San Francisco Bay
With sunrise came a surprise! We slowly approached the famous “mothball fleet” of the US Navy, where dozens of ships are tied together in parallel lines. These ships are in many states of usability. Some have their smokestacks painted blue, white and red, meaning they could be ready in a few days. Others are quite far beyond easy recuperation. Among them floats the USS Iowa, a large battleship with 16” guns. We slowly cruised by, enjoying narration of their history in the early pre-dawn light, and soon, the sun was completely up.
On we sailed into San Pablo Bay and north into a series of islands, where we anchored after breakfast. We lowered the Zodiacs and set off, in two waves, around a small island, where we met a marsh environment, with its own flora: phragmites grass; California rose by the thousands, loaded with screaming red rosehips; marsh gum plants with their big, yellow daisy-like flowers; pickleweed; perennial peppergrass and an abundance of tule, a tall rush. A few scattered cattails poked their heads out of the rest of the dense vegetation.
The most marvelous surprise of all was a small group of river otters, frolicking in the banks, grunting and chirping as they slid out of the water, unto the land and back! Muskrats were also seen. Birds were ubiquitous: swallows, harrier hawks and a few smaller birds...
We returned to the National Geographic Sea Bird for lunch and for a repositioning to the Bay of San Pablo, where we Zodiaked again into a part of the Napa River. This is a wildlife refuge. Quite a few birds were seen; especially interesting were the kites and red-tailed hawks. Turkey vultures glided nearby. Quite a day!
With sunrise came a surprise! We slowly approached the famous “mothball fleet” of the US Navy, where dozens of ships are tied together in parallel lines. These ships are in many states of usability. Some have their smokestacks painted blue, white and red, meaning they could be ready in a few days. Others are quite far beyond easy recuperation. Among them floats the USS Iowa, a large battleship with 16” guns. We slowly cruised by, enjoying narration of their history in the early pre-dawn light, and soon, the sun was completely up.
On we sailed into San Pablo Bay and north into a series of islands, where we anchored after breakfast. We lowered the Zodiacs and set off, in two waves, around a small island, where we met a marsh environment, with its own flora: phragmites grass; California rose by the thousands, loaded with screaming red rosehips; marsh gum plants with their big, yellow daisy-like flowers; pickleweed; perennial peppergrass and an abundance of tule, a tall rush. A few scattered cattails poked their heads out of the rest of the dense vegetation.
The most marvelous surprise of all was a small group of river otters, frolicking in the banks, grunting and chirping as they slid out of the water, unto the land and back! Muskrats were also seen. Birds were ubiquitous: swallows, harrier hawks and a few smaller birds...
We returned to the National Geographic Sea Bird for lunch and for a repositioning to the Bay of San Pablo, where we Zodiaked again into a part of the Napa River. This is a wildlife refuge. Quite a few birds were seen; especially interesting were the kites and red-tailed hawks. Turkey vultures glided nearby. Quite a day!
