Near Port Angeles and Olympic National Park

We pulled out of the Burlington campground at 8:30, thinking we had plenty of time to get to Coupeville.  Our mileage to get to the ferry was a mere 48 miles, but we did not want to take any chances.  As it was, we pulled into the ferry waiting area at 10:05.  And of course, we had to check in and wait.  Our boat/ferry was due to arrive at 10:40 and it was right on time.  Not sure how people can live with ‘just in time’ arriving - as it was, we were nervous about road construction and traffic which was quite heavy.

Neighborhood cows came by to say so-long

Crossed to bridge over to Fidalgo Island, tide out

Tide out!

And over Deception Pass Bridge to Whidbey Island

Today was a major ‘thing' for us - we have never taken any RV on a ferry before.  I made reservations for 11am with the Washington State Ferry system last week, leaving Coupeville and crossing to Port Townsend, the 11am ferry was requested.   I guessed our length (the price goes by 10 foot increments and I said we were between 40 and 50 feet long) and got confirmation to be at the port 45 minutes prior to departure. The attendant said we were within that range of feet and we paid for our spot and got into the holding pattern at the dock.

Murky skies, very overcast

The ferry awaits us

Sitting waiting, wondering what they were looking at

And we board

Captain watching from above 

Like a can of sardines

Started loading at 10:40 and we were tucked inside in the middle.  Amazing the number of vehicles those ferries can hold.  Not many walk ons - we counted 14.  Very different from Friday Harbor. Ferry pulled out at exactly 11am, had the GPS on and we got a chuckle that the captain was missing his route, we were not where the GPS said we should be.  At one point we were supposed to travel on water to go to Victoria, British Columbia and then take the ferry to Seattle from there.  Somehow our GPS did not like us being on the ferry, I have it set to avoid ferries - guess I need to fix that.

Tucked behind the truck on the left, just see our headlight

Hey - we are swimming! Elevation -72.  We think we were
in about 100 feet of water. And, we were going 16 mpg (about 12.5 knots).

Still swimming, almost at shore

Land ho

The GPS showed our speed - sometimes getting to 16 mpg which in knots is 12.8 - our RV can do 12.8 knots on water!  WOOT, woot!!  Got to Port Townsend and off we went, traveling a bit south on Route 20 until it came to Route 101, the route that hugs the Pacific Coastline all the way to California. Turned westward and traveled another 65 miles heading towards Port Angeles.

Familiar territory - at Jamestown S'Skallem Indian Reservation

Back into Tsunami Territory

Olympic Mountains socked in

In all, our mileage for the day was 110 miles - but it took us 5 hours to go that distance.  If we did not take the ferry, our mileage would have been 324 miles and that would have been a very long, tiring day.

Our area to cover at this visit, we are located right in middle, just
east of that lake you see

We had been in this area 4 years ago, loved it, decided to head here again to see some of the things we missed and revisit some we loved (especially the Pacific coast and the Hoh Rain Forest).  We want Donna to come back - since she left it has been dreary overcast (no rain) but chilly.  Supposed to start being sunny tomorrow, and I will gladly accept the high of 71 for the next week.

Buddy has been doing good.  We drug him up about 45 minutes to going, we now know that we need to give a capsule chaser of water after I shove the pill down his throat.  He is whacked out by the time we pull out of the sight.  And he comes alive within an hour of arriving.  We need to hug him alot, give him encouragement he will be okay.  As much as I hate drugging him, I love the cuddly time after.  He curls up in Dave’s lap for an hour and is dead weight, so sound asleep.