Editor:
With the advent of the new Sunday ferry schedule, passengers have the pleasure of watching the Queen of Surrey arrive and discharge passengers and vehicles while waiting for the opportunity to board the vessel. But no, we must wait: one Sunday it was announced that the crew were doing exercises; this past Sunday, no such announcement. But the parking lot was overfull, as would be the next sailing to Horseshoe Bay: none of this “possible overload” — this time a for sure overload.
Everyone sat in their cars, as rain fell and the parking lot became more congested. I felt pity for those who arrived after 1:30 p.m., as they would face an extra two-hour wait. But the staff withheld from starting to load the ferry until after 2 p.m. perhaps at around 2:10, so it would be very difficult to pack in as many vehicles as possible in such a short time — even with a new crew and an empty ferry.
On my arrival home in Surrey, I noted that there was an email from BC Ferries. At 7:44 p.m., the Queen of Surrey was operating 33 minutes behind schedule due to an “operational delay”. But perhaps it would cost too much for the new crew to arrive in time for the ferry to board perhaps 15 minutes earlier, which just might avoid the inevitable delays, announcements of which clog my email inbox.
Fr. David R. Marriott,
Parish of St. Columba, Halfmoon Bay
