BLACK BALL FERRY SERVICE RESUMES IN NOVEMBER BETWEEN PORT ANGELES, WA AND VICTORIA, BC

 

MV Coho arrives in Victoria, BC

Ferry service aboard the MV Coho between Port Angeles, WA and Victoria, BC resumes on Monday, November 8, 2021. There will be two sailings a day in each direction for the remainder of 2021. The popular service between the US and Canada has not been running for the past 18 months due to COVID-19.

All travelers must be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and be prepared to show a proof of vaccination card or a photo of it. Click on the link for the other requirements for entering Canada from the US.

The M/V Coho arrives in Port Angeles from Victoria

Travelers may begin making reservations online or by phone the morning of Monday, October 25. 

Daily Departures

Port Angeles to Victoria: 8:20AM and 2:00 PM

Victoria to Port Angeles 10:30AM and 4:00 PM

Sailing time is 1 hour, 35 minutes

Read more about the MV Coho in a previous blog post. 

©SueFrausePhotos

Trans-Canada Air Lines: Air Canada Predecessor at Seattle's Museum of Flight

Tran-Canada Air Lines Super G at the Museum of Flight
Photo by Sue Frause

I finally made my debut at the Museum of Flight, located near Seattle's Boeing Field. What a wonderful collection, both inside and out. One of the 150 planes in the museum's Airpark is a Trans-Canada Airlines Lockheed 1049G Super Constellation. Simply known as the Super G, it was the most successful version of the Lockheed Super Constellations and one of the last great piston-engine airliners. 

This particular airplane was delivered to Trans-Canada Airlines in 1954. After a career flying passengers and later cargo, the aircraft was converted into a cocktail lounge and lunch delicatessen in Toronto. You can see more of its history at this Constellation Survivors Website.

Trans-Canada Airlines (TCA) flew from 1937-1965, founded on April 10, 1937 with $5 million and three airplanes: a tiny Stearman (crop dusting plane) and two Lockheed Electras. The latter is on view at the Western Canada Aviation Museum in Winnipeg. 

Phillip Gustav Johnson, who was President of Seattle's Boeing Airplane Company at the young age 31, was VP of Operations for Trans-Canada Airlines, headquartered in Montreal. Coincidentally, TCA's first flight in 1954 was between Vancouver and Seattle. TCA eventually morphed into Air Canada.

TCA airstairs at Museum of Flight's Restoration Center at Paine Field
Photo by Sue Frause

Travels in Canada 2012: Highlights north of the border in British Columbia

A snowy view from Granville Island Hotel in January. Sue Frause photo.

My 2012 Canadian adventures were limited to six in British Columbia -- Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler. Don't get me wrong, that's not a bad thing, but I feel I'm somewhat shirking my Closet Canuck duties in not visiting other provinces in Canada. But BC is in my back yard, so it's easy and comfortable for me to pop across the 49th Parallel. On my 2013 Canadian travel list are Montreal in March just for fun and maybe Toronto for TBEX '13 in June. 

Last year's kickoff party for Dine Out Vancouver on Granville Island in January. Sue Frause photo.

Food and drink are important elements of travel. Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler have no shortage of fine restos, bars and culinary walking tours to keep your food senses in tune. Bon Appetit is easy in BC!

Cocktails at LIFT, a bar and grill with a Coal Harbour view. Sue Frause photo.

Secret Supper with Swallow Tail Tours in Vancouver. Sue Frause photo.

And then there are those important places where you lay your head at night. I love comfy beds and welcoming inns and hotels -- Vancouver, Victoria and Whistler have a plethora of them, in all styles and price ranges. Travel in the off-season for better deals.

I love the clean lines of the suites at Victoria's Laurel Point Inn. Sue Frause photo.

But for me, getting there is least half the journey. In addition to driving to Whistler, I took trains and buses to Vancouver and float planes and ferries to Victoria. I love letting somebody else do the driving.

Kenmore Air on Seattle's Lake Union. Sue Frause photo.

A snowy trip aboard Amtrak Cascades to Vancouver. Sue Frause photo.

Postcards from Vancouver-Victoria | 2012 | Photos by Sue Frause

Granville Island Market Tour with Edible BC in Vancouver. 

Vancouver's Coal Harbour in summer.

Leader "Gassy Jack" of Taste Vancouver Food Tours. 

Flower bed at VanDusen Botanical Gardens.

Nicole Bridger Fashion Show at Vogue during Vancouver's Eco Fashion Week.

Black Ball's MV Coho arrives in Victoria from Port Angeles.

The Fairmont Empress in Victoria's Inner Harbour.

Victoria's red fish blue fish is one of my top fish 'n chip spots.

My favorite place to stay in Victoria is Fairholme Manor.

Happy New Year and "Cheers" from Closet Canuck!

Metropolitan at UBC's Museum of Anthropology

I have a thing about Nash Metropolitans, and now there's a customized one on display at UBC's Museum of Anthropology in Vancouver. The "Lois Lane Car" (she drove one in the original Superman series) may be seen at MOA's Great Hall, a gallery and performance space that has been temporarily transformed into a parking lot.

The unusual exhibit by Annie Ross, titled Forest One, is a full-size, 1956 Nash Metropolitan that Ross wrapped, twined and plaited with cedar bark and other reclaimed materials. Dr. Ross, a weaver and Assistant Professor in First Nations Studies at Simon Fraser University, used bark salvaged from clear-cut urban forests -- completely transforming the car inside and out.

According to the artist, Forest One speaks of "colonization, urban sprawl, trash and remediating the urban landscape through acts of salvage."

Forest One photo courtesy Annie Ross

Kenmore Air: Travel via float plane between Victoria and Seattle (PHOTOS)

Kenmore Air arrives at the air terminal in Victoria's Inner Harbour on Vancouver Island.

