Shamu & The Jamestown Ferry!

In Saturday’s class, several of us were discussing alternate routes I could take home rather than the usual “trek back over to Richmond and fight your way back down I-95 with all the semi trucks and weekend traffic” madness.

When Randee suggested that I take the Jamestown-to-Surry Ferry, I knew that was exactly what I wanted to do!

Now, those of you who live near water and where ferrying yourself from one side to the other is a daily occurrence, this won’t seem like a big deal to you, but I have a confession to make:

In all my world travels, I had yet to drive my car up on to a ferry to ride across the water, and drive off on the other side. This was exciting for me!

And even more exciting that it was “free.”

I wasn’t sure just what to do, so when I got to the ferry bridge, I just waited in line behind a few other cars – I must have been there relatively early, the ferry runs every 30 minutes or some such thing and there were only a couple cars in line ahead of me.

But as we sat there, soon there were many more cars behind me!

Here I am in line as the ferry pulls up to the dock after bringing people over from the “Surry Side” of the James River. Yes, that s my Williamsburg Hospitality House parking garage pass still on my dashboard!

Somehow I ended up lucky enough to h have a front row “seat”!

Can you see my license place? QLTVLLE!

Or maybe it’s the birds that have the best vantage point – and a free ride too!

I went up to the top observation deck to enjoy the beautiful view, and to wave at another ferry passing ---they are headed to the dock that we just left!

**Side Note!** This is how you know who the tourists are:

They are the ones OUT OF THEIR CARS milling around and going up to the observation deck to take pictures.

Those who ride the ferry regularly are on their cell phones, or eating their drive through breakfast and reading the paper, or reading their kindles. They stay in their cars. It’s an every day occurrence for them – but for me…it was SO COOL!

It takes about 15 minutes to make our way to the Surry Side.

As our gate keeper made his way to start letting the chains down and opening the gates so we could drive off on our way, I slid back behind Shamu’s wheel and made myself ready to exit my first drive-on ferry ride ever.

I don’t quite remember how much time all this would have saved me mileage wise, but I know it is considerable. If you can’t cross on the ferry, the only alernative is to drive way out of your way to cross a bridge further down the river.

One more thing crossed off my bucket list --- what’s next?