After 75 years on August 31st the Frances Barkley will be ceasing service. This ship serviced the Alberni Inlet between Port Alberni and Ucluelet. The Lady Rose did this route before the Frances Barkley.
In 2007 we were invited to a wedding on Vancouver Island. We had a week off and we've been to Vancouver Island many times. We were wondering what we could do and Louise suggested the Lady Rose. It was still operating out of Port Alberni, so I made reservations and we had the most wonderful day.
We stayed overnight in Port Alberni and boarded the ferry in the early morning. It was a old unique ship with a fabulous crew. There was a galley so we were well fed during the trip. We sailed up the Alberni Inlet to Bamfield and Ucluelet. On the way we many many stops. We watched as they unloaded freight and mail. People got on and off at some of the stops. We made one stop at a gentleman's home. His home was very remote and there were no roads so he had to rely on the Lady Rose for everything. He was waiting on the pier and they gave him a box of goods and his mail!
We had a wonderful full day! It was one cruise I will never forget.
