Nearly all the crew took a depth breath and then gave a deep sigh, when we sailed into Vancouver. The Alaska season has finished. How beautiful Alaska is and can be, the season is long, especially on the seven day run; the weather varies greatly and after 10 times Ketchikan, you have seen it. This was my 249 visit to Ketchikan and the total number would have been even higher if there were not a number of cancellations due to the bad weather. I started counting about 20 years ago when the company asked me to report how many days, weeks, and years we had spent in BC and Alaska as part of a pilots dispute in relation to the experience of the navigators on board. The issue was shortly settled afterwards but since then I kept the count up.
We had a drizzly day in Vancouver but it did not dampen the spirits as sunny times are awaiting. We were also the only cruise ship in today and that make life also easier. Canada Place is a beautiful terminal but with 3 or 4 ships alongside it gets crowded, very crowded. When the terminal was built in 1986 as part of the Vancouver Expo, it was well ahead of the times. Then through the 1990’s it fulfilled all our needs but then the ships increased in size and during high season, when the count goes over 5000 guests going out and coming in, it is getting tight. A number of years ago the pier was extended but it did not solve the internal flow issue. But today no such issues, the Nieuw Amsterdam was by itself and the 2000 guests rolling off and 2000 rolling on, posed no problem what so-ever.
Macleod in Vancouver. This shows only a small section of a vast two story antiquarian bookshop. It looks chaotic, it is chaotic but it works and it is heaven.
I managed to run into town quickly and indeed found a book. There was probably much more of interest but Macleod on West Pender has so much that you can hardly look at the shelves; you have to move boxes and sometime dig through a low mountain of books to get to the lower shelves. Upstairs it is full, downstairs it is overfull. And Maritime Subjects are downstairs so a shovel might be handy, if you could handle books like that. I prefer gloves and then it is all time consuming. I go book hunting everywhere in the world and know some nice places, but this is the holy grail of book lovers. I will be there again if I come to Alaska next season and will ensure more room in my suitcase.
The good ship Nieuw Amsterdam is now gearing up for the Trans canal and our first port will be Astoria on the Columbia River. As we will be back in the USA then; I had to go through USA immigration in the Vancouver terminal to prove that I am still a respectful traveler and still have a green dot behind my name in the CBP computer. As luck would have it, I have been approved again until Fort Lauderdale.
As it dried up in the late afternoon we had a large crowd on the top of Canada Place Forum to see us leaving including a large gaggle of school children all nicely in school uniforms. Either they had come from school or they were on an outing in downtown Vancouver but it was interesting to see this huddle of school uniforms assembling in front of the ship among a riot of other colors and less uniformed and well less dressed tourists. I just do not know if they were there for us or for the hop on hop off bus and other sightseeing buses which stop right there.
Bye bye Canada Place, it will be quiet here until next season.
We left at 17.00 hrs. and then sailed under the Lions Gate Bridge. We now have a high speed run towards Astoria. Disembarking the Canadian pilot around 22.00 hrs. and coming out of Strait Juan de Fuca around 01.00 hrs. tomorrow morning. Then it is a race down the coast to be at the pilot station of the Columbia River at 10.00 hrs. for a docking by noon time. The pilot is supposed to arrive by helicopter so that will be interesting.
We are looking at an overcast but dry day and temperatures of around 13oC and 55oF. The town of Astoria is a little bit away from the dock but there are all sorts of transport out there. For the crew a shuttle service has been arranged not to town but much more important, to Fred Meyers and Costco to stack up for the Trans canal voyage
October 1, 2017 at 6:20 pm
seeing the ships leaving Canada Place reminds me of some birds, who also go South for the winter.
We look forward to a day in April when the first ships [and birds ] return.
Sandra
October 2, 2017 at 12:54 pm
For a slightly odd reason, I enjoyed your photo. Earlier that day, I was on that pier watching people load in. I’ve been there on a few Saturday’s this year watching the ship since it’s the one we’re going on next year.
I’ve taken a few pictures of the ship as I stand on that pier, dreaming of the day we’re on it. I promised myself that when I finally get on board, I’ll take a shot of the pier where I’ve stood these past few weeks. A kind of “before and after”, if you will.
And, yes, it was odd to see only one ship the other day. The week before there were three or four ships and that’s a lot of flowing in and out along with all the folks (like me) who are strolling around that area.
October 3, 2017 at 6:25 pm
Funny, Captain. From down below on the Promenade it seemed a lot busier with people than what is on the photo at departure time?!
Also, I seem to remember that the sky seemed to have broken open completely when the ship left. Better check my notes again as I don’t have them with me. 🙂
October 10, 2017 at 7:56 pm
It is unfortunate that we didn’t have the oppotunity to meet. We obviously came off the ship and you went on. We know the book shop you mentioned and can attest to the organised chaos. My wife loves books, but our suit cases were already full.