Sacramento

Another lovely cruising day takes us from Walnut Grove up the Sacramento River to the City of Sacramento (27NM) in approximately 3 or so hours (still fighting the current!).

Some grand and elegant homes line the levee banks

Busy river tugs and tows. A great deal smaller than those on ‘The Great Loop’ but these captains don’t communicate via VHF…I guess it’s just ‘might makes right’

Watch out for the anchored anglers in front of the Paintersville bridge. By the way, this bridge (unlike others) does not provide lifts until 9:00AM. It’s a good thing Larry trust his measurements!!!

Tower Bridge looks low…

…but I think our PYC chicken will squeek under…

…looks like the lightning brush had a good foot or so…

Old Town Sacramento from the river

The I Street Bridge is up next

Looks are deceiving, but we fit under fine.

The water color difference at the confluence of the Sacramento and American Rivers

Sweet! Tied up at the Rivers Bend Marina in Sacramento and time for a cold one on a hot day.

Checking out ‘Fanny Ann’s Saloon’ in Old Town Sacramento. A sister bar to ‘The Bear’ in Chico

This is one of the reasons why we took the boat to Sacramento…for our friends biennial bash at their house along the American River. Thank you Casey and Joan, yet another fabulous bash!

Boy, that river looks inviting!

Sunday brunch at the Sturgeon on the Sacramento River

They use an old Pan American Airlines jetway from SFO to get folks down to the river and into the restaurant

Nice view of the Sacramento River from our table

Great time with great friends up in Sacramento

Last sunset on the Sacramento River

Early morning start for the nine hour run back to the San Francisco Yacht Club (87NM)

So warm the cows are swimming outside of Rio Vista

This guy shadowed us all the way down from the Rio Vista Bridge and we were happy to see him pass in Suisun Bay

Nice to some sheet steel being made in the USA…we just wonder where it’s going now

The Brothers welcome us home on a beautiful day.

Walnut Grove/Locke

In our exploration of Georgiana Slough (by tender) some areas were a bit shallow and local knowledge would make transit much more comfortable so we opt for Three Mile Slough and up the Sacramento River to reach Walnut Grove (25NM). Our good friend and return cruiser, Gumby, is joining us at Walnut Grove for the remaining cruise up to Sacramento.

Three Mile Slough Bridge

The size of the weight chains are impressive

A look back at the Three Mile Slough Bridge

On the Sacramento River we wait for the Rio Vista/Freeport Bridge to open. FYI - there is a four hour minimum advance notice required to schedule an opening for this bridge.

Next up is the Isleton Bridge

Gumby shadowed us along the levee and got a great picture of us going under the Isleton Bridge

It’s a busy summer on the Sacramento River. Tugs and barges are common, carrying rock to rebuild many of the damaged levees from this past winters’ storm.

Looking back at Walnut Grove Bridge installed in 1913. The first cantilever bridge west of the Mississippi.

The sweet little town of Walnut Grove. Founded in 1851 by John Sharp. Sharp operated a ferry that crossed the river. A saw mill was located here and later agriculture with the first crop of Asparagus grown in the Delta.

Looking up river at the Independence docked at the Walnut Grove city dock

The Walnut Grove city dock is first-come, first-serve. It is a newer dock with great cleats and very substantial.

Nice views from up river

Gumby and Larry on the dock

About a mile walk from Walnut Grove to the town of Locke is well worth it to see the history there. Locke is the only rural community in the United States built and occupier by Chinese. Now it is on the National Register of Historic Places. According to visitcadelta.com; In 1912, three Chinese merchants constructed three buildings - a store and saloon, a gambling hall, and a hotel and restaurant. This would become the town of Lockeport, later renamed Locke. Hundreds of Chinese families moved to Locke and worked at the local farms and canneries. Many of the residents were hired to work on extensive levee projects turning the 500,000 acres of wetlands into ‘The Delta’ and some of California’s most valuable farm land. Many of the residents leased land from George Locke, as California’s Alien Land Law of 1913 prevented non-US citizens from owning land (ended in 1952). The leases provided ownership of any buildings, but not the land itself. Locke slowly declined in the 1930’s during the Great Depression and the end of prohibition, also due to increased mechanization in agriculture industry. In 1977, the Locke family sold the town to a development company from Hong Kong and in 2002 the town was sold to the Sacrament Housing and Redevelopment Agency. They (and other agencies) now struggle to preserve many of the original buildings. (information courtesy of the National Park Service website)

Larry and Gumby in front of Al the Wops. According to Hal Schell’s ‘Guide to ‘Cruising California’s Delta’; Italian-American Al Adami (possibly a bootlegger) bought the place from ‘old Bing Lee’ for $2,000 around 1930.

