Friday evenings are picnic time at the Alaska
Ferry Terminal in Bellingham
It is a tradition with us, since the second day we lived in Washington - when we discovered the ferry docked in Bellingham. We arrive a little early with our picnic - sometimes pizza, sometimes sandwiches, sometimes burgers from Morrie's - the world's best old fashioned drive in burgers. Departure time is 6 p.m. - sometimes they are on time - sometimes late, sometimes very late and we leave for home before the ferry departs. They never leave early.
We watch as the cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles, moving trucks, semis and motorhomes drive down the ramp into the bottom hold of the ferry - on their way to new adventures.
We watch for birds (in case I need to take a few photos - there are often loons or Barrow Golden Eye ducks in the bay), watch for the train to pass beside and behind us, watch for planes overhead from the nearby airport, and listen for the Greyhound Bus to come into the station - there is a train depot for passengers, a bus station and the ferry terminal, all in one complex. We are happy when we see all modes of transportation - boat, plane, train and bus. We are a simple people - we enjoy simple pleasures.
There are always boats in the small anchorage off to the right - and sometimes we get to see a sailboat coming or going, a speedboat, someone rowing a skiff and very often - kayaks. This guy seemed to be having a race with the ferry once it had blown its whistle and pulled away from the dock.
As soon as the ferry leaves the dock it makes a wide left turn to the channel in the bay - here comes the kayak
He's gaining. . .
Getting closer - it looks like he is going faster than the ferry, but the ferry is actually turning in front of him, making it appear that the ferry is going slower
Paddling hard, he gains some. Usually there are two small Coast Guard Harbor Patrol Boats accompanying the ferry and not allowing anyone this close.
Some of the passengers were now cheering him on.
He slowed down after this photo - mission accomplished.
8 comments:
I loved this post! I was willing him on as well. I bet he was thinking please don't keep cheering and just go on with your business as I'm ready to collapse! xx
Funny to see someone take chances like this...
Wow, he really did take a chance. First of all, with his life, second with getting arrested! Amazing sequence of photos and how fun to watch the ferries coming in and out with a nice picnic! xoxo
that´s kind of ruthless. I´ve been close to a boat like that and it is not fun. :( But he is probably strongertehn I was at the time.
The simple pleasures are the absolute best!
And that guy has a pretty big ego, i think, but it must have been interesting to watch. Great photos!
Great photos! And that ferry is huge--I would have been afraid it I'd been out there on a kayak in the way of the ferry!
Okay. There's always someone ready to do something dumb. Let's add some romance to the story: Maybe he was trying to catch up to his departing girlfriend to finally tell her he loves her?
This looks a bit foolhardy and scary to me.
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