A Trip to Vancouver Island
Sept 20, 2014 3:56:45 GMT
Post by Deleted on Sept 20, 2014 3:56:45 GMT
Part One: The voyage
This essay is to record the trip I’m taking over to Vancouver Island to visit my father. I promise an essay about Vancouver and the city proper, but I don’t make this trip often and I thought it would give a good impression of why people mostly come to British Columbia – the scenery.
The Comox Valley is a recreation spot marketed in seniors’ magazines all over the world as a most desirable place to retire. Donald Trump has endorsed it, so you know it’s classy. I grew up there from the age of 13 onwards, and my father still lives there, although not in the same house. I doubt if I will be returning after he’s gone, it’s far too sleepy for my needs and I don’t have much of a sentimental attachment to the place. My trip starts as many do on the West Coast in any month other than July or August – in the rain. You should be able to see the mountains through those trees. I’m waiting for the taxi that never came…
I ended up hailing a cab on the street and making it to the station with about 30 seconds to spare. My photos of the old Canadian National rail station will have to wait until the return trip.
Anyway, on the Greyhound bus to the terminal at Horseshoe Bay to catch the ferry it’s raining far too hard to get any photos of downtown. I can just see the tops of the skyscrapers in the clouds through the rain-spattered windows.
Horseshoe Bay is the terminal that serves most of Vancouver. The terminal at Tsawwassen is much larger as it is the one just across the border from the USA, and the amenities are far better. But the town of Horseshoe Bay caters to all the hungry tourists looking for sustenance and a few picturesque shots of boats while waiting for the ferry.
No shots I took there today can do justice to the beauty of the harbour. Once when we were coming in on the ferry, an Italian turned to his companion and said, “Mi ricordi Sorrento”. Well, I would never go that far, but it’s charming in that austere Canadian way.
Well, well, here comes the Coastal Renaissance, one of the recent additions to the fleet.
I’m hungry, so I head to the cafeteria. The food’s not bad, and somewhat affordable. I could have gone with the ferry favourites, the clam chowder or the White Spot burger with fries and gravy, but instead I go for the West Coast choice, to impress my anyporter friends.
Of course, it’s a self-service cafeteria now, but I remember back in the dark ages when there was actual table and counter service with everything served on heavy white diner crockery. Today the hot food plates and teacups are still ceramic. Nice to see some things remain the same.
I head to the top deck for a few shots before the weather becomes too blustery.
To while away some time, I head to the gift shop which has all the favourites. Colourful wet-weather gear…
With a West Coast feel…
Canadian reading material (Margaret Atwood)...
How about some lovely First Nations art?
Oh dear...
We put the British in British Columbia!
What about some sweeties? I pick up a childhood favourite, Mackintosh toffee, still guaranteed to pull out your fillings, in honour of the Scottish referendum.
Well, just as we get our first glimpse of Nanaimo, the sun breaks through the clouds. It’s supposed to be a nice weekend.
You can’t tell from this photo, but that hand-lettered white sign says this island is for sale, and gives a phone number to call if you’re interested.
Thanks, Questa!
Well, next I catch the Greyhound heading up Island, but that is beyond boring. We take the express route which goes through the centre of the Island and stays away from the coast, which is lovely. Total time in transit so far: almost 7 hours. The first part of the report is done. I hope I have some better weather to show you next.
This essay is to record the trip I’m taking over to Vancouver Island to visit my father. I promise an essay about Vancouver and the city proper, but I don’t make this trip often and I thought it would give a good impression of why people mostly come to British Columbia – the scenery.
The Comox Valley is a recreation spot marketed in seniors’ magazines all over the world as a most desirable place to retire. Donald Trump has endorsed it, so you know it’s classy. I grew up there from the age of 13 onwards, and my father still lives there, although not in the same house. I doubt if I will be returning after he’s gone, it’s far too sleepy for my needs and I don’t have much of a sentimental attachment to the place. My trip starts as many do on the West Coast in any month other than July or August – in the rain. You should be able to see the mountains through those trees. I’m waiting for the taxi that never came…
I ended up hailing a cab on the street and making it to the station with about 30 seconds to spare. My photos of the old Canadian National rail station will have to wait until the return trip.
Anyway, on the Greyhound bus to the terminal at Horseshoe Bay to catch the ferry it’s raining far too hard to get any photos of downtown. I can just see the tops of the skyscrapers in the clouds through the rain-spattered windows.
Horseshoe Bay is the terminal that serves most of Vancouver. The terminal at Tsawwassen is much larger as it is the one just across the border from the USA, and the amenities are far better. But the town of Horseshoe Bay caters to all the hungry tourists looking for sustenance and a few picturesque shots of boats while waiting for the ferry.
No shots I took there today can do justice to the beauty of the harbour. Once when we were coming in on the ferry, an Italian turned to his companion and said, “Mi ricordi Sorrento”. Well, I would never go that far, but it’s charming in that austere Canadian way.
Well, well, here comes the Coastal Renaissance, one of the recent additions to the fleet.
BC Ferries is the largest passenger ferry line in North America and the second largest in the world, boasting a fleet of 36 vessels with a total passenger and crew capacity of over 27,000, serving 49 locations on the BC coast.
I’m hungry, so I head to the cafeteria. The food’s not bad, and somewhat affordable. I could have gone with the ferry favourites, the clam chowder or the White Spot burger with fries and gravy, but instead I go for the West Coast choice, to impress my anyporter friends.
Of course, it’s a self-service cafeteria now, but I remember back in the dark ages when there was actual table and counter service with everything served on heavy white diner crockery. Today the hot food plates and teacups are still ceramic. Nice to see some things remain the same.
I head to the top deck for a few shots before the weather becomes too blustery.
To while away some time, I head to the gift shop which has all the favourites. Colourful wet-weather gear…
With a West Coast feel…
Canadian reading material (Margaret Atwood)...
How about some lovely First Nations art?
Oh dear...
We put the British in British Columbia!
What about some sweeties? I pick up a childhood favourite, Mackintosh toffee, still guaranteed to pull out your fillings, in honour of the Scottish referendum.
Well, just as we get our first glimpse of Nanaimo, the sun breaks through the clouds. It’s supposed to be a nice weekend.
You can’t tell from this photo, but that hand-lettered white sign says this island is for sale, and gives a phone number to call if you’re interested.
Thanks, Questa!
Well, next I catch the Greyhound heading up Island, but that is beyond boring. We take the express route which goes through the centre of the Island and stays away from the coast, which is lovely. Total time in transit so far: almost 7 hours. The first part of the report is done. I hope I have some better weather to show you next.
