Another beautiful day has dawned and we shove off headed to South Beach Harbor Marina. But we simply MUST detour under the Golden Gate Bridge. We’ve done that on other sailboats and catamarans and now its with Ms Maggie…
There’s the bridge through the windshield…so artistic, right?
We are accompanied by Harbor Dolphins (maybe porpoises). Its fun to see them, apparently they came back a few years ago after a 65 year absence! Here’s an interesting article by KQED about the group, Golden Gate Cetacean Research, that is studying them.
Photo by Bill Keener, from the KQED website.
Another artsy photo:
Rick’s always saying ‘hold your phone straight!’
Its certainly a lot easier to go under the Gate via Ms Maggie. Sailboats have to struggle because the wind seems always to be coming through the gate. Its tack and tack and tack and tack to get through. But, once you turn around, the wind is at your back and its a (relatively) peaceful ride back into the bay.
The unfortunate thing about this particular area of the bay is that its uber-popular with wind surfers and the yacht clubs have their regattas here, too. So we’re always on the lookout for and trying to avoid those crazy people smaller craft.
Last year I was at the helm of the sailboat and no matter where I aimed, I was headed right smack in the middle of a group of windsurfers. Maybe a ‘wing’ of windsurfers? They just did what they do and didn’t care that I was on their tail. I came mighty close to clipping a couple of them.
The Blue Angels are supposed to do some runs today so we cruise along to the place where we hope to anchor on Saturday and Sunday, to get the lay of the land, er, water.
That guy was out every day we were there, wearing only a swimsuit! Brrr…. I think I’d need a wetsuit, cuz, damn, that water be coooold.
Evidently, the entire air show was flying today. Since we are coming back Saturday and Sunday, we decide not to hang around for all of it. We want to get into our spot before dark so we make our way to the South Beach Harbor Marina.
That makes me feel disrespectful somehow, to leave…which is silly, I know.
Over Alcatraz
Turns out we are a tourist attraction, too! There are people on one of the piers taking our picture…funny tourists! I looked around to see if there was something else of interest but no, it was us! Rick wouldn’t let me stop to sign autographs.
Around Crissy Field, Fort Mason, the Maritime Museum & Historical Park – with a variety of historic boats you can visit – Fisherman’s Wharf, Pier 39, The Exploratorium (that’s a fantastic place to go, kids or no kids. They even have an adults-only night called After Dark where you don’t have to share the exhibits with annoying inquisitive, curious kids.
This beauty was also watching the show.
We pass the rehabilitated Ferry Building . It has places to eat food, places to buy food, places to buy books about food, skin and body care products, lovely glass candleholders, CHEESE!, wine, the famous Heath Ceramics, tea, kitchen necessities. And, oh, right, they also sell tickets for an actual ferry! A seriously fun place to visit – is that an oxymoron? Seriously fun?
I almost forgot they have a farmers market, too!
Since its Fleet Week, there are ships at port that we don’t normally see.
Part of me feels ridiculously patriotic looking at military ships. Another part of me is horrified that we need them.
I’d caption this but I have no idea what it is other than U.S. (see the flag?)
I know there was a Canadian ship, around here, but is this it? Ummm…
Look how tiny those people are!
And there is South Beach Harbor Marina. In we go and find our spot, right near the front. And there’s no crazy waveage here!
Ahhh, life is good 😉
Our Budget Yacht 