Spontaneity!

Spontaneity!   

If the timing is right, I can leave my home on the odd hour (example 9 a.m. or in this case 11:00 a.m.) and arrive on a fairly remote island three hours later.  This trip includes taking two ferries.  A road trip of one hour, followed by the first ferry that only takes ten minutes, and the second smaller ferry that takes 45 minutes.

Off I went.  It was my friend’s birthday, and if I arrived at her home by 2 p.m., I would have time to help her with the final preparations for a gathering that would start at 4:30.  I didn’t let her know that I’d decided to join the group because the weather has been rather iffy.  I decided to surprise her!

Since it is summer, ferry traffic is much heavier.  I arrived at the first terminal as the ferry was loading and basically drove right on.  Usually, vehicles that are going straight through to the next island are asked to park in specific lanes so that they are first off and have enough time to make the connection.  However, late comers (such as me) take their chances. Although the first ferry is a very short ride, I did take the opportunity to get out of my vehicle to stretch my legs etc.

When the ferry docked, instead of being one of the first off, I was the last car to disembark!  I had to drive all the way across the island to the next terminal....would I make it in time??

 

Finally I arrived at the dock just as the very small ferry was completing its loading.  I was last in line of course, parked behind a pick-up truck.  Each car in front of the pick-up truck was slowly directed onto the ferry.  The ferry employee then approached the pick-up truck, and said, “Sorry that’s it for this trip.”  She walked up to my window, and repeated the message.

Aarghhhh....so close! Now a two hour wait until the ferry returned for the next trip.  I wouldn’t arrive until 4 p.m.!  I'd be a surprise all right!

Short interlude, wondering how best to spend the next two hours:  

• A walk in the rain?  
• Should I read my book?   
• Just what should I do?  
• I had quickly packed food in a cooler...sliced turkey, blueberries, homemade lemon loaf, graham cracker crumbs, lemons and condensed milk (pie makings)...I had a bottle of water...I wouldn’t starve...

Just a minute... the ferry employee was talking on her radio.  She was describing the size of the truck in front of me and then her eyes slowly turned to mine.  Still talking on her radio, she walked towards my vehicle once again, extended her hand out for my ticket and said, “The truck is too big, but after a bit of maneuvering, we have just enough room for you to squeak on."

Although feeling sorry for the occupants of the truck that was left behind, I couldn’t believe my luck! Halleluliah!  Grinning, I drove on and jockeyed into position.  The chain was closed behind me, and away we sailed. 

Thank you Universe with a special thanks to Lucky Lizard!!

Although it was raining, I thought I’d go up on deck with my camera to see if there were any photo opportunities, for example, 3 pods of Orca Whales (50 or 60) as seen August 26 in Active Pass.

“Not so fast,” chuckled Lucky Lizard in my head ,” I got you onto the ferry, I didn’t say there’d be any room to open your car door and get out!” 

I was so r.e.l.i.e.v.e.d that I had taken time on the first ferry to stretch my legs ETC., if you get my drift. ;)