Thursday, September 12 (continued)
In the last exciting chapter of rvsue and her canine crew, Bridget, Spike and I board the ferry at the terminal in Kingston, Washington. Our ferry, the Puyallap, will take us across foggy Puget Sound to the town of Edmonds.
The crew trots eagerly up the ramp.
I’m right at their heels. We don’t have to purchase a ticket from this terminal since fares are only collected from westbound passengers. Dogs are not allowed in the interior room. That’s okay. I want to ride on the top level anyway.
The metal stairs are steep.
Before I think to stop the crew’s progress to look for an elevator, the two of them are tackling the steps. Bridget has no problem, but Spike struggles.
“C’mon, Spikey! You can do it, boy!”
He takes two or three steps at a time, rests, then continues on. This boy is full-throttle on an adventure!
The ferry is big!
I’m reminded of numerous movie scenes as we explore the deck.
The ferry is immaculate. It looks freshly painted.
Of course, we happen to be at the bow, right underneath the horn, when it blasts, signalling that we’re about to “set sail.” I’m lifted up in the air by the sound. I’m amazed it doesn’t bother Bridget or Spike. They’re ready for anything today. What good pups . . .
I take a seat on one of the white benches. Gee, still lots of fog. Spike lies down under the seat, but Bridget is too excited to settle down. She twirls and prances, as is her custom.
“Here, babe. You come up here with me.” I lift her up on the bench. “Now, sit. Go ahead. Sit.” She obeys. “What a good girl you are!” I exclaim, putting my arm around her. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?” She leans into me, happy for the special attention.
A man’s voice from the loudspeaker welcomes us to the Puyallap. He explains emergency procedures and then tells us to enjoy the ride. The horn blasts again and we’re on our way!
The water starts to move . . . er . . . We move over the water. It’s dizzying. I have to look away momentarily.
A thirty-ish couple sits on a nearby bench.
We discuss the fog. She makes a statement any fisherman can relate to.
“You should’ve seen it yesterday. What a beautiful day! Everything was so clear.”
We talk a bit more and then the crew and I get up.
“I’m going to see what the fog looks like on the other side.” They both laugh.
I wasn’t sure how to dress today.
Temperatures in the 80s were predicted, but I knew it would be cooler over the water, and then there’s certain to be wind. I decided on my light jacket which turns out is perfect. It has big pockets that close with a snap. I put a few items in the pockets and left the purse in the PTV.
The three of us do more wandering. We sit in the sheltered area for a few minutes. Bridget wants preferred seating again, so I lift her up. She’s loving this!
Spike takes a rest under the seat. Good. A little nap will do him good. The trip across usually takes about 20 minutes. Today it’s longer due to the fog. The Puyallap’s horn, as well as the horns of other vessels, make the trip all the more fun.
The town of Edmonds comes into view. The fog is much thinner over land.
I position us so I can watch the docking.
The man’s voice booms out over the ferry. He instructs people to return to their vehicles and to make sure to take all possessions. Spike stands up, ready for the next part of our trip.
The ramp lowers and soon it’s time to disembark! (Do you see the gull in the photo below?)
Spike and Bridget lead me down the stairs. They head down the ramp like seasoned travelers!
Looking through the ramp’s windows, I notice there’s a beach. “Hey, let’s go to the beach!” Spike is perky and Bridget is happy. I can tell Bridget is happy because she turns her head and gives Spike a peck on his cheek. I laugh at the sight.
Gosh, having these two along makes the day really fun. They’re no trouble at all.
I estimate it’s around 1:30 when we set foot (paw) in Edmonds. Next to the terminal is a small park which gives the crew the opportunity to discreetly relieve themselves and sniff canine messages.
The winding walkway takes us past benches and sculpture.
The park opens up to the small beach with logs scattered about.
Spike’s radar picks up the presence of water. I drop his leash and away he goes!
Over the sand, through the kelp, and he’s in!
Spike soaks in Puget Sound! You read it here first!
I bet he thinks we took the ferry solely for the purpose of this soak. What a guy!
“Ah, love the smell of the sea . . . right, Spikey?”
We can see the Puyallap from the beach since we’re right next to the terminal. Vehicles are on their way into the ferryboat for the crossing to Kingston.
Spike, Bridget and I claim one of the beach logs.
Sand sticks to Spike but he doesn’t care. In about a minute, he’s flat out on the sand, sleeping peacefully.
It’s very pleasant on the beach. A little girl works on a castle. A toddler sits with his legs straight out in front of him while his mother covers his legs with sand. The boy wiggles his toes and laughs.
The ferry chugs away from the dock.
Pleasure boats whiz by as if showing off to the ferry. “I can go faster than you can!”
Another ferry is headed this way . . .
Hmm . . . We could do some walking around Edmonds, but that would be hard on Spike. We have to make it all the way back to the parking lot. I don’t want to spoil this wonderful day by trying to do too much.
“Spikey? Time to go, honey.” I pet his shoulder to wake him. “Let’s go, little guy.”
The crew needs no instructions. Hey, these canines know how to ride a ferry!
Next . . . The return trip across Puget Sound and more!
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