Where Are Blipbear and Kiwi?

If they had their way, Blipbear and Kiwi would be on the M/V Columbia, departing Bellingham at 6 p.m. this evening for Ketchikan, Alaska!

Bellingham is the southern terminus of the Alaska Marine Highway, which stretches more than 3,500 miles. The Alaska ferry, as it's generally referred to here, arrives from Ketchikan at 8 a.m. and departs at 6 p.m. for the 38-hour return trip every Friday in the season. During the summer, a second ferry arrives and departs every other Saturday, as well.

To get an idea of what passengers see, click on the "virtual trip" link on the Alaska Marine Highway System's website -- it's superb!

Blipbear has a new pin on his cap that says "Bellingham" and shows two orca whales, just like the ones in the "virtual trip" video, to remember his visit here.

(If you're having trouble spotting Blipbear and Kiwi, they're sitting beneath the center flagpole, from which the Alaska state flag is flying. And I just realized that since the Bellingham Cruise Terminal, where this ferry is docked, is on Harris Avenue, this counts as a One Street entry for me -- number 17.)