Internet lore has it that gold and silver miners hoping to strike it rich would “write their names on their ‘Get Home’ money and staple it to the ceiling of the local bar”. Perhaps this why there is still money thrown to the ceiling at Al the Wops…

…personally, I’ll save my money for a cold one.

Just a few images of the old buildings on Main Street, Locke

Having gone by several names…Peripheral Canal, Water Fix and Delta Conveyance and now The Water Tunnel Project. According to Cal Matters Commentary by Dan Walters, June 28th, 2023, the “California Governor Gavin Newsom had to concede defeat on trying to get the legislature to give a very contentious water tunnel project streamlined regulatory treatment.” Originally two tunnels, now one, the water from Northern California would bypass the Sacrament-San Joaquin Delta as it is moved to San Joaquin Valley farms and Southern California homes. Now California Governor Gavin Newsom is attempting to partially exempt it (along with other major public works projects) from the California Environmental Quality Act. Hopefully, our legislature will keep fighting to save our Delta, our Salmon and the town of Locke.

Benicia up the Delta

A long but mostly uneventful cruise through Carquinez Strait, Suisun Bay and up the San Joaquin River to the Mokelumne River (34NM). The passage took a bit longer than we had thought due to fighting the current and partially the tides. There is still such a great quantity of water coming down river that even with a favorable tide, you are still fighting against the current. After about five hours we tie up at the Willow Berm Marina and relax for the evening. Plans for the next couple days will revolve around the tender and exploration of the Georgiana Slough and other adventures toward Old River and Bethel Island.

Good old Korth’s Pirate’s Lair Marina on the Mokelumne River

The Independence at the dock of Willow Berm Marina

Time to explore Georgiana Slough. The homes at Ox-Bow Marina are endlessly different and entertaining to cruise by.

This corner lot had a beach and every water toy one needs along the Delta

A little more sophisticated and understated along the levee

A little cruise in the tender over to Bethel Island brings us to Boyds Harbor and The Rusty Porthole

The Frozen Bun Run is where waterskiers and wakeboarders celebrate New Year’s Day by waterskiing in front of and by the establishment.

A good dark bar on a beautiful day…enough said…

Room for more on a Tuesday afternoon

Some boats never leave the Rusty Porthole

Back at Willow Berm we walk down to the only dining spot…The Lighthouse

The pizza was pretty good and beers were cold at The Lighthouse

A pretty sunset on the return

Petaluma to Benicia

The run from Petaluma to Benicia (30NM) was very pleasant on a warm morning, thankfully, without much wind. After close to 3 hours we tie up at the fuel dock at the Benicia Marina and give the boat a quick rinse before heading out to explore town (this is my first visit to Benicia). This land was once inhabited, like most of the surrounding areas, by Karkin Ohlone, Suisun (southern Patwin Tribe), and Bay Miwok Native American Tribes (according to benicamagazing.com). The land was named Benicia (meaning blessed one) in 1847. The Mexican General Mariano Vallejo sold the land to Robert Semple and he asked Semple to name the city after his wife. Benicia became a stop for boats on the way to the gold fields during the Gold Rush and was then founded in 1849 and became the third city to incorporate in California in 1851. Benicia served as the California State Capitol from 1853 to 1854. The city was the site of the first military ordnance supply depot on the West Coast, for conflicts from the Civil War through the Korean War making it a natural route for the Transcontinental Railroad to pass through and across the Carquinez Strait on the the ‘Solano’ Ferry, the world’s’ largest in 1879. The charming town is set into the rolling hills that rise almost directly from the water of Carquinez Straits. I wish we had longer to explore and I hope to come back soon.

