Sunshine eases wait for ferry with Kittatas out on Mukilteo-Clinton run

Published 4:47 pm Sunday, October 17, 2010

MUKILTEO — Good thing the sun was out. Most people waiting for a ferry to Whidbey Island on Sunday afternoon remained good humored, despite the lineup.

“What can you do? It’s no big deal,” said Craig Degerness of Marysville as he sat in his truck. “I get to wait with the window down. Can’t control it; might as well enjoy it.”

Some drivers who were packed into the 24 loading lanes waiting for the ferry had been there for more than two hours, and it wasn’t even a summer Friday.

The ferry Kittitas, which can carry up to 124 vehicles, was taken off the run Saturday because of propulsion problems, leaving only the 124-vehicle Cathlamet to carry passengers, ferry officials said. Repairs to the Kittitas are ongoing, state ferries spokeswoman Susan Harris said.

Late Sunday afternoon, the 34-vehicle ferry Hiyu was put on the route to help with the traffic. As in Mukilteo, the ferry lines at Clinton were unusually long, officials said, and not likely to diminish much throughout the evening.

Food, music, books and newspapers kept some people in Mukilteo busy while they waited.

Three generations of the Francis family from Clinton made the most of their time. Liz Francis, 67, and her husband Fred, 70, enjoyed watching people. Their son Carl, 48, walked on the beach and their grandson Talon, 18, did some skateboarding.

Each Sunday the family rides the ferry so they can attend church in Lynnwood.

“We’re used to ferry lines,” Liz Francis said. “We just take it in stride. It reminds me of summer today, and the weather does, too.”

Gale Fiege: 425-339-3427; gfiege@heraldnet.com.