Getting somewhere by boat makes it more exciting, I think. The Rock Island ferry is based on a ferry boat I take every year to a New England island similar — but not exactly like! — Rock Island. Because I’m a big believer of CARPE-ing the DIEM (or seizing the day!), I often reserve our family a spot on the first possible ferry of the day…which leaves at 6:00 am. Which means leaving our house at 4:00 am. Like the Fletchers, we are loaded with bikes, surfboards, coolers, fishing nets, soccer balls, and more. Like the Fletchers, we’re sometimes running a little bit late, and tempers flare. Some of the ugliest family moments have definitely been trying to get out the door at 4:00 am without killing each other. But oh! When we get on that boat, and the horn blasts, loud and jarring in the early morning fog, and we set out across the sunrise-dappled Atlantic ocean, my heart lifts. Another summer. Another ferry ride. Another adventure awaits…