Ferry fairies
We were racing to catch the 3:00 sailing. We made it through the gate, waiting in Lane 7, turned off the ignition. Our line started moving so I turned the key and nothing happened. I quickly pulled out the jumper cables and asked the guy in Lane 8 (who wasn't making the 3:00 ferry anyway) if he could give me a boost. He oblidged with no positive results. We watched as the ferry left the terminal.
Very soon, I had a crowd around dispensing advice, one person telling me the battery's plates were flaking so no charge could be transferred, one woman telling me it's the corrosion causing the problem. But one man came forward with solutions. He started to work off the corrosion with a pocket knife, vice grip, paper towels and a wrench. After he worked on it for awhile, we tried to jump start the van again. No luck. Captain Ralph said, " we mariners believe we can get anything working again." He kept at it.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to get a new battery on a Sunday afternoon, sitting immobile, at a ferry dock. I asked one of the land crew if he knew where I could buy a battery and he said Lordco in Sidney. Just as he said it, he glanced over to the side and spotted a Lordco car. He ran over and asked the driver if she could help me. She said she just had to deliver a battery to a customer up ahead in the line-up and then she would come take my order. She zipped over and got the vehicle information that she needed and phoned in our order with my VISA number. At this point I'm thinking that maybe we'll catch the 5:00. Our Lordco super hero takes off and says she'll be back in 10 min.
Captain Ralph continues to work on the battery. We try jumping it again, again it fails. The 4:00 ferry is now being loaded and the Captain's lane is moving. He's still trying to start my van. One last effort and the engine turns over. We pull off the cables, quickly shove his tools at him, with many thanks and an exchange of business cards. I continue to keep the revs up as we wait for the new battery to arrive. Our Lordco heroine arrives, I sign for the purchase, grab the battery, uttering thanks all over the place and try to sneak in at the end of the line, without stalling the vehicle. In all the rush, I forgot to tip her.
We made the 4:00 sailing. We changed the battery while crossing the Strait, with the help of 2 fine young BC Ferries crew members.
Today I sent out "thank you" letters in all directions.
Very soon, I had a crowd around dispensing advice, one person telling me the battery's plates were flaking so no charge could be transferred, one woman telling me it's the corrosion causing the problem. But one man came forward with solutions. He started to work off the corrosion with a pocket knife, vice grip, paper towels and a wrench. After he worked on it for awhile, we tried to jump start the van again. No luck. Captain Ralph said, " we mariners believe we can get anything working again." He kept at it.
Meanwhile, I'm trying to figure out how I'm going to get a new battery on a Sunday afternoon, sitting immobile, at a ferry dock. I asked one of the land crew if he knew where I could buy a battery and he said Lordco in Sidney. Just as he said it, he glanced over to the side and spotted a Lordco car. He ran over and asked the driver if she could help me. She said she just had to deliver a battery to a customer up ahead in the line-up and then she would come take my order. She zipped over and got the vehicle information that she needed and phoned in our order with my VISA number. At this point I'm thinking that maybe we'll catch the 5:00. Our Lordco super hero takes off and says she'll be back in 10 min.
Captain Ralph continues to work on the battery. We try jumping it again, again it fails. The 4:00 ferry is now being loaded and the Captain's lane is moving. He's still trying to start my van. One last effort and the engine turns over. We pull off the cables, quickly shove his tools at him, with many thanks and an exchange of business cards. I continue to keep the revs up as we wait for the new battery to arrive. Our Lordco heroine arrives, I sign for the purchase, grab the battery, uttering thanks all over the place and try to sneak in at the end of the line, without stalling the vehicle. In all the rush, I forgot to tip her.
We made the 4:00 sailing. We changed the battery while crossing the Strait, with the help of 2 fine young BC Ferries crew members.
Today I sent out "thank you" letters in all directions.
posted by Mo at 1:25 PM
2 Comments:
Nice post, by the way, Maureen.
Anyway, guess who I just had dinner with tonight? The communications manager of BC Ferry Corporation. That's who. So, I told her your story and she looked pleased that her mega-corporation had come through for yet another common folk situation. Her name is Betsy Terspma and she is an alternate commissioner for SEEC. Small world eh?
Sitting on the other side of me was Sono Hashisaki who plays in a well known fiddle band in the Seattle area. She is interested in playing at our party with her band. They do Metis, French Canadiana etc and if we book them into the Moose the following night they'll make a weekend of it! She may be my next web client as well, for her forestry/landscaping consulting firm. Hmmmm. You never know where you next client will pop up!?
ferry nice story,
now, if only someone would actually believe you...
rk
i believe you. is there any reason not to?
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