Van, Vibes, and Winter Waves

When River met Ferry

December 23, 2024: Snuggles and I piled into our trusty van, River, and rolled onto a ferry at the Anacortes ferry terminal. As we crossed the Rosario Strait toward Orcas Island, crisp sea air and low-slanting winter sunlight set the stage for our very first ferry adventure.

Smile like you’re warm – even when your ears disagree

Bundled up in hats and layers, you can spot distant bluffs of Lopez Island behind me. Those low-hanging clouds over the Strait hinted at an incoming front – perfect drama for a Dec 23 crossing.

We came for the islands, stayed for the wi-fi signal.

Snuggles and I squeezed together against the chill. Behind us, the shadowy outline of Orcas Island’s hills (home to Moran State Park and Mount Constitution) peeked out across calm gray waters.

If Gandalf rode a ferry, it’d look like this.

Dense evergreens frame each side of the channel as our boat cuts a lone path through the dicey Sound. Dark storm clouds roll in over distant peaks – a moody nod to Pacific Northwest winter.

Last one to the snack bar buys the hot cocoa

Passengers huddle at the rail, backlit by a low golden sun. You can almost hear the ferry horn echoing off Orcas’ rocky shore, calling us toward winter-green forests and island roads.

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Disclaimer: I drafted this post with help from ChatGPT and rescued one pixelated shot using Sora.