After leaving San Pablo Bay we pass under the Carquinez and Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridges

Passing C&H Pure Cane Sugar in Crockett

Docked at the pleasant Benicia Marina

Too bad the Benicia Yacht Club was closed. It certainly does not look like it was a barracks building in the past as it is so charming now.

The waterfront sculpture ‘Neptune’s Daughter’ by Lisa Reinertson. She dedicated this statue to Benicia (her hometown) in hopes that it will serve as a “reminder of the diligence needed to keep our waters healthy for our futures”.

The Benicia State Capitol. Evidently, the California State legislature was unhappy with muddy San Jose. Benicians erected this building in 4 months making the bricks on site. Benicia was only the State Capitol for 13 months before the legislature changed its’ mind again moving it to Sacramento.

The tiles that are in front of the Capitol Building are of General Vallejo and Doña Benicia (the city’s namesake)

Always good principals…

A little more Benicia history

The charming down town has one of my favorite clocks…

…and many lovely murals

A pretty picture of Independence at the fuel dock at the Benicia Marina

SFYC Cruise to Petaluma

Coco Channel has been quoted as saying “A lot of serious work goes into successful frivolity". Very true! The months of planning, by Larry and myself, for our SFYC cruise to Petaluma was well worth it, as it looked like (and sounded like) all in attendance had a great time. Larry arranged the float plan, complete with tidal information, including expected depths at crucial channel markers, bridge openings and docking details. Beyond that, we arranged for the very successful docktails with our Jimmy Buffet Margarita Maker (4 liters of Tequila consumed!) followed by dinner at the Petaluma Yacht Club with a sold out attendance of 56 and a second sold out dinner (with a waiting list) at Central Market for 45 persons. The weather cooperated with temperatures in the 80’s and very little wind. The party cruised home at varied times on Sunday morning and most attendees were back at their slips at the SFYC before late afternoon.

Wyman and Gay Harris’ ‘Safari’ cruises under the San Rafael Bridge on their way to Petaluma

Larry meeting an unresponsive Tug and Barge on the Petaluma River…not like the Tug Captains on the Mississippi, Ohio and Tenntom Rivers

The tug swings wide and we hug the rocks…

He forced Safari to the sidelines as well, all without any communication

The ‘Haystack’ bridge tender was more than helpful to give a lift for boats; Beautiful, Sucha, Blue Tango, Independence and Safari

Now we are all waiting for a lift from the “D’ Street bridge tender for entry to the Petaluma Turning Basin

Thursday night on the cruise is an unscheduled night allowing for us to visit with local friends Merrill, Thomas and Rosa

Back to work on Friday afternoon, as the 1:00PM ‘D’ Street Bridge lift brought in a scheduled 15 boats. All boats had to be stern/med-tied according to size. Thanks to Larry and his handheld VHF he handled the docking details with finesse. Photo courtesy of Merrill Walker

A sweet surprise gift of yummy home made cake and sweet pea flowers from the sweetest - Kappy Reed. Photo courtesy of Merrill Walker

Elliot James’ boat Tortuga with his mom Roxanne and girlfriend Morgan (and pup Poppy). Happy to be docked and ready to enjoy Petaluma

Steve and Mimi’s boat Duet docked and ready to have some fun with family

SFYC Cruise Committee Chair Paul Mourani (AKA ‘our fearless leader’) on his Swan sailboat. Showered and fishing and getting primed for docktails

Looking like a great turn out with 18 SFYC boats in attendance (foreground boat ‘SeaScouts’)

Time for Docktails! The Jimmy Buffet Margaritas are flowing and Leland Fishman (BBQ brisket chef and voluntee at PYC) gets a cold one.

Party is on with Michael, Mimi and Kathy (all SFYC cruise volunteers)

Thank yous’ are owed to our SFYC Matt Frymier for his expertise at the Margarita Machine serving up awesome blended margaritas to the thirsty crowd. Photo courtesy of Merrill Walker

A great turn out for docktails at the Petaluma Turning Basin

Dinner was amazing and then this.…not one, but two ice cream cakes to welcome SFYC members to Petaluma Yacht Club

PYC members Houston and Sal. Petaluma Yacht Club is run by its’ volunteers. They are the most dedicated and friendly yacht club I have ever visited. We are so very thankful for all they did for us and our club. Thank you PYC!!! (SFYC visitor burgee in the place of honor under PYC’s)

Back at PYC for Saturday cocktails. We were lucky to have our SFYC Commodore, Madelyn Morey, join us for the evening.

