Stop the coup in the United States! Vote! Resist! Persist!

Living on Bainbridge Island, we travel by Washington State Ferries several times a week. Over the years, we’ve travelled on many different types of ferries, including the tiny Wheatland Ferry in Oregon.

On our recent trip to Basel, Switzerland, to visit my wife’s college roommate, we enjoyed a nice walking tour of Basel. Bonnie showed us around old and new Basel. As we walked to the river bank, I asked how we were going to get across the river. Bonnie laughed and pointed down to the small wooden unpowered ferry called the “Ueli”.

The four Rhine river ferries “Wild Maa”, “Leu”, “Vogel Gryff” and “Ueli” link Grossbasel (Old Basel) to Kleinbasel (New Basel). They are attached to a long wire cable and are driven purely by the current of the Rhine itself. The “driver” simply moves the rudder to steer us into the current and across the river.

“The ferries will silently bring you to the opposite shore all year round. Experience the way in which time seems to stand still during this brief crossing.”

With my balky surgically repaired left leg, I was a bit worried about getting into the wobbly ferry from the unstable dock. However, Bonnie wanted to introduce us to her favorite brew pub in Old Basel. Knowing there was alcohol in my future, I braved the unsteady steps onto the ferry. We enjoyed our river current driven fun ride across the Rhine.

We safely crossed the Rhine and walked through the narrow streets of Old Basel to find our brew pub.

Longtime friends. Good beer. Great food. And a foot ferry ride on the Rhine. Life is good.

No matter how long I live, I am always amazed at how friendships forged fifty years ago are easily rekindled even when many years have passed between interactions.

Peace.