05/16 - 05/20 - 5th Annual Delta/Bay Extravaganza

I wanted to bring this topic to the top of the list at the beginning of this week so folks could have a chance to see it and to respond if necessary to this Friday's drop dead date.

Thanks.
 
I notice that two boats have listed that they are traveling with a dog. Molly the C-Brat cat goes where we go, and will be on our boat with us (in case this is "need to know" info).

JMBMolE.jpg

She does not eat "people food", so will be dining onboard, but she is leash-trained and won't poop on the Duck Club property. :wink:

Best wishes,
Jim B.
 
We are thinking of heading a little further North to Lake Shasta after enjoying the Delta. We are considering spending about 3-4 days on the lake. Any suggestions for anchorages, etc. would be greatly appreciated. If anyone is interested in joining us, that would be great!

The Delta Cruise, on it's own, is truly an event worth the long drive North and it's giving us an opportunity to expand our cruising grounds even more.

 
Dear All Delta/Bay Extravaganza Attendees:

This event is now officially closed to any new attendees. The marina reservations have been made. Below are the confirmed marina facilities.

1. Wednesday, May 16th, Delta Marina, Rio Vista
Harbor Master Bill (707) 374-2315

· $10 launch fee to be paid individually at front desk on check-in
· Vehicle and trailer to be parked in gated grass lot at end of Marina facility, one day free parking, then $5 per day for 4 days (Thursday to Sunday), so pay $20 individually at front desk for parking on check-in
· Total cost here for everyone, except Dinner Belle II, equals $30 ($10 + $20)
· Please pay in cash

2. Wednesday, May 16th, Wheeler Island Private Duck Club
Jim’s cell phone (916) 799-0286

· No shore power or water hookups
· Restrooms in clubhouse
· No dock fees

3. Thursday, May 17th, City-owned Petaluma River Turning Basin
Petaluma Visitors Center (707) 769-0429

· $20 per night, per vessel, regardless of size
· Please pay me $20, cash or check, during the event, as I will have sent the entire group payment into the City
· No rest rooms or showers at dock, numerous local restaurants and businesses nearby, in the quaint downtown, and rest rooms at Visitor’s Center, 2 blocks away
· Shore power and water hookups
· Everyone (maybe rafted-out depending on space availability) docked on 500 feet visitor dock, on South Side of Basin

4. Friday, May 18th, Sausalito Schoonmaker Point Marina
Harbor Master Mike Rainey (415) 331-5550

· $1 per foot, either $22 or $25 per night, per vessel, depending on size
· Cash only, paid individually at check-in
· Key deposit at check-in
· Rest rooms and showers
· Shore power and water hookups
· Every one on “F” Dock

5. Saturday, May 19th, San Francisco South Beach Harbor
Harbor Master Jon Wessel (415) 495-4911

· $1 per foot, either $22 or $25 per night, per vessel, depending on size, please pay me, cash or check, during the event
· $10 per vessel service fee for large group reservation, please pay me, cash or check, during the event
· Key deposit at check-in
· Rest rooms and showers
· Everyone on “A” Dock.
xxx

In summary, total marina fees for everyone, but Dinner Belle II, are as follows:

· 22 Foot C-Dory
$104, ($30 + $20 + $22 + $22 + $10), of which $52 is paid to me at time of the event

· 25 Foot C-Dory
$110 ($30 + $20 + $25 + $25 + 10), of which $55 is paid to me at time of the event

For Dinner Belle II the fees will be:

$80 ($20 + $25 + $25 + $10), of which $55 is paid to me at time of the event.


Future communications will discuss food, activities, and more detailed logistics such as tides and bridge openings. Again, we are looking forward to seeing everyone.
 
Dear All Delta and Bay Extravaganza Attendees:

Now that we have our destination itinerary, we provide some details on our daily group event activities and food arrangements. First, some small amount of romancing about the Bay.

An extraordinary thing about cruising in the Delta and the Bay is the plethora of destinations, including our end destination itself, San Francisco. John Steinbeck called San Francisco “the City”. Besides San Francisco, only small sections of London and Rome match the beauty of this place.

South Beach Harbor, San Francisco has little tourist activity and traffic, and it provides an out-of-the-way place where one can enjoy the City experience, walk to numerous fine restaurants, and take advantage of the view from this prime piece of real estate for a reasonable moorage fee.

Schoonmaker Point Marina, Sausalito is strictly an upscale facility in a very aesthetic location near the Golden Gate Bridge, and close to the Sausalito Yacht Club.

The adjective used frequently to describe Petaluma is “charming”, with its small town atmosphere, and it is a wonderful place to wonder around from the riverfront.

Of course the Wheeler Island Duck Club is so exclusive and remote, few folks have even been there. If one is so lucky to be invited here, it is like going back 100 years to the time of Hemmingway, and other great sportsmen and conservationists.

