Day 27 - Inside Passage ferry to Prince Rupert

Today morning started at 4:45. I had to be at the ferry terminal at 5:30 to not loose my reservation. The boarding took about an hour and we were scheduled to leave at 7:30. Wandering around on the outside deck of the ferry at 6 in the morning and listen to the eagle cries is really an experience. As a boatman told me this is the time when they hunt for fish.

The weather was not a bit better, it was raining all day long. The ferry had a rain and wind covered outside deck so you were able to enjoy the fresh air without getting wet and too cold. Inside you hat comfortable full-length seats next to the windows if you were rather the inside type. I started with a full buffet breakfast as being up for 3 hours without eating is nothing for me. There was also a tourist guide on board who gave a little introduction about the touristic spots of B.C, making sure that you don't just look at the window of your Prince Rupert hotel waiting for better weather. When asked if anybody is going to Haida Gwaii (Queen Charlotte's Island) I was the only one raising my hand. He said I made a very good decision because that place is paradise. This was already a good sign that my 3 days there will be well spent.

On the way the captain announced whenever we went by some scenic area or when a whale has been spotted so people could go look at them. Good luck with understanding marine terms like port and starbuck side. Although the weather was bad, I was outside as much as I could. You don't get to see the literal west coast of Canada from the sea too many times. The ferry goes through a passage between the west coast islands, so mostly you are traveling on calm waters, but at the first part the ferry was on open waters and you could feel and see how the waves move this enormous ferry up and down. I am not the seasick type though so I just enjoyed the ride.

The ferry eventually arrived in Prince Rupert at 10:30pm before we passed by the new multimillion dollar container port of Canada that speeds cheap tat from China to bargain-desperate Americans, as Prince Rupert (pop. 15,000) is closer from Asia than Vancouver is. The hotel I booked turned out to be horrible so I canceled my reservation and booked a room in the Black Rooster Roadhouse, which is one of the nicest and best maintained hostel/guesthouse I have ever seen. I learned about it only from some folks on the ferry as it wasn't on my radar. The level of their separate room for $75 beats most of the hotels in Prince Rupert.