| The Rain Shadow Kayakers Tour a Hospice for Ferries April 6, 2009 |
A month ago, Felix decided we should make a visit to a hospice for old ferries at Eagle Harbor, Bainbridge Island. That
paddle never happened as there was an inch of snow on the parking lot in Sequim, so instead we paddled in Sequim Bay.
Today fate smiled on his effort to cheer up these ferries which may soon die of old age in a scrap heap as we paddled in
seventy degree weather from Eagle Harbor.
The first ferry we visited was the MV Chinook The MV Chinook is a passenger-only fast ferry which was operated by
Washington State Ferries. The ferry had been mothballed at the WSF Shipyard at Eagle Harbor for four years when she
was placed on eBay for auction on February 14, 2008 with an asking price of $4.5 million but has yet to find a buyer.
Below, Felix paddles under the ferry from the stern to emerge at the bow.
paddle never happened as there was an inch of snow on the parking lot in Sequim, so instead we paddled in Sequim Bay.
Today fate smiled on his effort to cheer up these ferries which may soon die of old age in a scrap heap as we paddled in
seventy degree weather from Eagle Harbor.
The first ferry we visited was the MV Chinook The MV Chinook is a passenger-only fast ferry which was operated by
Washington State Ferries. The ferry had been mothballed at the WSF Shipyard at Eagle Harbor for four years when she
was placed on eBay for auction on February 14, 2008 with an asking price of $4.5 million but has yet to find a buyer.
Below, Felix paddles under the ferry from the stern to emerge at the bow.
The ship on the left below is the MV Skagit ferry which was operated by Washington State Ferries. In late 2005, she was
serving the Seattle-Vashon Island route. As of mid 2007, she was docked at the Bainbridge Island terminal. The Rain
Shadow Paddlers dutifully paid their respects to the MV Skagit and the other two ships next to her at the hospice.
serving the Seattle-Vashon Island route. As of mid 2007, she was docked at the Bainbridge Island terminal. The Rain
Shadow Paddlers dutifully paid their respects to the MV Skagit and the other two ships next to her at the hospice.
Below, John looks at the MV Tillikum is an Evergreen State Class ferry operated by Washington State Ferries. As of early
2008, she was serving the Southworth / Vashon / Fauntleroy route.
2008, she was serving the Southworth / Vashon / Fauntleroy route.
Below, Rene and Cecil paddle by more ferries wondering what stories they could tell.
As we paddled
out of Eagle
Harbor, an active
ferry on the route
from Seattle to
Bainbridge
passed us with
the Seattle
skyline in the
background.
out of Eagle
Harbor, an active
ferry on the route
from Seattle to
Bainbridge
passed us with
the Seattle
skyline in the
background.
Bidding the ferries goodbye, we headed south for a spectacular view of Mount Rainier and then on to Blakely Harbour.
Below, Jackie with Seattle in the background. Seattle looked so close that Felix had to restrain his group from trying to
paddle across the Puget Sound.
paddle across the Puget Sound.
The group then turned into Blakely Harbor and after
touring this bay we stopped for a lunch with a terrific
view back to Seattle.
touring this bay we stopped for a lunch with a terrific
view back to Seattle.
After lunch the group paddled to Fort Ward on Bainbridge Island where we had previously shuttled our cars. On this part of
our venture we had a terrific view of the Bainbridge cottages, the Olympics, and some wildlife.
our venture we had a terrific view of the Bainbridge cottages, the Olympics, and some wildlife.
Felix did a spectacular job of co-ordinating a put in spot and take out spot, parking, and even a stop in Poulsbo on the way
home for those awesome Poulsbo bakery items. Everyone agreed that it was an outstanding trip.
home for those awesome Poulsbo bakery items. Everyone agreed that it was an outstanding trip.
Maybe the most interesting ferry was the M.V. Olympic. Built in 1938, it was put out of work when a bridge was built across
Chesapeake Bay. However, the ferry was snapped up by the state of Washington and painted green and white and
renamed the Olympic. In 1954, the Olympic started service for the WSF and continued service until retired in 1993. In 2007
an effort was made to sell the vessel with no success. For much more on the interesting history of this vessel, click on this
link. M. V. Olympic
Chesapeake Bay. However, the ferry was snapped up by the state of Washington and painted green and white and
renamed the Olympic. In 1954, the Olympic started service for the WSF and continued service until retired in 1993. In 2007
an effort was made to sell the vessel with no success. For much more on the interesting history of this vessel, click on this
link. M. V. Olympic