Central Market was a hit. Great food and wine were enjoyed with Michelle Mourani, John and Paul Mourani

All good things come to an end. The 8 Sunday 8:00AM ‘D’ Street bridge opening allowed most boats to depart down river for the three and half hour run back home to SFYC

Last view from the Petaluma River….you come up with your own tag line...Larry’s was “they’re here!”

Pop-up to Petaluma

We intended to go to Monterey but the winds were blowing so we opted for a pop-up to Petaluma directly after leaving the StFYC. We had a great couple days with Even and Jojo Dailey, who cruised up with us on their beautiful boat Eden III. Finally, we found some nice warm weather and a couple frosty beers…

Eden III cruising along the back side of Tiburon

Independence and Eden III at the Turning Basin in Petaluma

Can’t miss a frosty beer at Ernie’s Tin Bar on a hot day

Time to go home as the D Street Bridge raises for Eden III

Lemonade anyone? Always something unusual along the Petaluma River

Across the Bay again to St. Francis Yacht Club

The weather is fine enough when we depart the SFYC, but by the time we enter the StFYC it is blowing a steady 15 knots and gusting to 20. It does not stop all weekend and ended up being one of the windiest weekends recorded for this time of year in ages. Even sailors during competitions complained that the wind was too strong. But, the views, food, drinks and company were awesome, so the cruisers were happy.

Safari departing SFYC

Safari is owned by Wyman & Gay Harris and she is looking pretty in front of the Golden Gate Bridge

Tied up at the StFYC and ready for a cocktail

Cruise lead, Lisa, pauses in front of the SFYC boats

Blowing 40 knots, some of these sailors later said that this was one of the craziest races they have done on SF bay

Speaking of crazy…I guess John and Dawn liked those Lychee nut martinis at R&G Lounge

Cruise lead, Aruna’s beautiful menu she wrote out and gave to our waiters

R&G Lounge had a big birthday party going on with a large and enthusiastic Karaoke clientele

R&G Lounge’s first floor dining room that had a private birthday party going on

Thankfully, Aruna was able to get a private dining room for our 12 cruisers. Richard, Lynne, Barbara and Larry have a nice cold onte

Time for some culture. Steve and Larry stand by a Andrew Goldsworthy art installation called Earth Wall (2014) at The Presidio Officer’s Club Lisa arranged a great walking tour around the Presidio and one of the main attractions was the art of the English born Goldsworthy. He created ephemeral art installations that would only last a few years and then was designed to fall apart and disappear.

Goldsworthy’s Spire was built in 2006 and stands sturdy today even after being set on fire by vandals a few years ago

The beautiful Woodline. Another of Goldsworthy’s iconic art installation in the Predidio

The walking tour pauses at Inspiration Point for a quick photo op. L to R; Larry, Jerry, Pat, Mimi, Kathy, Lisa, Lynn, Harold, Steve and me.

Larry, Lisa, Kim (our guide), MImi, Kathy and Lynn

Mimi captures Larry in the whirly-gig chairs…they are a blast!

Tunnel Tops views are stunning

The Old Presidio Parade Grounds now filled with sun seekers, food trucks and picnic baskets

Saving the best for last, Kim takes us into the locked Powder Magazine to view Goldsworthy’s Tree Fall (2013). Built from one of the trees felled for the creation of the Tunnel Tops. A very cool installation.

Kathy, Pat, Lynn, Larry, Lisa, Mimi and me

After working up a healthy appetite, we enjoy a great lunch at Colibri (at The Presidio Officers’ Club)

I recommend the hand crafted guacamole

Walking back to the StFYC marina Wyman and Larry decide who wears the Tully hat the best

A great dinner at StFYC concludes the cruise nicely

South Beach Cruise to The Giants Game

A great cruise with the San Francisco Yacht Club across the bay to the South Beach Marina in San Francisco. We had fabulous weather and the Giants won the game!

