After a wonderful week on Whidbey Island, it was time to pack up and head to our most favorite campground ever – Salt Creek Recreation Area a few miles outside Port Angeles. As the crow flies, this is just down the Strait of Juan de Fuca from Dan and Sherrie’s place, but getting there requires reservations and steely nerves – at least for us RVing newbies. We were loading up on the ferry for the trip to Port Townsend. Eeeek. If you’ve ever been on a ferry, you know how they pack vehicles in like sardines. I prayed we wouldn’t lose a mirror on this voyage.
Rather than packing up the day of departure, we started that chore a day early for this trip. Plus we had a repair to make. If you’ll recall, our steps were left flapping in the wind due to a link that sheared right in half upon our arrival last week. We found the part on amazon – apparently this is a somewhat common issue with RV steps. Steven wanted to make sure he had the time to work on that. He did, and it involved a lot of cursing. He did get the steps working again (YAY!) but they won’t retract all the way (BOO!). He just tied them up with some rope and that was going to have to have to do us for the time being.
Steven’s new calling as handyman, with handy dandy toolbox and stylin’ Northwest footwear
Our reservations were at 11:00 a.m. and we left nothing to chance. We arrived just before 10:00 a.m. and were second in line for our ferry. The cool thing about this is that we just got up out of our seats and made ourselves some breakfast. I still can’t wrap my head around being able to do that – it’s just so awesome.
Please don’t hurt Scoopy!
It was good that I was able to keep my mind off loading Scoopy onto the ferry. I had every confidence I could do it, but that didn’t mean it wouldn’t be nerve-wracking. We decided not to unhook Toadie Hopper and drive onto the ferry separately even though it would have been slightly less expensive. Our total length was 54′ 2″, which seems really long, but at least if I freaked out, Steven would be with me.
As it turned out, my fears were unfounded. We just drove onto that thing like we owned it. We were the first to go on and rather than cramming us into one skinny lane, the ferry dudes guided us right down the middle of two lanes – right to the front! OMG! Best view ever! We just stayed inside Scoopy during the entire half-hour voyage. No reason to get out when you’ve got everything you need right where you are.
Scoopy as amphibian. Arriving at Port Townsend after a great ferry ride!
We had an easy drive to Salt Creek where we had a long pull-through with a gorgeous view of the strait out nearly every window. We’ve been in a few different spots in this park and have fond memories staying here in Alfred Hitchpop, but this was our first time in Scoopy. It was good to be back.
Okay, it wasn’t completely easy on the way to Salt Creek. We had to deal with thick fog and cyclists.
Finally at Salt Creek!! Scoopy is all decked out with gorgeous view.
Salt Creek is always a tough act to follow.
UP NEXT: Salt Creek – a perfect 10!
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Pulling onto ferries already, you are getting the tough stuff out of the way quickly. Going to be a pro in no time. 🙂
Taking notes on the proper Northwest wardrobe style so that we fit-in while traveling in the area. Footwear – check! Love the view out the front while on the ferry although I have to envision a huge steel bar in front to keep from "falling off" :-))). You did great – girl power!!!
Fantastic spot on the ferry!! We've still to go to Salt Creek with Alfred but it's on the list!
Well done on maneuvering Scoopy on to the ferry too!!
Good job with the ferry!
arlonhboozer.com
Wow, what a view! You two must have had a blast on that ride. Yeah, isn't it cool that you always have your kitchen, bathroom, etc. right behind you? Handy in traffic jams, too. BTW, we also had to replace that step doohickey (I remember how shocked we were when they just fell open and wouldn't close again). As I recall, after replacing the part, we oiled the steps, then put them in and out several times, pushing them up into fully closed position each time. I wonder if maybe that piece breaks when the steps get too hard to open and close because we never think about oiling them? A theory… 🙂
That's exactly what I said to Steven about getting the tough stuff under our belts first. It was either that or drive for hours all the way around Puget Sound on a skinny, winding road. No thanks! 🙂
Em, you HAVE to go back to Salt Creek! Don't forget, you have to print the reservation form online and mail it in. But, apparently you will be able to do it online in 2015! YAY!
Jodee, there was no steel bar in front, just a couple of wimpy little sticks. Eeeek! And for the footwear, socks are required. 🙂
Laurie, that was Steven's theory, too. He did oil it up, but maybe he didn't push it in. We'll try that. He also thinks there may be some teeny gravel in the little cog thingy in the motor – he's determined to fix it himself rather than call a mobile repair guy, so he'll keep working on it. The most difficult part is getting under there. We have to air up and I am tempted to raise Scoopy with the jacks, but I am trying not to relieve the windshield pressure. 🙂
Love how you're tackling all that hard stuff. Ferries make me nervous too. We've done enough of them to know it's ok, but it still gives me pause. The ferry workers are amazing!
Thanks for sharing your adventures. I really enjoy your posts!
Donna (nana.donnad@yahoo.com)
see..nothing to worry about! I knew the two of you could do it!!