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BC Ferries from Nanaimo to Horseshoe Bay 7/26/2024

Elizabeth and I awoke at the Best Western Barclay Inn and following our Internet duties, had breakfast at the hotel's restaurnt. I drove back toward Nanaino but at Parksville, we found the highway closed due to an accident that had the entire road shut down. Luckily we were able to detour through Parksville as we had driven through town the day before and switched drive before reaching Nanoose Bay. Elizabeth then drove us to the BC Ferries terminal at Departure Bay in Nanaimo. We had a reservation on the 11:30 sailing so we joined the queue and waited for the announcement to drive onboard. This was Elizabeth's first time on this route and my sixth, although those trips were in the 1960's and 1970's with my parents.

Until Spring 2008, the Queen of Cowichan was the main Route 2 (Horseshoe Bay - Departure Bay) vessel based out of Nanaimo. In March she was replaced by the new Coastal Renaissance and at least temporarily shuffled into "spare ship" status. The Cowichan has an almost identical sister, the Queen of Coquitlam, and three others which share the same hull design: the Queen of Alberni, Queen of Oak Bay and Queen of Surrey. On board, the ferry features a cafeteria, snack bar, gift shop, arcade, children's play area, elevators and plenty of open and sheltered outside deck space. The Queen of Cowichan is a double-ended ferry and loads cars from two levels. The lower car level also includes additional "gallery decks" on either side.

Launched in early 1976, the Queen of Cowichan was the second of the 5 C-class ferries built over six years for BC Ferries. At the time, these "superferries" provided a modern improvement to ferry travellers and a needed increase in fleetwide capacity. Built at a cost of just under $20 million, the C-class ferries were initially placed on the Tsawwassen to Swartz Bay route. However, most of the Cowichan's service life has been on the Horseshoe Bay to Nanaimo and Horseshoe Bay to Langdale (Sunshine Coast) routes. In late 2003 and early 2004, the Queen of Cowichan received and extensive $34 million midlife refit at Vancouver Shipyards. In addition to engine work and steel replacement, the ferry acquired a new evacuation system and a complete overhaul of passenger accommodations.

The Queen of Cowichan is named after the bay, river, lake, valley, or region of Cowichan on Vancouver Island. There is also a Cowichan First Nation and a District of North Cowichan in the same area. The Cowichan Valley is an important agricultrual area on the Island and also provides excellent opportunities for fishing, logging and tourism. The City of Duncan, Town of Lake Cowichan, Town of Ladysmith and the community of Chemainus are the main population centers in the region. Cowichan Lake is the second largest lake on Vancouver Island and Cowichan First Nation is the largest First Nation group in British Columbia. The name comes from the Native word "Quw'utsum', which means "warmed by the sun".

When our lane was given the go-ahead to board, Elizabeth drove us onto the upper level of the boat and we went upstairs to the rear of the ship.

The last few cars boarded the upper level.

A crew member waits for any cars.

The passenger way to the other dock here.

The loading ramp was lifted and we soon departed Nanaimo.

The way to Horseshoe Bay.

Churning the water as we departed.

The Seaspan barges use this channel to reach Roberts Bank, with the edge of Gabriola Island in the picture.

It was a very nice summer's day as we travelled to Horseshoe Bay.

Neck Point.

Leaving Namaimo behind.

Neck Point for the second time.

Our large wake.

Neck Point for the third and last time.

We entered the Strait of Georgia.

The Vancouver Island Coastal Range of mountains.

Lasquita Island.

The Coast Range of North America.

Lasquita Island and Texada Island.

The way to Horseshoe Bay.

The Coast Range of Canada.

Our journey across Georgia Strait, after which we had a snack in the Coastal Café.

The City of Vancouver.

Lions Gate Bridge, a remarkable suspension bridge, towering over the waters of Burrard Inlet, is distinguished by an elegant design that complements a spectacular mountain setting. Designed by the firm of Monsarrat & Pratley, the Lions Gate Bridge was recognized from the time of its completion in 1938 as an engineering feat, with its impressive span and such advanced features as a thin road deck and prefabricated cable strands. Built to facilitate the development of West Vancouver, the bridge quickly became a major landmark and acquired symbolic importance as the western gateway to Canada. Approved 2007 Description of Historic Place. Located in Vancouver, the Lions Gate Bridge National Historic Site of Canada is the longest suspension bridge in Western Canada with a total length of 1517 metres. The bridge has three traffic lanes, an electronic signage system and a pedestrian and cyclist sidewalk on either side of the deck. It serves as a major transportation link for communities throughout the region on both sides of Burrard Inlet. The site includes the south entrance to the bridge that emerges from Stanley Park National Historic Site of Canada, near Prospect, the main span, which is supported by twin towers, and the viaduct on the north shore located in a land corridor that crosses Capilano Indian Reserve.

The Lions Gate Bridge was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 2004 because: it is an outstanding landmark and has a significant symbolic value to Canadians; it is distinctive by its elegant design which complements a spectacular setting; it is an outstanding engineering achievement for its time in its advanced technical features; and, it had an undeniable and significant influence on the development of Vancouver.

Identified as one of Canada's technical and engineering landmarks, the Lions Gate Bridge is noted for its innovative civil engineering. When built it was recognized as the longest suspension bridge in the British Empire and one of the biggest construction projects undertaken in Canada during the 1930s. Despite its enormous size, the open steelwork of the twin towers and pioneering use of a thin deck gave the structure a light weightless quality that blend well with its picturesque setting. The bridge was remarkable because of its length and the technical innovations in cable use and construction. The reconstruction of its deck at the turn of the twenty-first century was also an exceptional achievement, marking the first time that the deck, hangers and stiffening trusses of a suspension bridge were replaced simultaneously without closing the bridge to traffic.

The bridge stimulated the geographic and socio-economic development of the north shore of Vancouver. Financed by the brewing tycoon, Sir Arthur Guinness, through a syndicate called British Pacific Properties Ltd., the Lions Gate Bridge was commissioned to open up the suburbs of West Vancouver for development by establishing a direct link between Vancouver and the north shore of the First Narrows of Burrard Inlet. The design of the bridge owed much to the vision of Victoria-born Alfred J.T. Taylor, a prominent engineering contractor and industrialist who had substantial land holdings on the north shore and who assembled the financing for the project.

Despite upgrades due to increased traffic flow and seismic concerns, the integrity of its aesthetic design and the treatment of materials have been maintained.

Heading to Horseshoe Bay along the Sunshine Coast.

One of the Gulf Islands ferries making its voyage from Horseshoe Bay to Langdale.

Curving into Horseshoe Bay.

The next ferry to leave Horseshoe Bay bound for Departure Bay.

Curving into the ferry terminal, at which time we returned to car and waited to drive off. Once out of the Terminal area, I drove north to Squamish and our next stop.

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