Journal 6

September 12-16, 2005 Hot and sunny!

This car trip was reminiscent to one a few years earlier, where 4 adults (Dick, Hartley, Eva, and I) had piled into the Honda Civic and traveled to Port Townsend to see the Wooden Boat Festival and other points of interest in the area. There was the debate over the appropriate temperature in the vehicle, where to stop, and who is navigating anyway! Same discussions, different scenery, and there was an extra body with one more point of view on our trip to Vegas.

At the break of dawn 5 adults piled into a rental car, a Nissan, this is a midsize vehicle? After taking what could only be described as one of Maureen’s shortcuts, we made a relatively straightforward trip into a sightseeing trip that extended our time in the car by an extra few hours. Despite the additional challenge of the middle seat in the back, which became know as the hump seat, a good time was had by all. The good thing about having hump rotation was you got to call when it was break time.

We arrived in Los Vegas after dark and the lights of the city invited us from over 20 miles away. The unit we stayed in was perfect for the 5 of us. There were 2 full bathrooms and a kitchen with a dishwasher and microwave, a dining area, 2 TVs with DVD/VCR, and in suite laundry. Luxuries we haven’t seen and really appreciated while on our vacation. We had access to 2 great swimming areas; one called the lazy river in which you could take an inner tube and float around the course of the pool or give yourself an exercise routine by swimming against the current. I choose the inner tube, a book, and a cold beverage for my turn around the pool. The other, a regular pool that was “adult only”. There was a hot tub, my personal favorite, games room, access to the internet, and a shuttle to town on the hour every hour from 10:00 a.m. till 1:15 a.m. for a return trip. You could also use the shuttle to get to the grocery store and the factory outlet mall. There was also another shuttle that would drop airline passengers off at the site.

Vegas, has always been one of those places on my list of places to see! Well, I’ve seen it and I can now strike it off the list. As neither Dick nor I are gamblers, (some would suggest otherwise based on our current adventure) we didn’t spend any time or money in the casinos. We did enjoy walking through the different theme hotels and participated in the venues. The monorail that linked a number of the hotels was an interesting way to get around town and see the less visible parts of the city when you’re at street level. The most memorable Vegas adventure, was when we discovered that the MGM Grand was having a boxing match and not just any match but a fight that had one of Brendan’s favorite fighters. The event was scheduled for the Saturday after our Friday departure, however we were able to pick up a souvenir T-shirt from the promotional vendors on Thursday afternoon.

Our day trip to Hoover Dam was a definite highlight; amazing engineering marvel. It is huge, and the complexity of not only the dam but the infrastructure that was and is still required to maintain this facility is mind numbing.

The trip back was less difficult, as we passed through the Mojave Desert earlier in the day and the temperature in the vehicle was more comfortable. No shortcuts, reducing the time in a too small car for 5 adults. The hump seat however, remained as uncomfortable as it had been on the way down.

We arrived back in time to enjoy Oakland Yacht club’s Friday night BBQ with Shearwater and Falcon VII to spend some time with their crew before they head up the Delta tomorrow.

September 17-22, 2005 not as hot as Nevada, nevertheless hot and sunny!

We’re back in the comfort of our berth. We’re way too comfortable here, the thought of going back out is starting to make me loose my nerve!

We had the rental car for one more day so we were able to pick up some extra inventory (read wood), and provisions that are awkward or too heavy to carry, for the next leg of our journey.

We did a day trip to San Francisco, (referred to as “the City” by locals). I think we used every mode of transportation know to man, with the exception of air, touring the City. It was a wonderful day travelling up and down the streets via the cable car. We ended up at the end of the line and spent time at Fisherman’s Wharf. We toured the Maritime museum where Dick would have the job of his dreams, building/renovating old wooden boats in a shop totally outfitted with every imaginable tool and all the wood any one person could want or imagine. This is a state-operated facility, and the nice young man, Jason, and 2 other guys actually had “the job”. After our day in the City and a bite to eat we hoped on another cable care before we grabbed a cab for . . . wait for it . . . Dick to attend a barbershop chorus practice. It was a special night as the Sweet Adeline’s were having a joint practice. Nice bunch of guys at the Cable Car Chorus, and provided special treats as it was a joint practice!


