A funny thing happened on the way to the Ocean May 25, 2012

I was leaving, I was.  My plans were set with two weeks to go when two shooting stars, one green with a long tail, stopped me in my tracks and flipped me sideways.  A man here at the marina I had been resisting flirting with for months (I was leaving, why get involved?) got through [...]

Oversized Crayfish Kicks My Butt April 28, 2012

The Riverboat Marina Restaurant had a 6′ crawdad sculpture out front that really needed some TLC.  Someone broke a limb off and stood on his tail and broke that too.  He was also dingy and dirty.  He was looking pretty sad so I offered to fix it. The fiberglass surgery went well and all of [...]

Passing of Windhorse Skipper January 1, 2012

Hail to fellow sailor Scotty who passed away on December 29th, 2011 after an abrupt and rapid tussle with cancer.  He and his wife were planning their next cruising adventure in September when he was diagnosed with a fast-acting aggressive cancer.  He held on long enough to put his affairs in order and tell many [...]

Not Urbanly Inclined October 2, 2011

A quick three day trip back to Berkeley to pick up my car (alas, it did not sell.  Yet.), and I was reminded why the Delta Dawdle feels so fine.  There was a frenetic electricity in the air in Berzerkely, and many bizzy bizzy people with their important bizzy-ness. I guess I’m not cut out [...]

To Slu City September 13, 2011

I thought yesterday would be an easy day.  A short hour motor into 3 Mile Slough, set a couple of anchors, take the dog to the beach, eat and rest. But no. Someone needs to explain to me which of these rivers and sloughs change direction and which stay the same.  I could have sworn [...]

Pittsburg to Owl Harbor September 3, 2011

Someone in Pittsburg said Austin looked like a Naked Lamb. My little shorn sheep has done well en route.  He’s not crazy about the pfd but he tolerates it.  He is skeptical when the sails are flapping on the way down but generally remains unflapped himself. The first two days were mostly sailing, the third [...]

Glen Cove – Again September 1, 2011

Finally the long awaited day of departure came.  My endless list of chores completed, I woke up at 5 am too excited to sleep.  Washed the boat in the dark so I wouldn’t have to sit in a shmutzy cockpit.  And although I left a bit later than I meant to, it was with great [...]

On High January 21, 2011

Despite sore muscles from the previous two trips up the mast this week, I couldn’t resist Doing the Inchworm again on this beautiful still and sun soaked day.  The sail halyards have been rethreaded and now roll smooth and strong.  The burgee halyards are replaced and Larry’s mermaid flag is at half mast to mark [...]

Departure December 30, 2010

My old friend Marty left the planet this month.  Thing is, he wasn’t old.  49.  Diagnosed with cancer this summer and gone 6 months later.  I heard in his voice on the phone what a beating he was taking, but because I didn’t actually see him ill, my brain still thinks of him as the [...]

New Pilings November 16, 2010

There’s a big monster boat in the marina.  It has a barge attached with a huge stack of what looks like really tall telephone poles.  But they’re not called poles, they are piles or pilings.  Maybe coming from the word pillar, but otherwise that word doesn’t make sense. The pilings hold the docks to the [...]