Even when my best friend lived on Galiano for many years, I didn't learn the real reason for the name, not until I looked up Active Pass, BC, on Wikipedia. It seems it was named for the USS Active, an American Navy survey vessel, the first steamer to navigate the pass in 1855.
Learn something new every day, especially on ABC Wednesday, now under the helmsmanship of Roger Green, who will happily educate almost anyone on almost any subject, almost any day.
(Educational note of my own: anyone who grew up attending English-language schools, especially anyone who has ever played Scrabble, will know that the most-used letter in the English language is E (or e). And it's very true. After changing the color of every A (or a) in the above three paragraphs, I checked, and E (or e) really does appear more often, even in a blog post about A.)
I can't swear that the photos above, which I took from the ferry, Queen of Nanaimo, while on my way to Pender Island to visit some of my family, are actually in Active Pass. There were no signposts! Imagine!
However, the ones below are from Wikipedia, so I assume they are by people who knew exactly where they were at the time.
 |
| Active Pass from ferry deck |
 |
| Wikipedia photo, taken from Galiano Island |
 |
| The Queen of Saanich negotiating Active Pass |
Posted for ABC Wednesday
Mrs. Nesbitt's alphabetical meme now skippered by Roger O. Green.
Thanks, Roger! I know you'll do a great job.
13 comments:
That is interesting - I've assumed something that turned out to be untrue.
Thanks for the shout out!
ROG, ABC Wednesday team
I am so glad you clarified why it's called Active Pass. I've lived in the greater Vancouver area most of my life and did not know that. Hope you enjoyed your trip to Nanaimo!
Leslie
abcw team
These are such nice pictures, I would like to have been on this tour.
Active Pass is an inspired idea for your post, Kay, and I'm impressed that you highlighted every "a". I also love how the editor in you remarked about the letter "e" being more common. I can see I'll be checking out letters in a few posts today...language fascinates me too!
Fun post. I love these tidbits. Once bought a book of interesting Ontario place names. There are some doozies!
Greetings from Cottage Country!
I think “Active” is a pretty cool name for a navy survey vessel. But like you I never suspected it was the root of the name for the waterway. Now I will have to look up where the “Pass” part comes from. I think it must be for passageway but you never know. :)
Isn't that always the case? I once thought the Giant mountains in the Czech Republic had something to do with Giants. Obviously not (although for the life of me I can't remember what the real meaning was!).
Great A, I must start again as well.
Wonderful pictures and great choices for the theme, I like "ACTIVE"word.Ferries always remind me some family vacations in Brazil, thanks for the memories!
hugs
Léia
nice shots and its interesting about E .. just as it seems there are more last names beginning with S ..
I learned something new. Great choice. Carver, ABC-Wed. Team
The scenery looks so serene.
Aero 360's Arrows
Rose, ABC Wednesday Team.
Your photos look like Active Pass to me, Kay - haven't been on that ferry for a looong time.
You deserve an A+ for this -- for the use of the assigned letter and for the interesting content~
Post a Comment