Evenings Like This

Evenings like this are why we love boating.

Anchor down, showers, then cocktails and dinner in the cockpit. Perfect.

Only In The Delta

We celebrated the mast being restepped by motoring out to Windmill Cove, and this was our entertainment.

And this is why it's called Windmill Cove.

Back In The Water

We went back in the water Saturday morning and motored to our new slip, which is an end-tie. Hopefully our hull won't get all marked up now that we don't have to shoehorn ourselves into a too-small slip. 

Now it's back to work on the mast. The captain installed the new sail track using a giant pop rivet tool. Those stainless steel pop rivets are really tough!

And there were a whole lot of them on that 59' of track. After that we slipped the Tides Marine track over it, then started installing hardware.

Then as we so often do here at the Stockton Sailing Club, we watched a ship come in and enjoyed the sunset.

At The Canvas Shop

We motored through the Delta yesterday afternoon to a place called Tower Park Marina. Tomorrow morning we go to the canvas shop's dock for a new Dodger and Bimini.

Google Comes To Town

Stockton is in the news again, but for a good reason this time: the mysterious Google barge has docked at the Port of Stockton. And they drove right by the Sailing Club. Heck, we are practically neighbors now!

Sunday Drive

After a particularly grueling work week, we decided to take a little ride in the boat. So within 15 minutes of deciding, we were on our way. Look, Look! Here's our empty slip!

The weather has been unseasonably warm and we washed the boat while motoring down the channel.

Remember how I mentioned we could go to Bob's At The Marina in 5 minutes if we walked and 45 minutes if we took the boat? Well, we were right. We motored over to Bob's and it took 45 minutes. 

Motoring back we had views like this. The Delta really is beautiful and so peaceful in the winter. I'm glad we took this little Sunday drive.

Typical Day on the Delta

It was so peaceful and quiet anchored behind Spud Island that we slept until 8:00 am. After a leisurely breakfast and tidy up, we raised the anchor and headed back upriver towards the Port of Stockton.

Out on the channel there was plenty of traffic. Lots of these...

And these...

And these.

Stockton is a deep water ship port and we get several ships in and out each week. The channel is 30' deep all the way to San Francisco Bay, and about 200' wide here. Although it looks close, there is plenty of room, BUT, if you dilly dally in the center of the channel, you will get a long blast from the ship's horn. He is saying, "Get out of my way!"

Shortly after the Western Tokyo went by the Atlantic Star went by, then we saw the Coast Guard zooming by, headed toward the port.

They are on "Homeland Security" duty and provide protection for the propane tankers every time they move along the channel.

And here is the propane tanker, Luigi Lagrange, that they were hovering around. If you wanted to pass it they would escort you and stay between you and the ship. And the sailor on the bow had both hands on his loaded M240 At all times. 

Waiting for the Fireworks

After a hot ride out here, we anchored, showered, had cocktails, and BBQed our dinner, now we're just chilling and waiting  for the fireworks.