Date:         Sun, 28 Apr 2019 02:14:20 +0000
Reply-To:     Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         Poppie Jagersand <poppie.jagersand@YAHOO.CA>
Subject:      Embarrassing Vanagon moments on ferries. Was Re: Victoria BC
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Ferries can make for some of the more embarrassing Vanagon moments. Any hiccup happens among hundreds of other vehicles in a hurry to get on or off.
While exiting the ferry to Victoria, BC Poppie the '82 Westy refused to move. Turned out the brake material had come off the rear brake shoe and jammed between the shoe and drum.
Another time the engine wouldn't start. With lots of other anxious cars waiting  behind, some helpful ferry workers pushed us to the ferry off ramp, and the Diesel clattered to life on the downhill. This was at the north Vancouver ferry terminal, where just after there is a steep uphill with traffic lights midway. Engine was running fine underway, but stalled at the traffic light. Once again help arrived in the form of 4 burly young adults, who pushed us uphill past the traffic light and into a parking lot. Turned out to be corrosion on battery terminals. Engine had run after down ramp start and been powered from alternator alone. This also seemed to have killed the alternator regulator.
Ferries have hydraulic lift ramps at the ends. Some have internal ones between floors. When overbooked ferry crew can be tempted to populate the ramps with vehicles. Good idea to check the numerous vent lines and fittings on top of the Vanagon tank. Otherwise an embarrassing puddle can appear under it when tilted 30 degrees in the air, ahem.
Once we were late back to vehicle deck on a larger ferry. All others had left. When we started driving the ceiling started coming down on us. Turns out the crew was lowering a ramp in the ceiling to let vehicles off the upper deck. We just barely stopped in time not to get crushed.
Another time, when going from Sweden to Poland, we got on the wrong ferry and ended up in the western part of Germany. Good thing vacation plans in a Westy are flexible. (Would have been a disaster with a regular car and hotel bookings in the wrong country). Our tickets had been checked numerous times in the ferry port, so getting on the wrong ferry should have been about as difficult as getting on the wrong airplane. When the crew discovered the mistake we were upgraded to one of the two captains cabins for the 10h crossing.
Martin and '82 Westy 1.9 TD in Canada and '85 Westy gas in Europe.
    On Tuesday, April 23, 2019, 10:01:48 p.m. PDT, Gabriel Hourtouat <ghourtouat@GMAIL.COM> wrote:  
 
 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MV_Coho
Yes, I was referring to the Coho, but the name had slipped my mind.  Seems
it's had a retrofit and been upgraded to a Diesel-electric propulsion plant.

One time (1992-ish) that I took the Coho, we were travelling in a small car
(Suzuki Swift?).  When we got to front of the line on the loading ramp, we
heard the guy controlling the ramp talk into his walkie-talkie.  He looked
directly at us and said: "yes, it's a small car".  After a brief pause, he
waved us through.  We were surprised to find that our car only half way fit
onto the ferry; and even more surprised when a bunch of crew ran up and
physically picked up our car and contents (which included us), and turned
the car sideways so that the ramp could be closed and secured.

I never felt claustrophobic or in any way limited or restricted when I
lived on the island.  My domain seemed endless.  Pretty sure I was never
once bored.

If you are good, maybe one day I will tell you the story of the Rainbow
Gathering at Keeha Beach, near Bamfield.

g


On Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 5:59 PM Dan N <dn92610@gmail.com> wrote:

> I have been 3 times to Vancouver Island and all 3 times we had excellent
> experiences with MV Coho at Port Angles and Victoria.
> We had a reservation for an 8:00 am but we arrive the evening the day
> before and came to the dock and asked if we can park on the dock for the
> night for the next day departure. The answer is YES but they ask why we
> won't get in tonight at 8:00 pm?, we will squeeze you in.... :-)
> we save camping/parking fee in town... 6 times....  :-)
>
> On Tue, Apr 23, 2019 at 2:22 PM Rick Cooper <rickdcooper@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > Gabriel, I've lived in Victoria now for 40 years and I don't know about a
> > 100 year old ferry.  What are you referring to?
> >
> > Perhaps you are talking about the MV Coho, run by Black Ball Ferries out
> of
> > Port Angeles, WA.  The Coho is an older ship but I wouldn't think it to
> be
> > 100 years old.  But I'm glad you mentioned ferries since Stan asked about
> > ferries and I wanted to share my thoughts.
> >
> > There are three ferries systems that ply these waters.  First is BC
> > Ferries, which runs every one or two hours between Victoria (actually
> > Swartz Bay, 25km north of Victoria)  and Vancouver and almost as
> frequently
> > to the various local Gulf islands.  The ferries to Vancouver are big,
> > mostly quite new and the facilities and service are fine.
> >
> > Second is Washington State Ferries which plies a route between Anacortes,
> > WA and Sidney, a lovely little town about 20km north of Victoria.  I
> think
> > this service only runs during the summer but WA Ferries have their own
> > ambience and I love taking them.
> >
> > But my favourite is the third option, Black Ball Ferries.  It has only
> one
> > ship, the aforementioned  MV Coho.  Black Ball Ferries has been operating
> > this line for many decades and the Coho is an older but reliable ship
> that
> > does the round trip from Port Angeles to Victoria and back once daily
> > during the winter and twice daily during the summer.  Because it's an
> older
> > boat, it is kind of funky, but the staff are both friendly and efficient.
> >
> > Unfortunately, all of these ferry systems have discovered that you can
> ding
> > an additional $15 from each customer by having an online reservation
> > system.  Since most people use it, it has become difficult to get on a
> > sailing without a reservation.  I traveled the Coho last Spring and
> managed
> > to get on both ways without a reservation, but I was in line at least an
> > hour before sailing.  You take your chances.  You will have to go through
> > Customs at the ferry terminal.  My experience has always been positive
> but
> > Roger is correct: do NOT bring guns into Canada or you may well spend a
> > couple of days sitting in our local jail until your case gets before a
> > judge.  We don't much like guns up here now that there is not a lot of
> game
> > left for hunting.
> >
> > As for Victoria, the restaurants Gabriel mentioned are all still open and
> > are good choices.  I second his recommendations about the Hoh Valley and
> > Olympic National Park generally.  But come on over to the Island, it has
> > some wonderful parks and beaches and many miles of logging roads if you
> > don't mind shaking up your rig on rough roads.
> >
> >
> >
> >
>