Crossing
“Do you know what the three most exciting sounds in the world are? Anchor chains, airplane motors and train whistles.”
—George Bailey, It’s a Wonderful Life
Long ago, I realized that I love most (all?) forms of transportation and the places where those modes start or end: ferries and boats and ferry stations; planes and airports; trains and stations. I love watching the comings and goings: planes taking off and landing, boats setting sail and pulling in, trains pulling into their stations and out on the tracks. I love watching passengers embark on journeys, return home, reunite with loved ones, reach their destinations. The entire human condition—all in our comings and goings.
So I guess it comes as no surprise that I jumped at the chance to add a ferry to the list of transportation modes making up this trip.
On what was a rather remarkably clear and sunny day in Seattle, I boarded the vessel that would take me to Bremerton, from where I’d then hop in a car with some of the other retreat-goers and head to our creative retreat in the woods.
I took full advantage of the 60-minute ferry, snapping photographs of the vinyl seats, the views out the large windows, the views from outside on the deck. It was an absolute glorious day—and just as I had been while riding the train, I was blown away by the incredible vistas. A bright blue sky, deep green evergreens meeting the blue water, the majestic Mount Rainier and the Olympics rising in the distance.