The enclosed flybridge made the chilly crossing quite enjoyable. Keith joined us for the fun and games

The sun comes out in San Francisco’s South Beach Marina

Great day for a little tender ride around the ball park

A cold one at The Ramp

Keith, Andrea and Tanner enjoy the nice ride and sunshine

Cruise committee burgee and cocktails with friends on the Independence. Left to right - Carey, Andrea, Suzi. Seated; Barbara, Larry, Keith

L to R; Carey, Andrea, Me. Seated; Barbara, Larry, Keith, Bill and Stephanie

Buy me a drink Larry!

Sunset walk back to the South Beach Marina

Our great cruise leads, Carey and Andrea

Sailboat Christina in the foreground on a quiet night in the marina

Breakfast at The Ramp

Go Giants!

Enclosing the Flybridge

In preparation for next years’ travels north, we had The Canvas Works of Sausalito, California enclose our flybridge. It took a bit longer than expected due to a combination of a bad batch of material and the terribly windy conditions this year. After a few weeks the job was complete and we are now enjoying a comfy, warm ride when the weather is brisk…and of course…windy!!!

It looks straight forward but there was quite a bit of design planning involved in how each panel is placed and where and how the zippers, snaps and rail systems where to be installed.

Larry checks out the new panels and learns how to properly roll them up so we don’t scratch the material

The door panel placement took a great deal of planning and it turned out well. In good weather months we remove them all together and store them flat under our bed!

Opening Day on the Bay

What a perfect day we had for our first Opening Day on the Bay with the Independence. We were joined by 12 passengers, who witnessed the blessing of the Independence and participated in the boat parade with almost fifty other boats from the San Francisco Yacht Club. A little chill was in the air and a cold wind blew us back into the club by early afternoon. Plenty of beer and great company filled the remaining hours at the dock ringing in the start of the cruising season!

Happy Opening Day 2023

The Corinthian Yacht Club’s ‘Blessing’boat

Barbara and Bill ready to be blessed

Blessed and on our way to a great cruising season

A beautiful and chilly day on SF Bay

Time for the boat parade

2023 SFYC Cruising Committee Opening Day Burgee

Back at the dock and time to enjoy and celebrate a great opening day with our friends

Loving the flag spirit

Officially a Nordhavn

After five years and approximately, eight months of owning our Nordhavn Coastal Pilot we are now official! We received and installed our N59 breast plate this past May. Larry had ordered it about a year ago and it was shipped from China on a Nordhavn bound for Washington state. There were some issues and delays but eventually the plate arrived at our home. Then, more waiting for a break in the weather that would coordinate with our friends schedules so they could assist us with the daunting task of attaching the plate to the boat. Larry ties her up snuggly to the dock and wraps her anchor with a blanket to prevent head injuries. Rick and Ron arrive and we are ready to begin. Deep breaths and steady hands are needed now as Larry must drill over thirty holes in the boat to screw in and firmly attach the plate to the hull. Glue, drill, screw and with some muscle and finesse the job is done and lunch and beers are on Larry! Wow, she really looks like a Nordhavn now…no more guessing!

Looking pretty in the house…can’t wait to get the plate on the boat.

Boat tied up snug and the anchor is padded…ready to go!

After a little glue, it’s time to drill and screw with the help of Ron and Rick

Making sure is looks like it’s going on straight

First each of the pilot holes are drilled and then the screws are put into the hull.

Hold her steady boys.

Looking pretty…thanks Rick and Ron.

Put down those polishing rags Captain and let’s go to lunch!

First Cruise of the Year!

Finally a bit of sunshine! Larry cleans the boat and reinstalls the clean and reinforced bimini and I must say, the Independence looks great. We grab a few friends and cast off the dock lines and head out for a lovely day cruise in front of the Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco City front to the back side of Angel Island, where we anchor for lunch and then back to the dock. A lovely day and great to get back into the swing of it. This will hopefully be a busy cruising season, as we are back volunteering for the SFYC Cruising Committee and looking forward to approximately nine cruise outs this year.

