It’s that time of year again, when the Whatcom Chief heads off to drydock to assure the safety of passengers and crew for the coming year, so here are a few reminders for those of you who have a trip across the water to Lummi Island in mind.

The Whatcom Chief will leave after its last run on Saturday, September 7th, and is scheduled to return the morning of Sunday, September 28th.  The exact time of return will depend, of course, on whether required repairs turn out to be more or less than anticipated, so do some checking before you confirm plans for the 28th that require vehicular ferry access.  They do make it back early now and then, which is always a nice surprise.

While the Chief is gone, there will be passenger service provided, both across the pass and on the Island in the form of a passenger van shuttle service.  Passenger ferry service will operate on the regular schedule, but the van shuttle has limited hours – from 5:50 a.m. to 12:50 p.m. and from 3:45 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.  Another limitation on the van shuttle service is that no pets or bicycles are allowed in the van, although they are allowed on the passenger ferry.

Allowed parking areas are marked on Gooseberry Point, and parking outside the posted areas will get your vehicle towed.  Parking on the Island is in the lots at the head of the dock and across the street, as well as in marked areas along Nugent Rd.

Drydock can actually be a great time to be on Lummi Island – it is even quieter than usual and the trip across can provide the opportunity to visit with friends you haven’t talked to for a while…or make a new one.

If you need more information, call Chantelle hilsinger at 676-6876 or go to the Whatcom County website at http://www.co.whatcom.wa.us/publicworks.