Boat folks gone wild!!

We know how to live it up.  With the rain today, we made a last minute decision to scrap running around the island here and go (as is said locally) "off island."  The waiting lot for the ferry leaving Friday Harbor was nearly full, but we got on.  Joan had a shopping list, I had a food craving... we planned out the routing to "the big 3."

Leaving Friday Harbor...

On the ferry...

"The big 3?" you ask.  Thanks for asking.  Dollar Tree, Wal-Mart, and Carino's.  Yes, a little bit of "home." :-)  Oh, and we hit up Mickey D's after the ferry landing.  We drove.  You can't go far on the island... well, I guess you could do laps.  Yep, all the way to Mt. Vernon.  Nice Dollar Tree.  Even nicer Wal-Mart.  Joan was on a mission, I was just having fun walking around.  And picking from a variety of cat food flavors.

Yes, I know how pathetic that sounds.  ;-)  We kinda have our routine here in Friday Harbor, and it mostly revolves around work.  We walk most places here.  )Other than a drive to Roche Harbor last week, when I was really craving a prime rib sandwich.)  We take our lunch to work.  The rest of the year, having lunch out is what we do... this really felt like a day off!

Did you know Wal-Mart has kayaks?  Our WM back home doesn't.  No, I don't need another kayak, but... they were there.  And I don't normally go for the free samples they hand out, but... they were giving out Drumettes (mini ice cream drum sticks)!  Hey, I can't keep ice cream in the freezer portion of the fridge on our boat - this is a big deal!  The folks at the ice cream shop by the ferry landing know who we are already.

I know there are people who think Olive Garden and Carino's are the least common denominator of Italian food.  I like 'em!  And this Carino's was as good as the one back home; our waitress had a twisted sense of humor, like mine.  On a chilly, rainy, windy day, Italian chili is the ultimate comfort food!

After a leisurely lunch, it was "What's next?"  Well, we had kinda planned on getting on the 4:30 ferry, and it was only 1:45.

"Is there an earlier ferry?"

Joan checked the schedule.  "Yes, but it leaves at 2:40.  I don't think we'll get there early enough to get on."

It's about a 35 minute drive from where we were to the ferry landing.  When we scanned our ferry card, I asked, "Are we going to get on?"

"Um... you'll be in the stand-by lane.  Probably not, but you'll for sure get on the next one."

He gave us a card for the window: #009.  We waited with a bit of anticipation, as each line beside us filled up spots on the ferry.  One of the ferry workers motioned to the first car in our line to pull on.  And the next.  And then, US!  And then one more car behind us.





They were putting vehicles in like a jigsaw puzzle.  Then, two more got on... the last one parked sideways across the back.  Close, but we were off!

Sure beats waiting for another two hours for the next ferry.  Joan equated it to some peoples' daily commute (something we haven't had to do... our commute to the studio for a couple decades was a short walk.  We walk to work here.)  It is obvious that a lot of folks make this ferry trip very regularly... some sleep, some bring breakfast, some walk laps.  It is just part of the routine for getting to and from the San Juans, unless you have your own boat or airplane.


I like life in Friday Harbor.  No chain stores (unless you count West Marine and Radio Shack).  Friendly people.  A waterfront town.  I like living on an island.  And once in a while, I like going "off island." :-)