I was first in line at the Q to Q ferry service and I couldn’t have been more excited to try it for the first time.
Well, to be more accurate, I was the only person in line because it was the first trip of the day. The sun was already blazing down on my pale forehead at 9 a.m. on the empty wharf at the New Westminster Quay.
Then a tug rolled by and kicked up the waves enough that I got tossed around a little – enough that I had to grab onto a railing to stay steady.
Ah, life on the water.
I’ve been to Queensborough many times, but the Q to Q offers a special perspective of this community that you don’t see through a car windshield.
We get so used to doing things the same way over and over again that it’s nice to shake things up a bit by viewing them through an alternative lens.
For those who haven’t tried the Q to Q yet, the word “ferry” might throw you off a bit because you’re probably used to the behemoths we use to travel to Vancouver Island.
When you first see the distinctive yellow roof of the Q to Q, you might actually let out a giggle because it’s so small. But it’s reliable, quick and gets you where you want to go.
I was greeted by pair of friendly guys who have to work fast to swing the ferry into place and then tie it up to the wharf.
After welcoming me aboard, I paid my toonie and waited for other people to join me so I could chat them up about what they thought about the pilot ferry service, which began in May and runs until October.
Alas, it would be a solo trip as nobody else arrived for the first trip of the day from the Quay on this Saturday morning.
It’s a short ride so you have to look fast to soak in the scenery, which ranges from shipping cranes and containers on the south side to the enviable homes sitting on the river’s edge when you look north to New West.
A bird floated by balancing on a giant log. The Fraser is loaded with wood debris, which the ferry captain called “wood torpedoes” that he has to watch out for during every crossing. Some of the logs are longer than the boat.
The debris is a reminder that the mighty Fraser is a working river, with log booms being towed and then stored along the banks.
According to the guys running the boat, the ferry is popular. Their daily record for passengers is 945 people, ranging from tourists to locals. During the week, it’s a lot of parents with their kids or dog walkers heading to Queensborough to take advantage of the outstanding park and playground just a short walk from the river’s edge.
When I arrive in Queensborough, I’m welcomed by a smiling young woman who says she was recently hired by the boat operator to greet Q to Q riders as they come and go.
The city has done a pretty good job on the Queensborough side. There is plenty of signage, including a Q to Q message painted on the path leading up to the ferry. A large city tent was set up over some benches to provide some welcome shade on this hot day.
Queensborough is such a walkable community. It feels like you’re talking a stroll on the False Creek seawall, except when you say hello to people they don’t react like they are reaching for a can of mace.
It’s quite the opposite. People walking their dogs were exceedingly friendly as I strolled around the community.
By the time I got back to the ferry, a line had formed of people waiting to travel to the Quay. One foursome I chatted with included two locals and their two relatives in town from Kamloops. They loved the idea of a ferry service that spared them having to find parking in the downtown area. The two locals said they use the ferry regularly when they want to pick up items from or dine at the River Market, or explore the downtown area. They said it’s so much easier than driving or taking the bus.
And it’s only a toonie one way.
The line was even bigger on the other side as we arrived back at the Quay. As I got off the boat, I saw that a large craft market was set up along the boardwalk with about 40 vendors selling their handcrafted items. After that, it was gelato, of course, and more walking along the waterfront.
All in all, the quintessential New West waterfront experience.
