Alaska Ferry (part 1)

To start things off, we have a brain teaser. Your task is to manipulate three toothpicks in order to redirect the fish depicted below.

Scroll to the end for the answer.

---

I have a fondness for ferries similar to how some individuals cherish trains. Part of this affection may stem from my father's own love for them. In my childhood, we often visited our second home in the San Juan Islands in Washington, which required taking a ferry. I remember that this ferry ride was arguably the highlight of my father's lengthy journey, which took about a thousand miles from Los Angeles to Orcas Island once or twice each year.

Even aside from the wonderful memories, I truly admire the picturesque places ferries navigate through and the thoughtful design of a well-built ferry. Ultimately, my appreciation for ferries is instinctual; I just feel a deep-rooted affection for them.

My initial encounter with the Alaska Marine Highway System occurred during a 2021 trip on the MV Kennicott, traveling from Juneau to Bellingham, Washington. This journey lasted two and a half days, with a single stop in Ketchikan. Here are some interesting details regarding the Kennicott.

1. • Length: 382 feet
2. • Width: 85 feet
3. • Staterooms: 109
4. • Berths: 320
5. • Passengers: 450
6. • Horsepower: 13,200

During that trip, I opted for a stateroom, but I observed that many passengers were sleeping in various open spaces on the ship, including setting up tents on the deck. At that moment, I resolved that for my next trip, I would try the more adventurous approach and sleep in communal areas alongside the other travelers.

Fast forward four years later, I found myself back in Bellingham, which is notable for being the only port that the Alaska Ferry services outside of Alaska, with perhaps one in British Columbia. This provided me with an ideal chance to embark on another adventure. This time, my journey would take me north from Bellingham to Sitka, Alaska. The four-day expedition included stops at Ketchikan, Juneau, Wrangel, Skagway, and Haines, with some locations visited multiple times. This route reaches as far as Skagway before retracing its path southward, but it uniquely includes Sitka only on the southbound trip. I believe this is the longest journey one can undertake on any of the Alaska Ferries.

For this voyage, I boarded the Columbia, the largest and swiftest vessel in the Alaska Marine Highway System. Here are some relevant statistics:

1. • Length: 418 feet
2. • Width: 85 feet
3. • Staterooms: 104
4. • Berths: 298
5. • Passengers: 499
6. • Horsepower: 14,000

The ferry departed from Bellingham at 4:00 PM on April 25. I was incredibly eager to start the adventure when boarding began around 2:30. I quickly headed to the top deck, level 8, to set up my tent, becoming the third of six tents on the upper deck. My recollections of the Kennicott might not be entirely accurate, but I believed the tent area would be shielded from the elements.

On the Columbia, the upper tent section was located at the rear and was completely exposed to rain and wind. However, it was conveniently situated near a covered area with heat lamps and plenty of seating. A yellow line distinctly marked the boundary with a clear sign indicating 'no tents' in the warmer, sheltered section. For every person in a tent, I would estimate there were two who opted for sleeping bags on reclining chairs under the shelter. In retrospect, I now realize they were the wise ones. Additionally, there were numerous passengers who found comfort sleeping in chairs and on benches inside the ship.

Later on, I discovered another space on level 6, towards the back of the ship, that permitted tent pitching. This area enjoyed partial cover from the restaurant on level 7, providing far better protection against the rain and wind than my spot on level 8. It was also much more peaceful, as level 8 was quite noisy due to what I assumed was engine exhaust. However, it lacked a heated solarium. Looking back, choosing the quieter and drier deck on level 6 would have been the smarter choice. It's a lesson learned.

Next week, I will continue narrating my journey on the Alaska Ferry after leaving Bellingham.

Links:

Alaska Marine Highway System

Alaska ferry statistics

---

Solution to logic puzzle.

There are two correct solutions to the puzzle that employ the same logic. I will describe one of them.

A simpler way to remember this process might be to first move either the upper or lower fin to create a new square, effectively establishing a new head. After that, the necessary additional moves should become clear.