Ferry to Vancouver Island

Washington trip continued....

The next day we got up very early to get to the ferry in Anacordes by 7:00 am. We drove for a couple of hours through beautiful pine covered hills. It was a clear cool day.

We got to the ferry dock and showed our reservations to the man at the gate. There was a long line of cars waiting for the ferry.

As we waited in our car, we saw a several dozen people walking or riding bikes onto the ferry. Many people ride the ferry every day to work.

Finally the big gates were opened and cars started to drive into the ferry. It took a while for them to all get on. Were were near the end of the line so we were one of the last cars to drive into the lower level.

They secured the big doors, and we were off! It was very cold and windy.








We got out of the car and looked out as the ferry pulled away from the dock past some gulls standing on the piles.

After a while we went through a door to an interior stairway. We were glad to get our of the wind. The ferry had a snack bar and other shops. There were booths all around the windows and rows of seats in the middle in the front.

We got some hot chocolate and watched as the ferry threaded through the many lush pine-tree-covered islands on it's way from Ancacordes to Sidney on Vancouver Island.




Some of the islands had nice homes on them, almost hidden by the trees.




There were sailboats and yachts and other ferries.





One island was different, in that it was mostly brown and barren. We were told that it was an African game reserve! We saw some gazelles.

I went outside on a balcony and was almost blown away it was so windy. Cold too!

Then I went down to the car level and walked out to the very front. It was very open and the water was close, so it was fun.

I saw people above me looking down at me, and pretty soon a few more people came down to see the view. It was really cold, so I finally went inside again.







After a couple of hours were landed at Vancouver Island.

More later!