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.
