On Friday February 21st a strong high pressure settled off California creating a weather window. Seas along the coast from San Francisco to Cape Mendocino moderated to 4 feet or less. Winds dropped to less than 10 knots. It was our time to go north. Unfortunately the Wild Blue delivery crew was booked. So instead Alex began the trip single-handed. First stop was South Beach Harbor in downtown SF.
At 9am Saturday, Alex cast off from our favorite Westpoint Harbor. Wild Blue rode the ebb tide up San Francisco Bay. It was fine going in pond-like water and he enjoyed South Beach Harbor moorage at the end of a short 2 hour cruise.
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| South Beach Harbor is dwarfed by the City's skyline. |
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| The Harbor has great views of the Bay, the Bay Bridge and AT+T Park. |
Later in the day concert pianist
Rudolph Budginas and family joined Alex from Santa Rosa. Pat and Alex know Rudy and Lilly from their days back in SLO Town before Rudolf became famous.
On Sunday, Pat joined us after her evening of charity work at the SLO Symphony Ball. By 11am Wild Blue was motoring westbound towards the Golden Gate. The seas were flat inside and the San Francisco entrance bar was totally docile. We all enjoyed the Bay and its sunny weather with good company and returned to South Beach for refreshment and replenishment.
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| Alcatraz is the big SF tourist destination. |
By Monday the ocean was still pancake flat so Alex motored the boat up the Coast while crew Pat paced along Highway 1. Turns out at the same time Pat crossed over the Golden Gate, Alex cruised outbound underneath at 7:04 am.
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| Outward bound about to pass under the Golden Gate. |
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| Pretty Point Bonita lighthouse. |
Once outside, the water remained flat. The only hazards for this day were the 100's of crab traps crisscrossing our course. Except for an early northbound whale, our only other being interaction occurred when Pat waved to us as we entered Bodega Bay Harbor. Wild Blue was safely moored at Spud Point Marina as we wait for the next "fair" weather window.
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| Approaching Point Reyes while Drakes Bay stays tame. |
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| Point Reyes lighthouse is pretty high up there. |
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| It seems even higher the closer you get. |
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A bit early for this whale to be northbound, but at least he will
have first shot at all those Alaska salmon. |
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