Bainbridge ferry company kaputt

The island based Kitsap Ferry Company is throwing in their sweat and sea salt soaked towel.

Reading this story in the Sun, we learn that the passenger-only ferry service can't make ago of its infrequent crossings from Bremerton to Seattle once Kitsap Transit pulls its subsidy away. Kitsap vote-casters gave the big thumbs down to the notion that they'd allow their tax pennies to revive the trail of little steamers. I guess people wanted more money for Cayannes, Cross Countries and Outbacks (i.e.=the mosquito swarm of our paved inland canals...ah, the romance...)

Too bad. A true web of ferries in the Mosquito Fleet tradition would be a real boon for commuters, travelers, revelers and rovers looking for a quick jaunt over to the Big City or a visits with cross-Sound family. Imagine it: kicking back, enjoying the Puget-perfect view, sipping coffee, chatting with neighbors, listening in on conversations, reading the paper - all while traveling from the old ports-of-call at Port Madison, Manzanita, Fletcher Bay, Point White, Eagledale, Yeomalt, Rolling Bay to Manette, Port Orchard, Seattle, Suquamish, Poulsbo and Manchester.

Here's a map of a Kitsap County effort to catalog the old Mosquito fleet trail:



It's a small map, but the bounty of black dots lining the island's coast gives you a pretty good idea of what once was, and what one day could be......Alas, we'll stick to our cars, resigned to burn copious hydrocarbons and plumes of road rage fumes.