This year the fog was stuck on the Oakland Estuary all morning and I almost canceled my trip, but it started to clear about 10:30 and it turned out to be a spectacular day. The chili was good and I had a nice group of friends including a couple who will soon be moving to Portland with their 2 young boys. They wanted to drive the boat, so of course I let them.
It was nice to have a handheld GPS (Garmin 76CSx) so I could track the boat while the kids were behind the wheel. I was close by, but we were right on the edge of the mud flats so I was on lookout both real and virtual.
The big swings on this Google Earth shot (with my gps track) are to avoid the big mud flats. At all but low tide you can't see them and cutting too tight around those parts of the island gets you stuck quick.
We made a quick trip in to see the USS Hornet that is the plot on the bay side of Alameda.
(click for larger image)
A bridge opening in the Estuary
A closer look
Cal's Crew trains in the south end of the Oakland Estuary
One of my guest crew members
A nice catamaran going the other way
A barge that broke last fall, moored in the Alameda breakwater near the USS Hornet
Here's 2 shots of the USS Hornet
Here's a cool boat decoration, a holiday seal, look close you can even see whiskers!
With San Francisco on his port side my other guest crew member helps navigate back home, he sure looks happy!
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