Vacation leg three

Robert Larson

We weren't sure yesterday what we would do today ... stay at anchor or head to another destination. We decided to raise the anchor and head to Petaluma. Raising anchor went well, and we again enjoyed the washdown pump I installed a few years ago. SF Bay is all mud that seems to be attracted to the anchor and chain like a magnet to steel. The winds were light on the way to the Petaluma River channel, so that was motoring again. The river was also motoring as we snaked along the river and carefully kept to the deeper middle. We started the day just after low tide with plans to ride the flood to our destination. That went well, although just a couple feet off center on the entrance to the river we went aground for thirty seconds. Always happy that a previous owner repowered the boat with a 50 hp Yanmar. When we got close to the turning basin we came to a train bridge that I've never seen closed, BUT it was closed. We radioed the bridge tender and were told that a commuter train (relatively new line) would be through in five minutes after which the bridge would open for us. The bridge opened and we proceeded to the next bridge at 3pm for the 5pm schedule we had made. The city was very nice about changing that to the earlier time ... the flood tide had really carried us along nicely. We did a perfect docking, but of course no one was watching us. :) Probably here for a few days ... tomorrow is our 54th wedding anniversary and the day after is my 76th birthday. I love the month of May in case you didn't catch that.

Boat & Crew

Wanderlust

Gulfstar, 37

Cappy Larson

First Mate

Robert Larson

Owner