September 23, 2005

Adios! to OYC and on to our new adventure. Our plan is to spend a couple of weeks or 10 days in the Delta exploring the fresh water sloughs and rivers 100 miles inland. This will be Blue’s first passage in fresh water.

Leaving the sanctuary of the Oakland estuary, with sunshine and a light breeze that rapidly grew into a stiff breeze (30kts.), as we passed under the Bay Bridge. The wind waves and surge coming out of the west added to the less than friendly seas that lasted until we got into the lee of Angel Island where things calmed and we were sailing comfortably. Nice sail from Angel Island, across Suisan Bay with Blue seeing 8kts. and into Vallejo and the club there for dinner and fellowship.


September 24, 2005

Hot and sunny as we leave Vallejo Yacht Club and head out to our next destination, Antioch. We followed the easily navigable channel and arrived to the music of the local festival.

We tied up next to Pakele (Hawaiian for escape), a 33ft Ranger skippered by Rick Sweeney and crew Dennis Fisher. Pakele had taken Rick on a passage to Hawaii and back to San Francisco in ’99.

We spent an enjoyable evening with the crew of Pakele dancing and carrying on with the locals at the festival. We have decided to buddy boat with them up the Sacramento River.

September 25, 2005

Hot and sunny, and as we were preparing to leave Antioch, just as Shearwater was tying up next to us. They had spent the past 4 days in the Delta, Potato Slough, having to return to Antioch for Kristi to stay aboard and visit with friends, and Paul heads back to Canada for a few days to look after some family related challenges.

Our plan is to meet up with our new boat buddy Pakele in Oxbow.

We traveled down Fisherman’s Cut, a 2-mile long channel between tracts of farmland. Each side has levees that have been created by dredging the slough and creating access to and protection for the fertile farmland of the delta, which is actually just at sea level. On the banks there are the occasional float home, or homestead, or junkpile of derelict boats, barges, and stuff. The narrow channel also offers water-skiers a protected haven to practice their newest tricks and bathers a quiet spot to cool off from the heat of the day.

The Georgiana Slough, our next channel is getting to be a little more civilized as there are fine homes with docks and big powerboats a few sailboats moored at their doorstep (how decadent). Dennis from Pakele was there at the dock to take our lines at Oxbow Marina as I practice landing Blue into a slip.


September 26, 2005

Hot and sunny as we leave Oxbow Marina on the picturesque Georgiana Slough. We had a wonderful day drifting down the slough and into the Sacramento River.

Pakele and Blue, stopped in a small town called Locke, that has remained to its historical roots. The Chinese in the 1800’s were given the opportunity to develop this tract of land and continues to house a number of Chinese owned and operated businesses. We ate lunch in the local pub “Al the Wops”, as politically incorrect as that sounds it has had that name since the town’s inception. I had the best chicken salad ever.

Later that afternoon we watched a thunderstorm travel across the river as we headed towards Sacramento. We were the benefactors of some rain (don’t believe it never rains in California, cause man it pours) that helped to cool us down. We were entertained most of the evening with a lightening show. Being on the periphery of the storm gave us the advantage of the spectacular lightning show to the east and an incredible sunset in the west with the added bonus of staying dry and enjoying the outdoors. It reminded me of prairie thunderstorms I had experienced as a kid.

This night we just pulled over to the side of the river and anchored in 20 feet of water.

September 27, 2005

We woke to the most gorgeous sunrise this a.m. Our anchorage on the Sacramento River was totally uneventful. A couple of small motor boats passed by during the night. Dick had decided to sleep out in the cockpit, trying out our cushions for future hot nights in the south.

Hot and sunny as we drifted down the river. We are both surprised as to how similar the Sacramento River and the Red River in Wpg. are especially around Lockport. Of course there are differences as well, like the height of the levees. There are even Paddlewheel boats travelling up and down the river, like they did around Wpg. We arrived in Old Sacramento, or Old Sac, as the locals refer to this very interesting city after having yet one more bridge opened for us! Ah the power you wield with a 50 ft. mast, or at least how vulnerable and dependent you are to others with the power of the gate.

