Easter Island

We were very excited for our upcoming 4 day Easter weekend. Molly, Paige, Joe and I were going to stay at a friend's condo in Ucluelet on the west coast of Vancouver Island.

Joe picked the girls up at their apartment in Vancouver on Thursday night and brought them home along with 2 bottles of red and a couple of pizzas.  Not a bad way to start a holiday.  Not bad at all.

The only ferry reservation we could get for Good Friday was the 6:30am boat.  I thought we should get up at 4:30am and leave the house by 5:00am.  Joe said we'd be fine if we left Squamish at 5:15am.  Are you sure? I asked.  He assured me that was plenty of time to get to the ferry terminal at Horseshoe Bay and still arrive 30 minutes before the ferry's departure to keep our reservation.

Well 5:15am turned into 5:20am, which turned into 5:25am.  We pulled out of our driveway at 5:30am.

Dawn was beginning to break.  The moon was just going to bed.  The waters of Howe Sound were still.

  We happily chatted about what was going on in our lives.  I made a joke to the girls that going on holidays with us was like going to an all-inclusive resort.  La la la la la.

There were no other cars on the highway at that hour as Joe meandered down the road.  No rush, right?

WRONG!

At one point along the highway, I could see down to Horseshoe Bay.  I mentioned to Joe that the ferry lot was full of cars.  It was lit up like a Christmas tree.  Joe assured me it wasn't car headlights I was seeing, but street lights.  Then he looked at the clock on the dashboard.  Then he looked up and saw how far away Horseshoe Bay actually was.  Then for some curious reason we were suddenly hurtling down the highway and going 120 kilometers an hour around the curves and bends in the road.  The girls and I were being thrown from side to side in the car as we sped toward the ferry landing.

Nothing was said, but I think Joe forgot that in driving down from Squamish we had to drive several kilometres past Horseshoe Bay and then double back to get in the ferry line-up.  Not being one to say "I told you so" I kept my mouth shut as we raced toward the ferry slip.  But you can bet that I was screaming those words in my head.

We arrived at 6:04am.  Joe pulled up to one of the ferry workers in an orange vest and said, "We have a reservation on the 6:30am ferry."  The guy said, "Reservations are closed."  Joe gave him a dismissive wave of his hand and scoffed, "Whatever."

Whatever indeed.

We drove up to the ticket booth.  Joe repeated that we had a reservation for the 6:30am boat.  The woman in the booth said, "Reservations are held until 30 minutes before the ferry sails.  You missed it.  You will have to remain here until the 6:30am sailing departs.  You now have to wait for the 8:30am ferry."

There was a silent groan in my head.  We had gotten up at 4:30am only to miss our reservation which cost us $15.00 and we now had to wait another two and a half hours to hopefully get on the 8:30am sailing without reservations on Good Friday of the Easter weekend????

The 6:30am ferry sailed away and we were let into the parking lot.  IT WAS FULL of other people who did not have reservations and were also waiting for the 8:30am boat.  There was no guarantee that we were even getting on this ferry.  I could have brained Joe.  Seriously.  I could have done some damage.

There was nothing to do but wait.  And wait we did.
Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait.

Joe turned to us and said, "I am really sorry.  I will never let this happen again."

You can bet your sweet bippy you won't let this happen again, pal.

The 8:30 ferry started to load and we held our breath to see if we would make it on.  We were one of the last vehicles on the boat.

Joe sleeps in the car.


We let out a collective sigh of relief.  All was forgiven and we could get on with the holiday.

In Ucluelet we did a lot of.....

reading,

laughing,

sleeping,

walking,

eating,

and hot tubbing.

And true to his word, Joe made sure we didn't miss our reservation on the return trip.  As a matter of fact we were so early that we were one of the first vehicles on the ferry!

Thanks Joe, Molly and Paige for a fun-filled Easter weekend!  I had a great time!