I love having great access to public transportation. I plan to take the ferry to Whidbey Island over Thanksgiving weekend. I can also take the bus to Forks (gotta search for vampires) for only a few bucks. For 50 cents more, I can get to the far southern section of the Olympic Peninsula. I have already used the local shuttle to get around Sequim. I am having a bit of a guilty conscience after logging so many miles this summer (now up to 17,000 on the car and 2300 with the van) and am committed to using public transportation whenever possible. It is such a fun way to explore and travel a new area, anyway.

The day before yesterday I hopped on a Greyhound Connector shuttle in Sequim so I could get to the Seattle Greyhound station. I needed to get to Spokane from there to pick up Alice, my car.  I expected that the shuttle bus would drive down the Peninsula and around the long way to Seattle. I was pleasantly surprised when it pulled up to a ferry terminal and we drove on for a half hour ride across Puget Sound. I went upstairs and had coffee while I explored the ferry. I was reminded of my time on the Alaska State Ferries this past summer! Part of my move to the peninsula was determined by a desire to get to a place with some of the coastal Alaska vibe. I found it for sure.

Anyway, the next day I came back the same way, on the ferry. It saved about 70 miles of driving time and gas. Since the ferry cost $13 (senior rate) I figured it cost about $6 more to take the ferry but it saved 1.5 – 2  hours driving time (peninsula roads are two-lane and slower). And of course, it was beautiful and fun.

View from the ferry as we pulled away on a foggy morning!

The Greyhound Shuttle bus, in front, to the right

Alice on the ferry, on the way back!