Across rush hour London. "There is a good service on all London Underground lines" says the PA system. And there was. Train at the platform when I get there; another just pulling in at my interchange point half way to Victoria. If only the underground wasn't underground, I wouldn't have had to carry the luggage up so many stairs.
Stage 3 : My journey planner had told me to catch Gatwick Express at 09.00 from Victoria. I was there in time to buy a coffee and catch the 08.45 with ease. Great service, pity about the smell from the toilets on the train.
Stage 4 : possibly the most tedious. The last time I flew out of Gatwick with Thomas Cook, the queue for check-in went halfway round the departure hall. "They only paid for 4 desks" said Servisair's ever-patient floorwalker. This time, the same 4 desks - plus two check-in clerks working the queue to pre-scan the passports. As I get to the front of the line, 4 more desks are opening and my luggage disappears down the belt in less than 10 minutes. Security takes just 5 minutes - and, for their own comfort, they decide I don't need to take my boots off today. Plenty of time for elevenses, as well as a browse through duty free.
Stage 5 : Flight had arrived an hour early this morning, so boarding starts promptly and we're off in good time. Captain warns of strong headwinds, so expect to arrive Vancouver 20 minutes late. Oh well, let's hope the food is good. Actually is was good - both meals were hot, tasty and recognisable - always a bonus with airline catering. I choose not to pay £2.50 for a headset, and instead try and recover my beauty sleep. Yes, I know it will take more than 10 hours to recover my beauty, but at least I can catch up on some sleep. Touch down at YVR is just 16 minutes behind schedule. Almost before we can undo seatbelts, the luggage is being unloaded. Could this be a good sign?
Stage 6 : The immigration hall is strangely empty. There are new self-service desks for Canadian Citizens, which have the same effect as they do in the supermarkets. Anyone over 55 walks straight past them and joins the queue! It's looking good. Flight TCX84 is the first international arrival for 40 minutes and we've slipped in just ahead of a flight from China and another from the US. Immigration complete in little over 5 minutes. Match that, Seattle! Baggage is already on Carousel 23 and on the second circuit I have my bag. Touch down 14:56; leave terminal at 15:25. Is that a record?
Stage 7 : A check online last night confirmed all seaplanes from YVR were fully booked Friday afternoon, but the word from England is that there are still some spare seats on flights from Vancouver Harbour. A chance to sample the new Canada Line! If I work this right, my $3.50 ticket will be valid for long enough to get to the Harbour, check the flights and (if all else fails) catch the bus from downtown to Horseshoe Bay. Canada Line train in 4 minutes; ticket machines working well (unlike earlier in the day when they had failed apparently). I forget to validate my ticket as I board. Oh well, never mind, I can do it next time! As the Canada Line train whisks me through the suburbs, I ponder why they thought it necessary to build an escape walkway alongside the whole line. Do they expect that many train failures?
Stage 8 - A brisk walk from Waterfront station through Canada Place to the harbour. God, this case is noisy when you're wheeling it over decorative block paving! It's 1 hour 15 minutes after touchdown at YVR and I'm checking it with West Coast Air in downtown Vancouver! I'm in luck. There's one more seat on the 16:30 flight to Nanaimo, and despite the look of distain from the pilot as he eyes my 20kg bag, within a few minutes we're boarding the 6-seater DeHavilland Beaver. Yes, my bag is in the hold, not in the harbour. That's ok then. Wisely, our pilot let's the 16:30 to Victoria take off first (2 engines, lots of spray and much faster...) and we're away. Should have brought my earplugs. Unlike Tofino Air, WestCoast don't issue ear defenders on board their Beavers.
Stage 9 - MV Quinsam is just leaving Nanaimo as we touch down, so I have an hour to replenish my caffeine levels and check out the next stage of the journey. I opt for a taxi home from the ferry, so as not to disturb the cousins from their evening meals. A quick phone call and that's arranged. Gabriola's one Taxi will be there. Quinsam docks a little behind schedule, resplendent with Portaloo cabins at either end of the car deck. Acknowledgement to the fact that their plumbing and disposal arrangements are not what they should be. Oh well, the Bowen Queen arrives in 2 weeks so I expect we shall survive until then.
Stage 10 - Taxi is waiting and by 18:30 I'm in the house. That's 19 hours 30 minutes door to door, and the sun's still shining! A quick run back to the shops and I can have milk in my coffee. Now what's happened to my car keys?
My journey from home to home (Aylesbury, UK to Gabriola, BC) actually went remarkably well - despite learning 24 hours before departure that Pacific Coachlines had suspended the direct coach between Vancouver Airport and Nanaimo from this week because of poor usage. Plan B was now required.
The plan was to travel by train to Gatwick Airport; fly with Thomas Cook to Vancouver and get to Gabriola before the gate closed at 11pm.
