Living on the Sunshine Coast, BC means getting used to riding the ferry. While we’re part of the Canadian mainland, there’s no road or bridge that provides access so using the ferry is a fact of life.
Anyone that calls the Sunshine Coast home has their own unique ferry routine. This is what mine looks like when I need to bring my car with me to Vancouver.
Crossing from Gibsons to Horseshoe Bay
If I know in advance I’m going to the city, I book a ferry reservation via the BC Ferries website. I used to only do this during the summer months but over the past couple of years, I reserve my spot whenever possible.
Even with a reservation, you still need to arrive at least half an hour early, which means spending some time hanging around the terminal.
Assuming I’m traveling in the morning, once I’m through the gate and parked as instructed, I make my way over to the The Little Black Bean Café that’s located at the BC Ferries Langdale Terminal. My minimum order is a black coffee but I may also get one of the Black Bean’s amazing muffins.
Coffee in hand, I go back to my car and wait to load. When it’s time to drive onto the ferry, someone from BC Ferries will instruct you where to go. If you’re lucky your vehicle will get a “window seat!” When this happens, you might opt to just stay in your car for the sailing and enjoy the view!
Once I’m parked on the ferry, I head up to the main deck. PRO TIP: Remember which level you parked on and which stairway was closest so you can find your vehicle again when it’s time to disembark. If I already had a muffin, I’ll grab a seat next to a window so I can enjoy the view while making the 40-minute sailing. If I didn’t eat before loading, I’ll head to the cafeteria and order breakfast. If I’m traveling with my husband, we’ll order the All Board (AKA – the big breakfast) to split.
Regular commuters will have their system for spending their time during a crossing. Some people will walk laps around the main deck. Some people will find a cubical and squeeze in some work. And some people will watch the world float by.
If it’s summer time, I’ll make my way up to the sundeck and walk around outside for some fresh air with ocean and mountains views. During the rainy season, I usually stay inside and at least do one quick walk through the gift shop just to browse.
When you’re getting close to Horseshoe Bay, there’ll be an announcement telling you it’s time to head back to your car and get ready to unload. This is your last chance to use the facilities before you disembark.
Returning to your car, you’ll wait for the ferry to dock and for a BC Ferries crew member to give you offloading instructions. Don’t start your car too early. Wait until you see your row is actually moving before hitting the ignition.
Crossing from Horseshoe Bay to Gibsons
Regular commuters will have their return trips down to a science but mine is generally more “seat of my pants.” When I have an appointment in the city, I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back at the ferry terminal and this makes getting a reservation tricky. Typically, I’ll show up and just hope for the best.
I pull up to the gate at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal and the person working at the kiosk will tell me which sailing I’ll be on. If I’m lucky, I’ll only have a short delay before getting on the next ferry back to Langdale. But in the summer or before a long-weekend, I may have some extra time to kill.
If the next boat isn’t for an hour or more, I’ll leave my car in line as instructed and then walk into Horseshoe Bay itself. Here you’ll find restaurants and shops and convenience stores.
One of my favourite places to hangout while waiting for my ferry is Trollers Ale House. It’s only half-a-block from the terminal and faces the water so I can watch ferries come and go. Depending on the time of day, I’ll order a snack or a meal and keep an eye on the clock so I have enough time to pay my bill and get back to my car without running.
Driving onto the ferry in Horseshoe Bay is the same as in Langdale. Follow the instructions, park your car, and then head up to the main passenger deck to spend the 40 minutes it takes to return home to paradise.
Val’s note
If you’re thinking of moving to Gibsons (or anywhere on the Sunshine Coast), you need to accept that the ferry will play a significant role in your life. The majority of the time, crossings are stress free but there are occasions where the ferry will be late or suffer some kind of a breakdown. This has the potential to throw off your carefully planned schedule and it’s easy to become frustrated.
If your trip DOES go sideways, try to remind yourself that no one is doing this to you on purpose and everyone at BC Ferries wants to get back and forth with a minimum of muss and fuss. Yes, delays can be a hassle but it’s the price of admission for living somewhere as amazing as BC’s Sunshine Coast.
Call Val
Call or text Val: 604-399-8935
Email Val: info@vallabrecque.ca
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