A beautiful, clear, chilly day on the bay. The Golden Gate Bridge looks lovely.

It doesn’t get much calmer than this at the North Tower of the Golden Gate Bridge

Bonnie & Rick Jones, Chris Adams, Larry and Rick & Danielle Racich enjoy the views from the flybridge

The boys hold the helm steady

Winter

Happy New Year to everyone!

This is our first full ‘winter’ at home (The Bay Area/Marin County) in over four years and as nice as it was to be home for the holidays, much of my soul is now longing for the sunshine and warm blue waters of our past few winter locations in Baja, the Bahamas and Florida. We are soggy here in Northern California and experiencing that ‘damp’ cold that seeps into your bones. But, we will not complain and we feel very fortunate that our family, friends, home and boat all came through the recent deluge in good shape. Currently, we have a little break from the nozzle of precipitation that has been pointed in our direction and jump at the opportunity for some outdoor exercise and to clean up the debris in the yard. The boat came through the recent high winds and rain just fine. Larry has 15 lines on her and has been checking diligently during the biggest action of the storms. He bundles up in his ‘foulies’, drives to the San Francisco Yacht Club, tromps down the dock to check the lines and fenders and alters anything that might it even remotely lead to an issue. We are so fortunate to be in a protected slip in a location only a five minute drive from our home. So when the wind gusts were 40 to 80 MPH we had confidence that the boat would be protected. Fingers crossed that we continue with these good outcomes and wish you and yours a happy, safe and healthy new years.

No need to choose white light or colors…you can have it all! We lit-up the boat for the first time for the SFYC ‘Get Lit' party and to help celebrate the holiday season.

And if you participate in lighting up your boat you receive two drink tickets!!!

One of our club’s sweet little Opti’s was decorated too…

A last minute decision to ring in New Year’s at the club was a good one

A surprise visit from our friends Scott and Saani from Washington

After the storms have passed…still secured with 15 lines!

Nordhavn Film Festival

Larry entered a video submission to the 2022 Nordhavn Film Festival and his entry was chosen to compete. We made a trip to Dana Point, CA to walk the red carpet and be part of the excitement of the big night. We didn’t win but it was an honor to be in the top ten and the night was so much fun. Thank you Nordhavn and great job Larry!!!

Here is the link to Larry’s video ‘Dream’. Copy and paste the link into your browser and enjoy!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzMhycjiw0k

The evening’s program…yes, there are THREE videos using the word ‘Dream’ in their tiles. We laughed pretty hard when we saw that!

So much talent . (photo screengrab from Nordhavn.com)

Obligatory picture on the red carpet. Photo courtesy of Nordhavn.com

Inside the tent. Later that evening it rained so hard that the ladies with long gowns had to ring-out the water from the hems of their dresses…good thing we’re all cruisers and used to getting wet!

Our table #10

Here we go…

Photo courtesy Nordhavn.com

Time to vote. The overall winner is voted on by the audience. The ‘Nordy’ for Best Video is awarded after the judges votes for Comedy, Cinematography and Documentary.

Well, we didn’t win the big check but we sure had a great time…

…best part was catching up with our friends Dave, Doug and Laura Harlow. So great to see you all!

Cruise to Tinsley Island

An aerial view of Tinsley Island a few years back.

The last cruise of the year…some say, ‘saving the best for the last’, and I must say it was quite fun! A six hour cruise up the Delta to St. Francis Yacht Clubs’ Tinsley Island. You could quite easily cruise right by if you didn’t spy the lighthouse turret or the tall masts rising above the palm trees. We nestle in next to Endeavor - Commodore Gary Sheppard and Mary Beth Bond-Sheppard’s boat and Safari - Wyman and Gay Harris’ boat. With the Independence safely stowed, let the party begin. This is a four day celebration called ‘The Friendship Cruise Roundup’ with members from Corinthian, Lock Lomond, Marin, Richmond, San Francisco, St. Francis, Sausalito and Tiburon Yacht Clubs…I believe somewhere in the number of 200 persons! The weekends events and cocktails are sponsored by each club and the cowboy theme will become quickly evident!

