Scary Saturday

So, while I was working Saturday and doing a couple hours of OT on top of my shift for a 10-hour day, Maxx headed over to Richmond for a pre-Christmas visit to take over our wee gifts for the niece and nephew, and he took Hobgoblin and Elf with him. While I really wish I had had the day off and could have been in Richmond for the visit, I SOOOOO glad I was not on that ferry! 

Below is the series of texts during his trip:

**starting at 8:17am**
Maxx: 4 cars ahead of me, and that's even after stopping for gas!
Maxx: It's FREEZING out here!
Maxx: So far it's only raining, though
Maxx: On board right now, front row. I can see the ocean all around me.
Maxx: I'll let you know once I get to Holly's
Me: Have a good voyage, nice and safe and get a nap.
Maxx: I'll try.
Maxx: Have a good day at work

**picking up at 9:01am**
Maxx: Holy F**k! A wave just washed right over the f**king ferry!
Me: Yikes!
Maxx: Water just came in every window almost at once!
Maxx: And it just happened AGAIN!
Me: Please keep texting me every few minutes until it calms down (and confirm that!) so I know you're safe
Maxx: They just issued a warning to leave the outer decks and stay inside the vessel at all times.
Maxx: Every car alarm is going off right now
Maxx: Wave #3
Maxx: And #4
Me: I hope you guys stay safe!
Maxx: Water is sluicing off the deck now in rivers
Maxx: Wave #5!
Maxx: No water came up to the top deck that time, but the whole ferry bucked like a wild horse
Maxx: #6! It felt like we hit something that time! The dogs fell down and the car slid forward
Maxx: 7&8. Two massive waves washed totally over us again!
Maxx: We are now halfway there, and the ferry feels like a rowboat. #9 just sprayed the upper car deck and the car
**at 9:16am**
Maxx: 10 & 11 double teamed the boat and the car is rocking side to side
Maxx: The spray is so heavy I can't see the water ... And I'm at the front!
Maxx: We just got broadsided and the ship is rolling back and forth. I'm worried about sliding into the truck beside me or the poles on the other side
Maxx: We just crested a wave
Maxx: We dropped several meters that time
Maxx: The Captain just changed directions. We are now facing the waves
Maxx: I can smell hot metal. Probably steam from salt water contacting the engines.
Maxx: We're running up one side of the waves and down the other. I'm guessing easily a 30% grade
Maxx: My cell signal is getting weak here. I'm not sure how much longer I'll be in contact
Maxx: Multiple waves from multiple directions. Some washing the upper decks
Maxx: I just saw a dude get washed down and swept between cars
**at 9:301am**
Maxx: Both dogs are sea sick. And I don't blame them
Maxx: We're doing the "figure 8" sway now
Maxx: We're bucking wildly right now! And Go**am is the wind over cold!
Maxx: One of the props spun out of the water! Holy S**t!
Maxx: The ship is jumping and bucking like wild!
Maxx: Wow ... something below deck sounds like a growl
Maxx: It's pretty loud
Maxx: Ah ... that would be metal flexing under stress
Maxx: Whoa ... Suddenly smooth water
Maxx: Ok. so at this point the storm has blown us off course so we're going to be 20-30 minutes late
Maxx: Whoops! My bad. I guess that was the eye or something because WOW did it ever get violent again!
Maxx: yeah, that last wave came from the other side
Maxx: Whoa! Ship listing and the announcement is all static
Maxx: I see land. But ... I thought we were blown off course
**at 9:46am**
Maxx: Medical announcement. That's fun.... I couldn't quite make it out over the wind though
Maxx: Gods Above and Below! That's Bowen Island and we're almost touching it!
Me: I wish you'd stayed here this weekend!
Maxx: I'm kinda there too Princess
Maxx: Well ... that's exciting
Maxx: 80 km/r winds pushing us towards the rocks
Maxx: Ok. We're getting more distance from the shore
Maxx: Ok. the ship is bucking and rolling less. And it's not listing as badly anymore. I think the island is starting to shelter us now
Maxx: Elf just s**t himself
Maxx: God does it stink!
Maxx: Brb
Me: Oh, poor wee fella
Maxx: I think I can see the harbour. Kinda
**at 10:01am**
Maxx: Wow. It's still windy, but this close to the island there's almost no waves
Me: Thank goodness
Maxx: Getting something hot to drink
Me: Go upstairs carefully, please
**at 10:17am**
Maxx: I go up them like a gibbon
Maxx: Ok. Hobbes barfed while I was gone
Me: Sorry it's turning out to be such a hell trip
Maxx: At least I haven't s**t myself
Maxx: Yet
**at 10:31am**
Maxx: Ok. Pulling into the dock now. Almost time to drive. NOW things get dangerous!
Me: Glad you've made it to land, honey
Maxx: Yeah. Me too
Maxx: Ramp down. Time to drive

For a while there yesterday morning I was sure I was going to lose my husband and two of my little dogs on that ferry. Thank you to the crew and captain for making the crossing and getting in to harbour safely.