Travel to the other Southern Gulf Islands can sometimes be an odd experience.
Twice recently I was the ONLY vehicle in the parking lot. In my effort to return to Salt Spring, I left from Saturna with a smattering of cars. I got off at Mayne Island, drove up past the cars in the terminal, and headed back down in lane 9. Some other cars got off the ferry and disappeared. The walk on passengers and all the cars waiting in the terminal loaded (…which is an entertaining time as some cars are directed to drive on normally, some to turn at the far end of the boat so they are facing back to the terminal, while others are directed to back onto the ferry).
So when those shenanigans were complete, I looked around and was startled to find I was the only car in the terminal. The ferry attendants had disappeared and it was sunny, still and silent. And remained that way for a long time—until I too had a chance to demonstrate my ‘backing up around a corner skills’ into lanes of traffic squeezed onto a ferry.
I have had this experience John, and the very first time it happened I had no idea that the signal they were giving me meant I should turn around and back on…
they were not very patient with me!!!
I agree! The signal I was given—from 200 feet—looked like the first half of the procedure only (a drive over that way). Like they got tired and didn’t want to bother with the full turn or the backup part.
Maybe because after so many times doing it, it’s just so obvious to them?
I was the only car left in the Tsaawassen ferry terminal one dark, rainy, Friday night waiting for that last SSI ferry. Thankfully the attendants were kind enough to tap on the window to wake me up – a slightly more direct signal….
Doesn’t sound like the greatest Friday night. Does though define ‘alone’ in that massive paved area.
Doesn’t it? I afterwards imagined what it might have been like to wake up at 2am locked into the ferry parking lot!
Sometimes the dock workers in Fulford practically stand in the lane they want you to drive into and it is hard to tell if they want you in the next lane or the one after that. After all those years I guess they figure everyone understands their code. I would think they could have more fun acting out a little like some of the traffic cops in cities. But all in all they are great, friendly people especially the ones that let you get in the first lane to debark when you tell them you have to catch the Spirit boat.
Love to see them have a go at some entertaining directions!