Cruising into the Delta past the C&H Sugar factory at Crockett

We have arrived…Larry’s ready to enjoy the weekend

Larry with Penny - Gone to the dogs on ’ Beach House’ with David Jampolsky (Camille is inside)

Sausalito Yacht Club Commodore Tammy & Ross’ boat and their sweet pooch

Larry & Stu take the dog to the bar

A good view can be found of the massive ships going by from the turret of the lighthouse

The Delta waters are a major transit waterway with massive tankers traveling from and to the SF Bay and out the Golden Gate. They are so silent as they glide by you don’t even know they are passing most of the time.

Time for Bloody’s and….

….Bocce Ball. This is a speed tournament. If you lose in the first round of play you do not continue.

The winning throws have to be measured, it’s that close

Wyman & Gay Harris were just a smidge short in their last toss, but they’re the winners to me!!!

We didn’t make it past the first round but I am loving my new friendship belt!

The Tinsley Bell and Lighthouse in the background

Now time for Tennis Ball Golf (9 holes) with Paul, Larry and Commodore Gary Sheppard (Michelle & Luke already at hole 1)

Our fearless leader (Cruise Committee Chair) Paul Mourani with Larry…Yep, they broke the mold when they made these two!!!

Astounding the amount of work that goes into planning this cruise. Eight participating Yacht Clubs all with different activities and parties (some open to other clubs some private) for three to four days…wow! We thank our cruise committee lead Suzei Moore for all her hard work…she’s amazing!

Also a massive thanks and kudos to Stephanie Stroub for her fantastic cowboy theme decore!

The star of the weekend…the Big Bull Floaty…

Nice hat partner, Larry looks great in my Dad’s Stetson…time to kick it!!!

Ride that Big Bull Floaty!

Michelle & Paul Mourani take the Big Bull Floaty in style

Movin’ back down the Delta toward home…party’s over…

Angel Island Oktoberfest

The SFYC cruise committee earned their beer and pretzels! We had a record turnout for the Oktoberfest Celebration on Angel Island. Cruise leads Aruna Chammout and Paul Mourani did an awesome job with logistics and thanks to others from the cruise committee for their strong backs!

Aruna, Gena, Paul, Michael and myself enjoy a break after setting-up the tables, getting the bratwurst hot and the beers cold.

An awesome day for SFYC Oktoberfest 2022…what a great turn out!!!

Mini Cruise to the Saint Francis Yacht Club

With such great September weather we snuck in a tiny cruise across the Bay to the St. Francis Yacht Club. I had never docked at this yacht club and had also never been in their facilities. Both are quite lovely and of course the views are unparalleled. So happy we jumped at the chance to participate. Sadly, we could only stay for an overnight as we had SFYC cruise committee obligations that weekend.

What a treat to visit the St. Francis Yacht Club after all these years

It was Mahjong game day in the club house…I would have a hard time concentrating on my tiles with this view!

Hiking from the StFYC to and through the new Presidio Tunnel Tops Park was fabulous…what a day. The following quote is from a plaque on the walkway…”Today, the historic heart of the Presidio is reconnected to the Crissy Field waterfront via a beautiful public landscape atop the tunnels. The Presidio parkway design also allowed for acres of wetlands to be restored along the waterfront at a site know as Quartermaster Reach Marsh.”

What a great job and an amazing use of space. The original concept was created by now deceased architect Michael Painter, who earned his undergraduate degree in landscape architecture from U.C. Berkeley.

Also my first time visiting the Presidio Pet Cemetery. The final resting place of many pets owned by families stationed at the Presidio. The cemetery is operated by the post veterinarian and is maintained by private funds and local scouts.

So much history here at the Presidio and Crissy Field

More history at the Palace of Fine Arts building. Rebuilt from 1964 to 1974,it is the only structure remaining on site from the 1915 Panama-Pacific International Exposition.

Super dinner at the Presidio Social Club and nice walk from the StFYC

The Presidio Social Club also known as Building 563 has had many lives…from housing enlisted men from the Spanish-American War to the Philippine-American War and U.S. 9th Cavalry “Buffalo Soldiers”. The building has also been used as a thrift store as well as now being a restaurant.