The first few blocks in Old Sac have been maintained to hold that historic and old town Gold Rush era of the 1800’s the buildings with wooden sidewalks, the train museum, and Wells Fargo still has a schedule. A statue of one of the Pony Express “couriers” sits in the middle of town. However, take a short walk through a concourse and you arrive at a 21st century shopping mall of downtown Sacramento where you’ll find all the trendiest of shops.

We had a BBQ with Pakele’s crew while tied up in the civic dock. The dock was disappointing after having been spoiled, there are no amenities (shower, restrooms, or grocery store within walking distance) and it was pretty costly, we did have electrical and water on the dock.

September 28, 2005

We’re heading back down the River today with about 2kts of current with us we’ll be able to cover a lot of ground. Our plan is to moor in Rio Vista.

Hot and sunny once again, and in desperate desire/need of a shower. There are lots of flies around I think they’re attracted to us. We took the opportunity to explore another slough, Steamboat, and it gave us the chance to take a sun shower and feel refreshed at least temporarily as the temperatures soared ~87 with not a whiff of a breeze. With no breeze Pakele’s crew was able to use the patio umbrella we lent them. They were particularly grateful as up to then they have had no refuge from the sun (no dodger). We are fortunate to have our dodger it has not only sheltered us from some pretty ugly/cold winds, on the coast it has also given us shade from the sun on this trip down the river.

We are especially pleased to discover that Blue stays reasonable cool down below I think the addition of the dodger is in part responsible for that.

Rio Vista Marina also has a RV park and as do most RV parks down here, there was a computer available however, the Internet was not connecting. Alas, we are still unable to get our next broadcast out, or pick up email.

September 29-30, 2005 hot and sunny

Another glorious day on the River and we’re headed for Benecia.

When we arrived in Benecia where the Farmers market was offering up all kinds of local treats. Dennis and I picked up a couple of savory rotisserie chickens and roasted potatoes that had been basted with the juices of the chicken as the turned on the spit.

Our plan had been to go back to Vallejo Yacht Club because they were a fun bunch of people, but they had a flotilla in from Stockton so there was no room. Our backup was to anchor at Angel Island, but discovered there was a Catalina Yachts rendezvous there so there would be no space there either. So we spent another day in beautiful Benecia and toured the old capital of California when it was first under American ownership. The grounds around the capital building had a grapefruit, lemon, and peppercorn tree, all heavy with produce.

October 1-4, 2005

We left really early and motored and sailed across the San Pedro Bay to Angel Island and then hit a fog bank that created some additional excitement as Blue’s engine died and of course we just happened to be in the shipping lane, with a freighter approaching. Some quick maneuvering and Dick had the engine running and we motored out of the fog into brilliant sunshine. We sailed the rest of the way to Brisbane.

The distances here are deceiving. Our trip up the Delta was over 200 miles and we only saw a small fraction of it. The trip across the bay today was 45 miles and we are almost back in Oakland but in a different climate. Our new friends Rick and Dennis and Rick’s wife Mailie, joined us tonight and we headed out to one of their favorite Mexican restaurants.

We have been invited to their home for a traditional Hawaiian meal. A couple of their neighbors came over and we had a feast followed by a Ukulele (sp?) extravaganza, even Dick got in on the action. Earl, one of the neighbors brought with him exquisite orchid lei and placed it around my neck. It had just arrived from Hawaii, I was overwhelmed. Back home we would have a Hawaiian theme night dinner that would include plastic grass skirts and leis, an occasional coconut bra, and flower shirts.

Earl has an amazing voice and Dick was trying to recruit him to sing Barbershop to sing tenor.

What great people we have met along the way. Rick would say at the beginning of each day, “this is the best day ever” and he meant it!




October 5

Finally we cast off and head back out under the Golden Gate to Half Moon Bay. Being back at sea after 5 weeks in protected waters was a real challenge for us. The swells were big but not too steep until late afternoon when the wind built up to 25 knots. At least there are no bars to cross, but the entrances are a bit tricky to navigate. Thank goodness for Cmap (computer navigation program.) This is a great little town and we are only 45 minutes over the hill from Redwood City in the Bay area. We should be able to get caught up with email and internet here and leave for Monterey in a couple days. Weather is back to coastal style, foggy cool and wet.