Enough of this mental wandering.

xxx

This is our fifth (5th) year we have undertaken this challenging five-day trip. It is a fast moving journey, covering much diverse territory, and the adventure is totally weather dependent. We cover close to 200 NM on the entire round-trip, so please come with full fuel tanks.

For planning purposes there are ten (10) C-Dories, including 6, 22-foot cruisers, 3, 25-foot cruisers, and 1, 25 foot tomcat. There are 18 to 20 soles on-board in total.

1. Wednesday, May 16th

Kath and I will be hosting a steak BBQ dinner at the Wheeler Island Duck Club. John and Robbin will be helping with the cooking and preparations. No need for anyone to bring dinner food for this opening night.

Everyone is to bring his or her own drinks throughout the trip (both non-alcohol and alcohol). Unless otherwise specified as a group meal, everyone is on their own for breakfasts and lunches.

Feel free to bring your own wine to dinner on Wednesday night, or host your own cocktail hour at the dock at any of our destinations.

Seven of the 10 vessels are coming very long distances. There will be awards after dinner on Wednesday, just for making it to the Duck Club!

Ron Islander is head of the entertainment committee and he has some group communion activities planned for after dinner.

2. Thursday, May 17th

Kath and I will be providing bacon and eggs for a hearty send-off group breakfast at the Duck Club. Again, John and Robbin will be helping out with the breakfast preparations.

We need four (4) food volunteers for the following items for the Thursday group breakfast:

· Coffee, milk and sugar, and orange juice
· Hash brown potatoes, bread, butter, and jam
· Pastry
· Fresh fruit bowl.

We have to leave the Duck Club in time to make a scheduled bridge opening on the Petaluma River and to get ahead of the outgoing tide in San Pablo Bay. We need to leave the docks at John’s place no later than 9:30 AM, Thursday morning.

On Thursday we will be staying right in scenic downtown Petaluma. It should be very quaint. This is a brand new venue that we have not yet reached in five years!

There are many neat restaurants and businesses that one can easily walk to from where we are staying in the Petaluma Turning Basin. We expect that those that want to can all go out to dinner Thursday night.

3. Friday, May 18th

On Friday we will be heading for Sausalito. We need to clear the Petaluma “D” Street Bridge as a group by 8:00 AM, Friday morning.

At Schoonmaker Point Marina we will be staying on “F” Dock. Remember on sighting into Schoonmaker to line up with Day Marker #6, on the way in, and way out. This is also a good place for fuel if you need to top your tanks off.

Sausalito is pretty cool place, and we usually use this destination to “just hang out” for some down time and relaxation after having safely got across that nasty San Pablo Bay. There are several neat places to explore over at Tiburon and Belvedere for those inclined and having the energy.

We are in the process of making group reservations at the Sausalito Yacht Club for a Friday night group dinner for those that want to attend. We dined there two years ago and enjoyed the beautiful scenery along with rubbing elbows with other “Yachters”.

4. Saturday, May 19th

On Saturday we will be heading over to the City. Remember to not wait too late to go over there or you could end up battling those prevailing Westerly winds. The westerly or northwesterly winds on the Bay usually begin just before noon; so if you want to avoid them, get settled in to your destination before noon. Also watch out carefully for large ocean-going commercial vessels.

At South Beach Harbor we will all be staying together on “A” dock, and we will give you your specific slip assignments later.

There are also lots of options for Saturday morning. In year’s past many have gone over to Angel Island and then walk the hiking trails along the vista point looking at the Golden Gate. Others have taken a boat tour around Alcatraz Island or over to Jack London Square. Finally, some have gone out the Golden Gate to check out what the rugged North Coast is all about.

This will be the early part of the King/Chinook Salmon season. So far the fish have been farther South by Monterey. However, one never knows. We always bring our Salmon trolling and mooching rigs with us just in case they are running that day and we want to try our luck early Saturday morning out the Golden Gate, maybe on up to Bolinas Bay.

We would make a decision Friday night if any of us were going to do this salmon fishing. Bring your fishing equipment if you have an interest in this. We also recommend putting a seasickness patch behind your ear Friday night if you decide to go.

If any of the group is up for it we can all have a nice farewell Italian meal at one of the close by neighborhood restaurants in the City. In years past, some have walked down to the Ferry Building and jumped on the Cable Cars for a world-wind tour of the City. Or we could all get on one boat and head down to Pier 39. Finally, we could take a taxi and head to Fisherman’s Warf for a nice fish dinner at Scoma’s restaurant. Lots of great options for us to choose.






5. Sunday, May 20th

We will leave the South Beach docks at sunrise (sharp), because of weather unpredictability and the length of the trip. In year’s past we usually pull up to the docks at Rio Vista before 11:30 AM.

xxx

Hugs and kisses to everyone, our boats securely retrieved, trucking down the road - hopefully looking forward to another great extravaganza next year!