Stage 1 : train from Aylesbury. Must check that Leaf Fall hasn't started, as trains all leave 3 minutes earlier for 3 months of the year, just inviting you to miss them. No, leaf fall starts Sunday 4th October, so the 07.15 train will indeed leave at 07.15. Next week it will be 07.12! The wheels under my luggage hold out all the way to the station this time. Good omen.
Stage 2 : Across rush hour London. "There is a good service on all London Underground lines" says the PA system. And there was. Train at the platform when I get there; another just pulling in at my interchange point half way to Victoria. If only the underground wasn't underground, I wouldn't have had to carry the luggage up so many stairs.
Stage 3 : My journey planner had told me to catch Gatwick Express at 09.00 from Victoria. I was there in time to buy a coffee and catch the 08.45 with ease. Great service, pity about the smell from the toilets on the train.
Stage 4 : possibly the most tedious. The last time I flew out of Gatwick with Thomas Cook, the queue for check-in went halfway round the departure hall. "They only paid for 4 desks" said Servisair's ever-patient floorwalker. This time, the same 4 desks - plus two check-in clerks working the queue to pre-scan the passports. As I get to the front of the line, 4 more desks are opening and my luggage disappears down the belt in less than 10 minutes. Security takes just 5 minutes - and, for their own comfort, they decide I don't need to take my boots off today. Plenty of time for elevenses, as well as a browse through duty free.
Stage 5 : Flight had arrived an hour early this morning, so boarding starts promptly and we're off in good time. Captain warns of strong headwinds, so expect to arrive Vancouver 20 minutes late. Oh well, let's hope the food is good. Actually is was good - both meals were hot, tasty and recognisable - always a bonus with airline catering. I choose not to pay £2.50 for a headset, and instead try and recover my beauty sleep. Yes, I know it will take more than 10 hours to recover my beauty, but at least I can catch up on some sleep. Touch down at YVR is just 16 minutes behind schedule. Almost before we can undo seatbelts, the luggage is being unloaded. Could this be a good sign?
Stage 6 : The immigration hall is strangely empty. There are new self-service desks for Canadian Citizens, which have the same effect as they do in the supermarkets. Anyone over 55 walks straight past them and joins the queue! It's looking good. Flight TCX84 is the first international arrival for 40 minutes and we've slipped in just ahead of a flight from China and another from the US. Immigration complete in little over 5 minutes. Match that, Seattle! Baggage is already on Carousel 23 and on the second circuit I have my bag. Touch down 14:56; leave terminal at 15:25. Is that a record?
Stage 7 : A check online last night confirmed all seaplanes from YVR were fully booked Friday afternoon, but the word from England is that there are still some spare seats on flights from Vancouver Harbour. A chance to sample the new Canada Line! If I work this right, my $3.50 ticket will be valid for long enough to get to the Harbour, check the flights and (if all else fails) catch the bus from downtown to Horseshoe Bay. Canada Line train in 4 minutes; ticket machines working well (unlike earlier in the day when they had failed apparently). I forget to validate my ticket as I board. Oh well, never mind, I can do it next time! As the Canada Line train whisks me through the suburbs, I ponder why they thought it necessary to build an escape walkway alongside the whole line. Do they expect that many train failures?
Stage 8 - A brisk walk from Waterfront station through Canada Place to the harbour. God, this case is noisy when you're wheeling it over decorative block paving! It's 1 hour 15 minutes after touchdown at YVR and I'm checking it with West Coast Air in downtown Vancouver! I'm in luck. There's one more seat on the 16:30 flight to Nanaimo, and despite the look of distain from the pilot as he eyes my 20kg bag, within a few minutes we're boarding the 6-seater DeHavilland Beaver. Yes, my bag is in the hold, not in the harbour. That's ok then. Wisely, our pilot let's the 16:30 to Victoria take off first (2 engines, lots of spray and much faster...) and we're away. Should have brought my earplugs. Unlike Tofino Air, WestCoast don't issue ear defenders on board their Beavers.
Stage 9 - MV Quinsam is just leaving Nanaimo as we touch down, so I have an hour to replenish my caffeine levels and check out the next stage of the journey. I opt for a taxi home from the ferry, so as not to disturb the cousins from their evening meals. A quick phone call and that's arranged. Gabriola's one Taxi will be there. Quinsam docks a little behind schedule, resplendent with Portaloo cabins at either end of the car deck. Acknowledgement to the fact that their plumbing and disposal arrangements are not what they should be. Oh well, the Bowen Queen arrives in 2 weeks so I expect we shall survive until then.
Stage 10 - Taxi is waiting and by 18:30 I'm in the house. That's 19 hours 30 minutes door to door, and the sun's still shining! A quick run back to the shops and I can have milk in my coffee. Now what's happened to my car keys?
