Continuing from our theme of photos taken on trips to satisfy Mrs A|T’s teenie vampire obsession, this week’s pictures are of the Coho Ferry that runs between Victoria, British Columbia and Port Angeles, Washington State.
Any Twilight fans out there will know that the novels are based in Forks, Washington, a very remote and very small town on the very north-west corner of the non-detached US. Vancouver based Twi-hards can get their sparkle on either by driving south to Seattle and u-turning back up the Olympic Peninsula, or they can ferry over to Victoria, hop on the Coho Ferry to Port Angeles, and make a relatively short drive on to Forks.We decided to travel via Victoria to sample some of the amazing food culture emerging there.
The Coho Ferry has been making the run between Canada and the United States since 1959 and leaves from the heart of the tourist area in Victoria. To take the ferry you drive into their vehicle holding area and then walk up to the US customs desk which is located in a little shack near the ferry terminal. Once they’ve cleared you they give you a slip of paper to post on your windshield so that the ferry workers know that you’re cleared to go. US Customs then walks up and down the rows of cars to check for suspicious characters – thanks in large part to the Millennium bomber who was caught trying to bring explosives into the US on this very boat.
This photo is my contribution to Travel Photo Thursday, a weekly listing of travel photos posted by bloggers from around the world by Budget Traveler’s Sandbox. Please check it out to see some really amazing images!
Bonus pictures:
Unlike many modern ferries that load vehicles from the front and/or back, the Coho loads cars in from the side.
The above is a shot of the Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria harbour taken from the deck of the Coho after boarding. Completed in 1908, the hotel is beautiful but very creepy at night. When staying there for business I always seem to get rooms deep in the back of the hotel. Portaits of unknown people stare at you while you walk the long, lonely, silent corridors that require multiple turns to navigate the additional wings added on to the original building.
Just so you know where you are.
A little hard to see because I didn’t see this shot until the ship was pretty far away, here you can see the Coho heading back to Victoria.
That’s a cool ship. I’ve never seen one load from the sides. Thanks for sharing!
Unusual, huh? I wondered if it was originally a normal ship and later modified to carry vehicles but I found this article which shows that it was built as a side-loader: http://maritimematters.com/2009/12/m-v-coho-50-years-of-reliable-service-by-shawn-j-dake/
That’s a cute boat and a very nice story to go along with it. Interesting port of entry for the Millennium bomber. You had a perfect day on that crossing.
Interesting article and beautiful photos, thank you 🙂
The hotel looks like it’s from a different era or something- great shots!
I really want to get to the this part of the U.S./Canada. I am embarrassed to say that I have read Twilight and it reinforced that interest!
I like the composition of the last photo. Something melancholic about that.
I’ve never seen a ferry that loads cars from the side either. I’m sure it must be a beautiful ride. I know that around Vancouver Island is gorgeous, but haven’t taken a ferry into Washington State.
Have to agree with everyone, it is different the way this boat loaded. Love the picture of Victoria! So many great things to do and see there.
Great shots! I had no idea this boat was associated with a bomber.
Thanks for another great week of Travel Photo Thursday.
Interesting about the Coho Ferry and the Millennium bomber. Nice pics of the ferry and the Fairmont Empress. What a gorgeous & mysterious hotel.
Side-loading? Well that’s just plain wrong…. 🙂
Nice photos my friend!
Side loading – what a strange concept. Because we have travelled by ferry quite a bit the idea that you would load a car from the side doesn’t seem logical. It must work otherwise they wouldn’t continue the ferry service. I love the last photo, the colour and composition have a ‘romantic’ feel.
i really love that last shot. beautiful! i’ve not been on a side-loading ferry before- it looks cool! (and hard to get around the corners, once you’re in?!)