Anyone else frustrated trying to make a ferry reservation two days prior to departure? You sit at your computer, hit the button right at 7 a.m., watch the wheel spin and bingo, the message “Full, standby only” pops up. A ferry rep explained to me that since they switched to smaller ferries, they don’t have one-third of the space available two days before departure. Bottom line: If you can’t plan two weeks ahead, be prepared to travel at off-peak times.

Mike Buettell

San Juan Island