Tuesday, 29 September 2009
Essential visit #1
It's that time again. Summer's over and it's back down to the serious business of home renovation on the island.
However good the planning, once in a while it pays to take time out to capture other people's ideas and see what's new.
October 16-18 sees the 20th annual Nanaimo Home Expo at Beban Park Auditorium, 2300 Bowen Road in Nanaimo.
The show's open 6-9pm on Friday; 9.30am-5.30pm on Saturday and 10am-4pm Sunday. Admission is free. See you there!
BC Community showcase from YVR
Today, Vancouver Airport Authority premiered 15 films commissioned to showcase B.C.’s diverse communities to help welcome the world to British Columbia in 2010.
In June, 2009, each community was presented with $10,000 funding from the Vancouver Airport Authority, and filmmakers were selected with help from the local Spirit of B.C. Community Committees.
The 15 three-minute films were screened for the first time today before a crowd of community dignitaries. The films will play on select video screens throughout YVR and online at http://www.yvrconnections.com/ leading up to and during the Vancouver 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games period. The following 15 B.C. communities participated in the program.
Click on the links below to watch each video.
Campbell River
Castlegar
Cranbrook
Fort St. John
Kamloops
Kelowna
Nanaimo
Penticton
Port Hardy
Prince George
Prince Rupert
Terrace
Tofino
Victoria
Williams Lake
Sunday, 20 September 2009
Congratulations to crew of "Silent Sound"
When Fred Amor, founder of Gabriola boatbuilders Amor Marine, set the design of the Amor 40 to paper in the 1970s, he could not have imagined that this 40-foot cutter rig sailing boat could one day navigate the fabled Northwest Passage from the Pacific to the Atlantic.
Since the discovery of the New World, the Northwest Passage had been an elusive dream for explorers and mariners alike. Throughout the grand age of exploration, it remained the ocean's one unattainable prize, luring young men who were seeking wealth and fame to sail north in search of this frozen passage.
Now, "Silent Sound", built 30 years ago by Amor Marine, has completed the Northwest Passage and is heading south for home. The crew left Victoria, BC on June 6 for a west to east transit of the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic. They took the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert then cut across the Gulf of Alaska, sailed the Bering Sea and entered the Arctic in mid-July. Since then they have been sailing east, stopping in communities such as Sachs Harbour, Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven along the famous Northwest Passage. Silent Sound’s final port will be Halifax, Nova Scotia in early October.
The goal of this carbon-neutral voyage is to use written word, video and photos to tell the story of how climate change is affecting Arctic communities and describe modern Inuit culture and lifestyles. Scientific research provides us with facts on how the earth is changing, but our goal is to tell this story in a more creative and emotional way to reach a wider audience.
Expedition leader and captain of the "Silent Sound", Cameron Dueck, kept a Blog of their epic journey. The entry for September 15 records their successful passage out of Arctic waters:
September 15, 2009
We’ve sailed the Northwest Passage!
Since the discovery of the New World, the Northwest Passage had been an elusive dream for explorers and mariners alike. Throughout the grand age of exploration, it remained the ocean's one unattainable prize, luring young men who were seeking wealth and fame to sail north in search of this frozen passage.
Now, "Silent Sound", built 30 years ago by Amor Marine, has completed the Northwest Passage and is heading south for home. The crew left Victoria, BC on June 6 for a west to east transit of the Northwest Passage through the Canadian Arctic. They took the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert then cut across the Gulf of Alaska, sailed the Bering Sea and entered the Arctic in mid-July. Since then they have been sailing east, stopping in communities such as Sachs Harbour, Cambridge Bay and Gjoa Haven along the famous Northwest Passage. Silent Sound’s final port will be Halifax, Nova Scotia in early October.
The goal of this carbon-neutral voyage is to use written word, video and photos to tell the story of how climate change is affecting Arctic communities and describe modern Inuit culture and lifestyles. Scientific research provides us with facts on how the earth is changing, but our goal is to tell this story in a more creative and emotional way to reach a wider audience.
Expedition leader and captain of the "Silent Sound", Cameron Dueck, kept a Blog of their epic journey. The entry for September 15 records their successful passage out of Arctic waters:
September 15, 2009
We’ve sailed the Northwest Passage!
Silent Sound crossed the Arctic Circle early Tuesday morning local time, marking her official transit of the Northwest Passage! We entered the Arctic via the Bering Sea two months ago to the day, and since then we’ve sailed some 3,400 nautical miles, seen a lot of ice and learned a lot about the Canadian North. We’re far from the first to make this journey, and we’re not home yet, but we do feel a real sense of accomplishment. I’m proud of how well Silent Sound has carried us through the seas and the teamwork and dedication of the sailing crew and shore crew which has brought us this far.
