— by Lin McNulty —
Ask around. Many people have stories to tell about their experiences on the soon-to-be-decommissioned Evergreen State ferry.
As the 60-year old Evergreen State, WSF’s oldest boat, prepares for its last run on Sunday (see Orcas Issues story here), a bit of palpable melancholy popped up here and there around Orcas Island.
Jerry Rivas, now a long-time Orcas resident, related how the graduating class of Anacortes High School would routinely have their graduation party aboard the Evergreen State, touring the waters around the San Juans all throughout the night after the regular schedule was completed. When he graduated in 1971, a group of “clever” students figured out how to stash ahead of time, and bring aboard, abundant amounts of alcohol to celebrate the graduation. “It was quite a party,” Rivas recalls. It was also the end of Anacortes seniors using the Evergreen State for their graduation parties, much to the chagrin of every graduating class since. “They all know we ruined it for them.”
Tony Ghazel’s son panicked on the Evergreen State when he saw his four-year-old younger brother get on the elevator by himself. Fortunately, they got to him in time to prevent his solo flight to the cabins above.
Bob Vietzke, living in West Sound, says they would wait to see the Evergreen State coming through Wasp Pass. That meant it was time to get their car in line, which actually meant “no waiting,” and they could drive right on. It was also not uncommon at the time, relates Vietzke, to get tours of the pilot house on a regular basis. That practice seems to have ended when the Elwha ran aground as the pilot was providing a personalized pilot house tour to a female friend and decided to make a bit of a side-trip past her house.
It was aboard the Evergreen State that I witnessed my first orcas who chose that moment to stop by and say hello to the passengers — just learned that’s called “mugging” in the whale-watching world. I remember having a moment of concern as all passengers ran to the same side of the ferry. That’s when I learned about ballast giving stability by providing a heavy substance in its bilge
Jerry Rivas, though, in addition to the wild senior party, seems to have the most memorable Evergreen State trip we could uncover. It was a windy, stormy winter in 1973, one of those in which the ferry bounces around on the waves. Water was flowing all across the deck as Rivas exited his car. There was also a U.S. Coast Guard boat following along, ready to toss a line to the ferry if needed. It seems that someone had left open a front hatch that was taking on water.
While this, in itself, may have been enough excitement, a woman gave birth on that same sailing, and the purser died of a heart attack.
While it’s not just the Evergreen State that conjures up unusual and exciting memories—adventures can occur on any of our ferries—this is where our recollections take us this weekend as we say “Bon Voyage” to our queen of the seas, the Evergreen State ferry.
Have a favorite Evergreen State story? Be sure to share in the comments below.
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I remember when two boats had to transfer a galley worker, so they touched each other bow to bow while she jumped across. Remember galley service? ;-)
We loved the Klickitat as little kids in the 1950’s, but to get from a passenger cabin to the galley and back, we had to walk out on the open deck which could be very wet and windy during the winter.
When the Evergreen State was assigned to the San Juan run in 1959, it was pretty exciting to be able to walk to the galley, restrooms and seating and stay dry! On trips to basketball games in high school, it seems like we were always walking around in that big ferry checking on our friends.