Ferries etiquette 101
Although the media are reporting tough times for tourist towns, you'd never know it by the long ferry lines to and from Whidbey Island. As an islander living in Langley for the past 34 years, ferry talk is right up there with recycling the latest rumor that a new restaurant is opening on the rock. It's all about boats and food.
Fourth of July weekend was a biggie for the Washington State Ferries. I was on the morning sailing from Sidney, BC to Anacortes on July 3, and the line of vehicles in Anacortes stretched halfway into town. Here on the island on the Sunday after the 4th, there was a three-hour wait for the Clinton to Mukilteo ferry. Our son opted to drive back to Seattle via Deception Pass, which took him 2.5 hours. If there hadn't been a huge traffic snarl/jam on I-5 between Marysville and Everett, he could have made it in two. Although "driving around" is not what most people want to do, it's a scenic way to get off the island.
But don't let the long lines keep you away — my friends who own businesses and shops on Whidbey welcome your staycation dollars. Here are a few travel tips for those who plan to venture out this summer. Some serious, some not so much. Bon voyage!
1. Don't even think of heading up to the islands on a Friday after work. There was nearly a four-hour wait in Mukilteo for the ferry to Whidbey on July 3. Even Thursday nights have become long on lines, so get up early and catch the first boat Saturday morning. Usually there's not much of a wait.
2. Make sure you eat while in the Mukilteo ferry line. It's mandatory to either have fish 'n chips or an ice cream cone at Ivar's before you board the boat. Who cares if you're headed to a big barbecue on the island only a few hours later? Islanders know that Ivar's calories don't count. And with the 12 new ferry holding lanes that were added at the Mukilteo terminal in May, you're that much closer to the food source.
3. Don't eat the food on the ferries. The popcorn is too salty, the beer/wine overpriced, the coffee lousy, and other than some fresh/healthy food alternatives like fruit and yogurt, it's pretty slim pickins. Besides, you just polished off a tankard of Ivar's Famous Clam Chowder with extra crackers.
4. Don't dress like you're going to a tropical island. When you board either the Cathlamet or the Kittitas from Mukilteo to Whidbey Island, you are not off on a Caribbean cruise. You're still in the Pacific Northwest, so chill on wearing overly resort attire. And nix those white pants! We don't wear that stuff on the rock, so if you wanna sort of blend in, go for the casual post-hippie/rural farmer/entrepreneur look. No fanny packs allowed.
5. Taking photos and/or videos is OK on the boat. We know you're not a local, and it makes us sort of smile to see that you just took a couple dozen shots of a passing seagull. But please, no loud cell phone conversations; we don't really want to hear about your weekend plans or how much your stock has tanked. Texting and Tweeting are fine.
6. When you arrive in Clinton on Whidbey Island, please note the speed limit signs. Again, even though you're on an island, it's really OK to drive more than 30 MPH all the way into Langley. We appreciate you soaking up our sights and scenery, but keep in mind that the driver behind you may be trying to get to the feed store before it closes.
7. No gongoozling. This is my favorite word that I learned from a friend who grew up on Washington's Long Beach Peninsula, which is home to many a gongoozler. According to dictionary.com, a gongoozler is "an idle spectator, esp. one who stares for a long time at something." Gongoozling is made worse by sucking on ice cream cones at the same time.
8. No goofy questions. I was recently up on Vancouver Island and stopped in at the tourist info centre in Qualicum Beach. The friendly volunteer said that they get some real doozies — like the person who asked if the island had fresh water on one side and salt on the other.
P.S.: We're salty folks.
Comments:
Posted Tue, Jul 7, 7:28 a.m. inappropriate
good one, olga.
but you forgot tip number 9:
if you're from seattle, don't treat the locals like hired help; you may think of our home as an amusing but insignificant adjunct to the great cultural epicenter of your world - seattle - but many of us who live here disagree, and we avoid you and trips to "america" like the plague.
Posted Tue, Jul 7, 9:31 a.m. inappropriate
Sue: Good advice. One thing I've really noticed this summer: ferry maintenance seems to be suffering. I've seen more than the usual amounts of rust on the decks and on the interior of the car decks. On the July 4th weekend, my Bainbridge-bound ferry passed one coming from Bremerton (maybe the Hyak?) and its whole side was a wash of orange rust. This just didn't used to happen. The ferries were painted regularly and thickly (you could count the coats on older boats). They were dressed in summer white as if to impress the summer tourists and photographers. Maybe it's Tim Eyman, maybe it's the recession. But if we're looking for "paintbrush-ready" projects, why not hire a battalion of college kids to paint the fleet?
Posted Tue, Jul 7, 10:26 a.m. inappropriate
Why not have a bunch of forced retirement baby boomers do it as a volunteer project?
Posted Wed, Jul 8, 9:55 a.m. inappropriate
and here's what I consider most important - #10:
Under no circumstances should you EVER make a right hand turn into the ferry waiting lane or attempt to merge into the lane "cutting" in front of other cars that are waiting. Locals will not hesitate to turn off their engine, get out of the car, and walk up to your window to let you know the correct etiquette... most often, angrily.
Posted Wed, Jul 8, 10:23 a.m. inappropriate
nludd: Now, now. I have friends in SEA and they are allowed on the island. They usually help out with the cooking and clean-up, too.
Knute: Yes, I'm always shocked at the pathetic state of our ferries. They're not only rusty and in need of some serious paint, the ferry workers have yet to figure out how to keep them clean. Pretty grubby compared to the sparkling BC Ferries.
Doug: As far as volunteers to paint our boats, after what we've spent in crossing our marine highway for the past 3+ decades, they can certainly spring for a few buckets!
Coloniapunk: You're right, I should have included that, although I think it's one of our secret islander spectator/participatory sports. Not long ago, I had to "inform" a car who cut in front of me that what he did was a no-no. He was an islander and knew better ... his wife was embarrassed. On another occasion, I confronted two punks in a scary looking van, not a good idea. The aroma of pot wafting out of there made me realize they could care less about my rant.
Posted Sun, Jul 26, 1:30 p.m. inappropriate
In regard to rule #10, signage needs to be improved along the roads leading up to the waiting line. As a tourist who had never used the Edmunds/Kingston ferry, and who pulled into the waiting line where about three car lengths were left open, I was subjected to non-stop honking, the finger, rapping on driver and passenger windows, threats to call the cops, etc. Even after going to the back of the line, I was accosted on the ferry by a vigilante rider.
So, to keep from ruining a tourist's vacation, please post many, many signs along the route that indicate that just around the corner the ferry waiting line is about to start and to move into the right lane or miss it and have to go several blocks out of one's way to get to the back of the line. Those of us unfamiliar with riding ferries, do not recognize four lanes of traffic with a stop light up ahead and no ferry boat in sight, as the destination.