Ferry To The Mainland And Back

 Last week, we made our first ferry ride to Vancouver since the pandemic.  

Lynda was flying out to Ottawa from YVR. We stayed overnight at an airport hotel,  her flight was early morning.  I spent time with my sister and came home the next day.  

Weather was decent for being on the outdoor deck and taking photos, on the return I spent the entire 2 hour trip up there.   

And, bonus, free travel Monday to Thursday for seniors!   I don't drive anymore in Vancouver, otherwise we would need to pay $50 each way, plus $17 if we needed a reservation, something almost required now since it's summer and car capacity has been reduced due to covid. 

Here's the Nanaimo skyline on the outbound ferry to Vancouver  

The ferry to Gabriela Island from Nanaimo.

Mount Benson towers over Nanaimo

When you live on an island, everything you need, from new cars, to building supplies, to plastic lawn chairs from Walmart and nails in Canadian Tire  must come over on a ferry.  We have a deep water port in Port Alberni that could serve the island, but all the container ships dock in Vancouver and goods are then ferried back to us. 

A first for me, humpback whales breaching!  The ships officer always announces marine sightings, and everyone rushes to the side with cameras. Fortunately all the tractor trailers on the lower deck keep the ferry stable! 

Not a clear photo because the ferry keeps its distance of course,  and I was shooting through a panorama window.  Plus, it's not easy to scan the ocean and anticipate  the 2 seconds  elapsed time that the humpback breaks surface to focus and shoot

On the return trip I had time to kill so had crab cakes and a beer waiting for the next ferry.  Horseshoe Bay is a picturesque village. The Main Street with restaurants and coffee shops is right next to the terminal.  . 

Ferry to Bowen Island in the next dock. 

Vancouver skyline 

West coast dude doing his west coast thing, following all protocols, socially distanced and wearing a mask.  

The ferry from Nanaimo to Vancouver passes us.  

Mysterious island. 

We were travelling west, into the setting sun.