There are several definitions of where the Northwest Passage begins and ends, but using the Arctic Circle is certainly the most encompassing, so we’ve been holding our breath until we crossed this line. The Arctic Circle (66 30N) marks the lowest latitude at which the midnight sun is ever seen.
By far the most impressive feature of the Arctic has been its people. In every town we visited we met complete strangers who offered us help, welcomed us into their homes and provided us with hot showers and food. So many people showed genuine interest in our journey and generously told us about their lives, and we left nearly every town with a few fish or other wild game in our fridge. We are leaving a lot of new friends behind as we officially exit the Arctic.
We are passing miles of beautiful coastline that we’d love to explore, but time is tight. Each fjord and harbour looks tempting, and we’ve discussed stopping in many of them…but we need to push on. We are far from done this epic journey. Silent Sound still has some 1,800 miles to sail before reaching Halifax. We’re looking forward to the welcome from girlfriends, family and friends who are awaiting our arrival. We hope to drop anchor in Halifax on October 10.
Silent Sound is currently sailing along nicely in about 15 knots of NW breeze!!!!!!, and all is well on board. We’re still seeing the occasional iceberg, and are keeping a sharp eye out for growlers. I’ve recovered from the tap to the head I got last week during stormy conditions, and now we’re focused on ticking off the miles. We’re not sure where we’ll stop next…it depends on wind conditions.
Cameron
Saturday, 19 September 2009
Support ALTRA at VIU
Great to see the following article in the Nanaimo News Bulletin!
Vancouver Island University is helping encourage alternative forms of transportation during ALTernative TRAnsportation Week (ALTRA) Sept. 21-24. The event is organized by VIU students who share the belief that cycling, busing and walking is a critical component of a healthy transportation system and promotes a healthier lifestyle and community.
“We want to educate and encourage commuters at VIU about the benefits of alternative transportation,” said Rebecca Martin, a bike enthusiast and organizer of the event. “Taking the bus, riding your bike or walking to work is a positive choice for so many reasons. Not only is it better for the environment, it can help you save money, reduce stress and create a healthier lifestyle for yourself and for your community.”
As a campus that serves 19,000 students, staff, and faculty, VIU has a significant environmental impact due to its commuter demographic. The university wants to reduce its impact and become a greener campus, as well as promote the idea that sustainability starts with the individual. Activities during the week-long event will include a bike wash/tune-up station, interactive games, the ALTRA parade, and Bikers Breakfasts (Tuesday to Thursday from 7-8 a.m. in front of the Students’ Union and free to all ALTRA commuters or by donation). Participants can also ride their bikes and take part in Critical Mass to increase drivers’ awareness of bikes on the road and ride as a group to the Bowen Park Farmers’ Market, meeting every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., at Fourth Street and Wakesiah Avenue.
There will be prizes including bus passes and bike and running paraphernalia. The week will conclude with a “bike-in” movie – Veer – an inspiring film of twists and turns of urban bike culture.
Details about the event are available online at www.solutions.viu.ca or e-mail viusolutionsnetwork@gmail.com for more information.
Vancouver Island University is helping encourage alternative forms of transportation during ALTernative TRAnsportation Week (ALTRA) Sept. 21-24. The event is organized by VIU students who share the belief that cycling, busing and walking is a critical component of a healthy transportation system and promotes a healthier lifestyle and community.
“We want to educate and encourage commuters at VIU about the benefits of alternative transportation,” said Rebecca Martin, a bike enthusiast and organizer of the event. “Taking the bus, riding your bike or walking to work is a positive choice for so many reasons. Not only is it better for the environment, it can help you save money, reduce stress and create a healthier lifestyle for yourself and for your community.”
As a campus that serves 19,000 students, staff, and faculty, VIU has a significant environmental impact due to its commuter demographic. The university wants to reduce its impact and become a greener campus, as well as promote the idea that sustainability starts with the individual. Activities during the week-long event will include a bike wash/tune-up station, interactive games, the ALTRA parade, and Bikers Breakfasts (Tuesday to Thursday from 7-8 a.m. in front of the Students’ Union and free to all ALTRA commuters or by donation). Participants can also ride their bikes and take part in Critical Mass to increase drivers’ awareness of bikes on the road and ride as a group to the Bowen Park Farmers’ Market, meeting every Wednesday at 4:30 p.m., at Fourth Street and Wakesiah Avenue.
There will be prizes including bus passes and bike and running paraphernalia. The week will conclude with a “bike-in” movie – Veer – an inspiring film of twists and turns of urban bike culture.
Details about the event are available online at www.solutions.viu.ca or e-mail viusolutionsnetwork@gmail.com for more information.
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