Port Hardy to Prince Rupert

MV Northern Expedition

We woke this morning 15 minutes before the alarm was due to go off, which was just as well. By the time we had made our ablutions, made the bed, brought in the slides and walked the dogs it was time to get ready to load BC Ferry's MV Northern Expedition for our 15 hour voyage through the Inside Passage to Prince Rupert.

Foot passengers wandered on first then the motor cycles, then a delay as a few more walkers arrived, then the cars started loading, one at a time as each boarding pass was checked. Obviously many people didn't have theirs handy-- they rummaged about as the patient staff waited. Every so often another few pedestrians would arrive and the cars waited until they had meandered down the ramp and along the car deck to the stairs or elevator. So the loading progressed. One vehicle, . . . then another, . . . and another . . . etc. etc. It didn't take long to see why they start loading a 6:00 AM for a 7:30 departure!

Although we had not arranged a place to meet on board Art found Gillian without any trouble, nursing her morning coffee. On the passenger deck just out side the entrance to the cafe we were surprised to find a table providing free coffee and tea as the restaurants would not be open until 7:00 AM. Nice touch—especially as they charged us $20.00 to park overnight in the lineup!

Shortly after departure we made our way to the cafe for breakfast. Nothing spectacular but reasonable cafeteria food. We were pleased to find a few tables against the wall with accessible power plugs for the laptop so we decided to take the opportunity to bash out a few more words on the word processor, ready to cut and paste to the blog when we next get internet access.

As we passed Cape Scott, the northern end of Vancouver Island, we entered Queen Charlotte Strait. An announcement advised that the we may feel a bit of motion as we entered this section of open water and pointed out Pine Island light house on the mainland side, one of the few known nesting places of the rhinocerus auklet. Yesterday's sun was long gone, no sign of its re-appearance this morning. Soon the mainland to starboard was only a blue grey silhouette a few miles away while to port a grey sea met a grey sky with the blurred outline of a ship on the horizon.

As the morning progressed the sky slowly brightened and by the time we had finished breakfast things were looking up. Returning from our first trip down to the car deck there was a lot of blue sky and soon we were out on the deck watching the scenery go by. It was still cool so before long Art returned inside and in a bit we went back to the cafe for lunch. Food has been ok, though so far we have spent over $50.00 on breakfast and lunch with dinner still to come! After lunch it was time to go below again.

The dogs of course are not permitted above the car deck so they were left to snooze the voyage away. There are set time where the car deck will be opened for 15 minutes so we will have time to check on them once in a while and let them out for a few minutes. The first two breaks, one at 11:00 and the second at 1:45 proved to be futile in the attempt to have them relieve themselves—they seemed to believe that they were still inside, though the floor was steel not wood, tile or carpet and they would not go.

Back up to the passenger decks Art returned to the cafe for coffee and lemon pie while Gillian carried on to the sun deck where Art later joined her.

The day progressed, the weather improving minute by minute. We took dozens of photos--one day I'll figure out how to setup albums in Picassa and how to link said albums to this blog. One day. Then I'll comeback and setup the links. Meanwhile:

























The photo on the left is of Butedale






The voyage wore on--long but enjoyable, thanks in part to the beautiful scenery, enhanced by the warm sunny weather. The vessel itself was very pleasant, new, clean, very up-scale. The staff too were very friendly and helpful.

Four times during the trip we could go down to the car deck to care for the dogs. The third time down Gillian took the opportunity to raid the fridge for the remains of the fruit pizza made at Buttle Lake. Back up above the pizza stayed uneaten and soon it was time for dinner after which we had no room at all! The food was excellent, so during the last permitted trip below for the dogs (for which we interrupted our dinner) Gillian brought the pizza back down, placing it on the dash while she got the leashes for the excited dogs. See it coming? Tia had another pee but Trekker knew that no matter how much we coaxed him, this was "inside" and he wouldn't go! Gillian even stayed beyond the alloted 15 minutes but to to avail and eventually returned topside.



Eventually we began to see signs of civilization again and were soon called to the cardeck to get ready to disembark. Gillian went directly to the car as she didn't want to upset the dogs by arriving then leaving again while Art went to the motorhome. We would meet up at the RV park less than a kilometre up the road. Art was greeted at the door of the motorhome by the pups. "Who, me? What pizza?" All he could do was laugh and take a photo!



At the campground Gillian already had us registered by the time Art arrived with the motorhome so she took the dogs for a much needed outing on the grass while Art set up the rig.