WSDOT Flickr Feed: Vigor Sea Trials M/V Samish
No seriously. If you can get the 20th off, you should. I’m only going to advertise this event once but wanted to give maximum notice so transit geeks can file to get the day off. Granted I wish WSDOT had the M/V Samish open house and Washington Policy Center/WPC had their upcoming pundit fest on Saturday the 23rd*, but oh well.
On May 20th, it’s going to be a great day to be a transit geek in Anacortes. One thing I should note from the get-go is that Skagit Transit Route 410 – which has connections in 413 to Burlington & 40X to Mount Vernon – will take you right up to the open house and is a short walk away from the WPC event. Below are many details of the M/V Samish open house to check out the new ferry and get to see the wheelhouse and hopefully more normally off limits to passengers for logical reasons.
M/V Samish Christening and Open House
Wednesday, May 20, 2015
Anacortes Ferry Terminal2100 Ferry Terminal Road Anacortes, WA 98221
Open House hours are from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.
Stop by any time throughout the day to explore your new ferry and take part in the festivities
Complimentary refreshments served
Activities for kids
Christening celebration at 1:30 p.m.
Remarks from dignitaries
Tribal ceremony with the Samish Indian Nation
Vessel christening by First Lady Trudi Inslee
This event is free of charge, open to the public and is ADA accessible.
Getting to the event
The event will be held aboard the M/V Samish at the Anacortes ferry terminal. Visitors coming from the mainland may drive and park in the upper lot of the Anacortes terminal. Visitors coming from the islands are encouraged to walk-on rather than bringing a vehicle. Passengers arriving via ferry will be issued tickets for free walk-on return passage, valid for same day travel.
Parking
Parking in the Anacortes terminal upper parking lot is free for this event. As you approach the ferry terminal, stay to the left to avoid the line for the tollbooths and follow the signs for event parking. Shuttle service will run continuously between the upper parking lot and the terminal building from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Need more info?
If you have a question about the Samish Christening and Open House or would like more information, please contact Event Coordinator Rachel Waitt at rachel.waitt-AT-wsdot-DOT-wa-DOT-gov or (206) 515-3944.
Because I’m a nice person, I decided to convert Rachel’s e-mail to anti-spam. But based on photos of the MV Tokitae open house including inside the wheelhouse, it’s well worth the trip to Anacortes.
Also later that day between 5 PM & 7 PM, Washington Policy Center/WPC is having a free reception with all their pundits at the San Juan Airlines terminal at the Anacortes Airport – a 15 minute hike from Hwy 20 & Anacopper Rd. All obviously includes WPC’s Transportation Center Director Bob Pishue so if you want to ask Bob a few questions in person about transit because you – like me – will be a mile or so away checking out a new ferry, you may. Just please be polite with Bob.
Finally, Anacortes is relatively transit-friendly. For a mere $2 dollars for an all day pass, you can use as much Skagit Transit/SKAT as you need to within Skagit County for the same day you buy the pass. On the hour during this open house is a quick ride between the Anacortes Ferry Terminal and the downtown area where there’s fast food and seafood restaurants plus some great parks. Just something to keep in mind. Please fire off comments if you want some tips where to photograph or eat in Anacortes or how to get to/from Anacortes. I’m certainly going to avail me of some of the trails.
Maybe we’ll all have an impromptu meet up at the WPC event at 1630 before I bow out at 1730 to head home… or we could meet-up on the MV Samish before the event ends at 4 & I depart to the airport. Thoughts?
Photo credits: WSDOT Flickr Feed
—FOOTNOTE—
*The 16th would be problematic to say the least for avgeeks due to Heritage Flight Museum & Paine Field Aviation Day – both of which seemingly require either long walks or hiring a taxicab from the nearest bus stop. But I digress..
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