By Pepper Fisher
PORT ANGELES – It was a big day in Port Angeles and in Victoria, BC with the first round-trip voyage of the Black Ball Ferry in over a year and a half.
The Port Angeles Chamber of Commerce asked residents to rally today at noon to welcome Canadians back to town and they didn’t disappoint. About 150 people were down at the dock with signs, flags and cheers as a full load of cars and walk-ons disembarked from the MV Coho around 12:30.
The scene included plenty of tears, smiles, and even couples embracing who had been separated since the border closure.
There was a similar welcome on the Victoria side this morning, though Chamber Director Marc Abshire told KONP that the passenger total was closer to 30.
It’s no wonder, says County Commissioner Randy Johnson, on hand for the festivities.
“I can understand that. I think my wife and I would love to go to Victoria, but PRC tests, $150 for each of us, makes it not feasible for…to have two-way traffic. And being honest, for Blackball to succeed and, you know, start generating some positive cash, it’s going to have to have the ability to fill up both directions, and we’re not there yet.”
That molecular test is not a requirement to enter the US, where travelers have only to prove they are fully vaccinated, but Canadian officials are standing firm on requiring a negative PRC within 72 hours, including for returning Canadians.
(Below: Coho returns to Victoria)