Boarding Kenmore Air takes you past the sweet fleet of Victoria Harbour Ferry.

The flight between Victoria and Seattle takes around an hour. 

Soon we're up in the air.

Victoria is layed out below us.

The lighthouse at Trial Islands off the southeast coast of Vancouver Island. 

Fun to fly over Whidbey Island, WA my home -- here's Double Bluff and Useless Bay.

Washington State Ferries docking at Edmonds. 

Another scenic flight comes to an end on Seattle's Lake Union.

Photos by Sue Frause

Snowy train ride aboard Amtrak Cascades | Seattle to Vancouver BC

Amtrak Cascades Train #510 | Seattle to Vancouver BC | Photos by Sue Frause

Happy Anniversary, YVR! Vancouver International Airport Turns 80 Years Old

Vancouver International Airport aboard London Air Services helicopter en route from Sonora Resort Photo by Sue Frause

YVR is lookin' pretty good for being 80 years old. When Vancouver International Airport opened in 1931, it only had a single runway and a small, wooden building. Today, it's a world-class airport that serves 16.8 million passengers and employs 23,600 people.

To celebrate the July 22 milestone anniversary, the Vancouver Airport Authority is throwing a public celebration at the airport with free open houses on July 22-23 from 10-3 daily. Highlights include:

• 80 Memorable Moments Photo Gallery: Relive YVR's 70 years through a photographic display. The gallery runs from the Domestic Terminal food court to the International Terminal's "Spirit of Haida Gwaii." Level 3 of the Main Terminal.
• In-Terminal Entertainment: Live DJs, magicians, face painters, balloon twisters and lots of giveaways. Lunch specials and product sampling at YVR restos and shops. Main Terminal Building (Domestic and International).
• Airside Ballet: YVR's airfield firefighting emergency trucks showcase their unique "ballet" in a display of coordination, timing and sheer equipment size. Domestic Terminal, Public Observation Area, Friday and Saturday at 11 AM.
• Vintage Aircraft Display and Flypast: See vintage aircraft parked on at the original location of the airport. Best views are from the outdoor viewing platform. Flypast by the Fraser Blues on Friday at 2 PM. South Terminal Building, south side apron.

An 80th Anniversary Grand Prize will be given away to a lucky winner during the two-day celebration. Just pick up one of the commemorative brochures from the Green Coat volunteers for a chance to win a two-night stay in a deluxe room at The Fairmont Vancouver Airport plus $200 YVR bucks.

Globe@YVR: The Farmont Vancouver Airport Hotel's restaurant is celebrating with a Five Course Anniversary Table d'Hote menu, priced at $80 per person (plus taxes). The hotel is also offering a special: Book two nights in a row between July 22-31 and receive the second night at the anniversary rate of $80.

Discount Parking: Locals and visitors are encouraged to take the Canada Line to YVR. If you drive, pick up a $5 flat-rate parking coupon good for up to four hours at YVR's Customer Care counters in the Main Terminal. Complimentary shuttles will transport visitors between the Mai and South Terminals from 10-3 each day.

Live at YVR for 80 Days: Read my previous blog post about a contest to select a lucky person to live at YVR for 80 days!

Victoria Express stops sailings between Victoria-Port Angeles

Black Ball Ferry Line, based in Port Angeles, WA, announced last week the purchase of Victoria Rapid Transit's operations. Victoria Rapid Transit, formed in 1990 by the Harmon family, has been shuttling passengers aboard the Victoria Express between Victoria and Port Angeles for more than 20 years. In 2004, they added scheduled service to Friday Harbor on San Juan Island in 2004.

Following its winter break, Victoria Rapid Transit will focus on launching its new Explorer Series of tours. The tours will be offered under the name of Expeditions NW and focus on the ecology and culture of the region with adventure and eco-tours out of Port Angeles. Destinations include the islands, Strait of Juan de Fuca and Victoria. Their first scheduled trip is a day cruise to the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival on April 16, 2011. Let's hope the tulips are in bloom!

The 149-passenger Victoria Express will be one of the tour vessels of Expeditions NW, and not resume scheduled service between Port Angeles and Victoria. Black Ball Ferry Line's MV Coho will now be the connection between the two cities/countries. Read more about Victoria losing this seasonal connection in the Times Colonist and Peninsula Daily News.

The MV Coho provides year-round car and walk-on ferry service between Port Angeles and downtown Victoria. It offers up to eight daily sailings during the summer season. Both companies have collaborated over the years to promote both Olympic Peninsula and Vancouver Island, along with resolving issues that impact tourism, such as the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative.

The MV Coho in Victoria's Inner Harbour as seen from The Fairmont Empress Hotel. Photo by Sue Frause.

Ultimate Christmas Gift: Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupe

I was recently telling somebody that I didn't think giving somebody a car for Christmas was all that cool. I don't know why, it just seems somewhat impersonal. I mean, it's only transportation; sort of like a washer and dryer are only about doing laundry.

Well, here's a car that is way beyond transportation. And way beyond cool. The 2011 Rolls-Royce Phantom Drophead Coupé is listed at $552,515 (plus that pesky HST). Its features include a crisp Arctic White finish; hand-sewn, fawn brown leather interior; sleek mahogany and teak finishes; rear-hinged coach doors; 21" wheels; and front wing-hidden umbrellas for the west coast rain.

The only place you'll be able to purchase one in western Canada is at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Vancouver. The exclusive car boutique is located at 1717 West 5th Avenue (at Burrard).

If you don't want to go for the Drophead Coupe pictured above, there's the Phantom and the Ghost. The showroom features both new and pre-owned stock.

Financing Available.