Royal in it’s evening lights, the Palace of Fine Arts is a site to behold on our walk back to the StFYC

Cruising to Half Moon Bay with SFYC

I am happy to report that the SFYC cruise to Half Moon Bay was a hit. We had a total of seven boats from our club and four from Sausalito Yacht Club. The weather down on Friday was fantastic (30NM) and didn’t turn foul until we headed back on Sunday. We had following seas back to San Francisco, which made for a smooth trip once we got out of Pillar Point harbor and were headed north. Getting back into our slip at SFYC was another matter. The winds had picked up and we struggled against 25 knot gusts as we tied up the Independence. Larry did a great job getting her into the slip and then we ran around and helped our fellow cruisers into their slips. We were very happy and relieved when our last cruiser was secured and we could go warm up in the club house with an Irish Coffee.

I finally got my dream picture of the Independence under the Golden Gate Bridge thanks to JoJo Dailey

Kappy Reed and I enjoy the view as we head south

Pillar Point Harbor mural at the Marina

Pillar Point Harbor is a great place to stay for a couple days if you can snag a slip

Thanks to Kappy and her artistry. She made our SWAG buckets look so cute. There were Half Moon Bay Mavericks Amber Ales inside along with other goodies.

Docktails Friday at 5:00PM

Rob and Shelley enjoying some home aged tequila with Larry

Friday dinner at HMB Brewery and Restaurant was well attended

Half Moon Bay Brewing Co. has a fantastic selection of beers for purchase

Larry is the lucky recipient of a sweet gift of tequila from Evan Dailey at the Half Moon Bay Brewing Company and Restaurant

Old Princeton Landing Public House and Grill makes a nice beer stop

Larry with Kappy and Mark Reed at the Half Moon Bay Yacht Club

The beachside memorial for Mark Sheldon Foo. An amazing big wave surfer of Mavericks, Half Moon Bay

JettyWave Distillery. They distill their own Gin, Vodka and Moonshine.

Celebrating Jib Martens (holding the hat) win of the Single Handed Race to Half Moon Bay at JettyWave Distillery

The Cruisers gather for cocktails at JettyWave Distillery

Stephanie Stroub and Mark Reed enjoying dinner at Seville Tapas

The Paella dinner at Seville Tapas was a success

A great trip and a great time at Half Moon Bay!

Cruising 'The City by the Bay'...

Another dream come true…taking our friends out on a day cruise by the Golden Gate Bridge and the city front. Under the Bay Bridge, stopping for lunch on the backside of Angel Island and then back to Sausalito….how very much fun…all in our back yard.

Larry with Casey, Gumby, Joan, Lisa and Suzette….Our last weekend in Sausalito before we move to the San Francisco Yacht Club.

A foggy Golden Gate Bridge tour with Suzi, Casey, Joan, Larry, Brad, Gumby and Suzette

Clearer skies as we approach the city front

The Pyramid building and our gorgeous SF city front

Coit tower watching over the city

The Jeremiah O’Brien Liberty ship outside of Aquatic Park

The Bay Bridge and Treasure Island

South of the Bay Bridge looking back at the city front

The new addition of the Bay Bridge

Larry, Brad, Gumby and Casey…cheers boys!

Larry, Gumby, Suzette, Joan, Casey, Brad, Suzi and Me…we will miss Sausalito!

Future Cruising Plans Are In the Air

When we finally got the Independence back to The Bay we thought - well, we won’t be going anywhere for awhile. Perhaps that might have changed after we flew to Vancouver, Canada. last month. It’s just too good of a cruising ground not to go. So, maybe a little sooner than we planned we may find ourselves heading north…

I can see the wheels beginning to turn…

The Gastown Steam Clock always gathers a crowd

Harbor Air was very busy on this gorgeous day

A walk along the city front

What a day to fly!

Even with canvas booties the camels were just too much for The Cariboo…eating the pants, shirts and soap and scaring the horses. It seemed like a good idea at the time.

Seaplanes waiting for hire

City front views

A future marina for the Independence

Views from Stanley Park

A beer at the Vancouver Yacht Club

I was lucky to get this shot, as Larry’s face was plastered against the window of the airplane. Future ideas of cruising these beautiful islands dancing in his head.