Hike: Sunol Loop

Rho and I got a good workout in the East Bay Hills on Sunday. We parked at the end of Geary Road in the Sunol Valley Regional Park. We did a counterclockwise loop heading east on the Canyon View Trail then north on Cerro Este Road and finally looping back to the southeast on Indian Joe Creek Trail. The first 2/3 was all up hill gaining about 1600-ft in elevation. Fortunately, I had a new hydro pack to provide water without pulling out a water bottle. Rho was a real trooper ground away on the uphills.

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Paddle: Tall Ships

Eight of us (Kim, Lee, LaRhee, Dean, Richard, Ging, Larry, and Michael) met at the Bayshore Yacht Club (Pier 52) on a beautiful Saturday morning to check out the tall ships that were making a San Francisco visit. Our first stop was at the South Bay Harbor to check out the Japanese Kaisei and Canadian HMCS Oriole. Paddling on towards the Bay Bridge, we found the HMS Bounty and USCG Eagle berthed together. Many of the tourists were snapping photos of us.

We continued north past the Cupid’s Span on the Embarcadero and dodged the ferries coming and going. The next tall ship we found were the Lynx and the Californian, who later in the day, staged a mock battle. The Nehemiah was also tied up nearby. A few piers down we found the Robert C. Seamans. We passed one of the Princess Cruise ships and rounded Pier 39 with a little lumpy water. Again dodging ferries we made for the submarine USS Pampanito, not a tall ship but definitely cool. The Jeremiah O’Brien was tied nearby sporting a red, white and blue bunting on the bow. Ducking inside the breakwater we found the Nina Replica tied amongst the fishing boats.

We looped around the permanent ships in the San Francisco Maritime Museum and enjoyed lunch at the Aquatic Park. We watched the CCK crew give quick tours to noivices around the park.

On the return we watch the Californian and Lynx cast off and raise sails for their battle. Thanks so much to Kim for initiating the paddle and a wonderful day on the Bay.

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Paddle: Palo Alto

LaRhee initiated a paddle leaving from Palo Alto and checking out two railroad bridges. I was interested because it would be the most southern paddle in the Bay for me. 23 of us met on Sunday morning and launched from a nice dock in Palo Alto (check the map). We traced along the shore north to Cooley Point and then the Hetch Hetchy water pipe line. We followed the pipe line (there are a few leaks) to the Dumbarton RR swing bridge. From there we went up the Newark slough to another railroad swing bridge. There we disembarked and enjoyed chocolate chip cookies. We rode a nice wind with a little surfable chop back to the Palo Alto dock.

Later we enjoyed a great BBQ at LaRhee's.

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Ferry Lopez to Anacortes

Ferry is the most popular method of travel between the San Juan Islands.

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Paddle: Fisherman's Bay to Otis Perkins

Rhonda, Steve, Matthew and I launch in doubles from Fisherman's Bay and paddle south. We ride the current until it changes and land for a few minutes at Otis Perkins day park.

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Paddle: Fisherman's Bay to Odlin Pk

Steve and I rent kayaks from Lopez Kayak and head north from Fisherman's Bay. We round Flat Point and land at Odlin Park. After a few minutes rest we turn and head back against the wind and current.

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Hiking: Mountain Lake, Orcas Island, WA

Matthew, Rhodora, Rhoda, Noel, JP, Rudy, and I hike around Mountain Lake while Perla and Noah guard the cars. It was a little rainy but we were under trees for most of hike. Fish were jumping and squirrels were out but the only bears were in the stories.

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