Jim and Kath on M/V Pounder
And the C-Tales Continue


PS-

(Please sign-up for one of the four food volunteers for Thursday morning)
 
We can't wait for the "extravaganza" It will be just as fun as the past years--knowing all the hard work Jim and Kathy put in to assuring that everyone has a great time. We will furnish the fresh fruit bowl for breakfast at the duck club. If there is anything else, we would be glad to help with more. See you all at Rio Vista. We'll be there tues. afternoon. Wild Blue is traveling with us from Lake Powell.
 
Can't wait. I can bring the hash browns, bread, butter and jam (like last year!).

I too will be there by Tuesday late afternoon. Is there any problem with parking overnight at the Rio Vista Marina if the gate across the street is closed?

Jim, didn't we walk to the wharf from the marina a couple of years ago? I thought it was a fine walk, got to see "The City" up close!

I'm working on a homemade, Rube Goldberg downrigger to bring since I don't use one any other time of the year. Also looking for those 12" flashers.
 
Wow Jim & Kath, that sounds like quite an itinerary. I'm originally from that area (Central California) and most all of my extended family and immediate family still reside in Central CA and the bay area. Caryn and I might have to make plans to join you all next year. I've never cruised that area by boat. Sounds like a great time. Have a fun, safe journey!
 
The Delta trip sounds great. We love the Bay Area and are looking forward to boating there with our new C-Dory. Our boat is sitting in Oakland right now waiting for us to pick it up at the end of my school year. I do find myself curious about downtown Oakland/Jack London Square being too rough. We have never found it so. Just up Broadway from the waterfront is Everett and Jones BBQ -- a really great joint. Yoshi's has world class jazz. Beverages and More is a great place for restocking with the necessary beverages. The original World Market is a source for good snacks and funky beers. Downtown, Le Cheval offers great Vietnamese with white tablecloths in a casual atmosphere. And Siam Bay is our favorite Thai restaurant on the face of the earth -- great food, casual, inexpensive, friendly. We hope to spend time living aboard for several weeks at a time in an Alameda marina, and Jack London Square, etc., will always be a favorite destination.

Have a great trip.
Greg
 
Steve Dora-Jean

There should be no problem parking at Rio Vista. I am sure they will open the yard gate for you on Tuesday.

That is good that you are getting your fishing gear together with the flashers and downriggers. Excellent!

Swanny, we can see the City any way you want to do it. Like we said, lots of options!

Greg Nan C-
Did not mean to offend you with the casual remark abount Oakland. We still like Jack London Square, and the Alameda area, but since we had not been back to the City for a year we missed it and our "rough "comment was only ment to be relative to the City, not absolute. Don't worry, we will come over and vist you in the future in Oakland. We still love the Jack London folklore of the place.

Sincerely,

Pounder
 
Jim/Pounder -- No offense remotely taken. I'm going to have to get the hang of a more casual tone as I slip into retirement. I was just singing the praises of a place we enjoy and wondering if others had experiences different from ours.

Again -- We hope you all have a fantastic trip. As our Bay experiences get closer, I hope I can pick your brain on the hazards of navigating the Bay. All of our experience is on lake and the Mississippi with 20/21 foot bowriders. Greg
 
Greg Nan-C

I see you are from Iowa. I spent 5 wonderful years in Ames at ISU. I loved that state and have many fond memories.

Let me say this, Jack London Square in December is going to seem like a tropical paridse for you in retirement!

Hoping you can join us in 2008 for that next Extravaganza.

Sincerely,

Poinder
 
When in Oakland at Jack London Square, don't miss out on a chance to have a beer at the "First and Last Chance", a waterfront bar that represented just that to sailors around the turn of the last century. It was Jack's favorite hangout.

It's so old and unchanged you get the feeling Jack London himself is lurking in the corner somewhere!

Caution: there's a microphone in the head and speakers all over the bar!

Outside next door is Jack's crude log cabin from Alaska, brought back as another historical landmark.

History is cool! And so is Jack London's legacy!

JackLondon.jpg


Joe.
 
Joe,
We fully checked out Jack's cabin from Alaska, fascinating, read all the blurbs we found. Good stuff. I didn't see the pub you mentioned, will definitely look for it next time we visit. Beer, who needs beer when you have Salty C's and Discovery's "chillable red" to keep you quenched! :cocktail

Greg,
The city was fine also, walked to Smart and Final for some ice and passed most of the places you mentioned.
 
Regretablly, am unable to make the trip for the first time in five years. Coast Guard responsibilities getting in the way. Nothing, I say, nothing will prevent me from making the Catalina Adventure in August, however. Sorry for the late notification, but just got my schedule firmed up. Hope someone can fill my slot.

I know you all are in for a great trip, and my regards to all.
 
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