Wonderful writing about a great adventure. It is too bad that you overlooked Redwood City when seeking an introduction to San Francisco Bay. You have to pay for a launching but the sticker lets you use of large parking lot. The ramp puts you onto protected Redwood City Harbor which connects to the south end of San Francisco Bay. There also are a network of sloughs that would have given you experience sailing on shallow saltwater. The proliferation of sea life in the area also is its own reward.
That is a clever trick to immobilize your vehicle by removing the fuel pump fuse.
An interesting recounting that makes one think. The search for “freedom” in the modern world constantly encounters roadblocks but some of them may be necessary so that we’re able to navigate the diversity of the planet’s inhabitants without fueling never-ending conflict and harm. I never considered the requirements of vehicle registration, insurance and safety inspections (including SMOG) an unfair burden but I certainly comprehend that the monetary costs of compliance can be onerous for many. That said, certain standards need to be maintained for everyone’s benefit. Anchored and unregulated craft spewing effluents into sensitive environmental areas can’t be condoned as individual rights. Motor vehicles burning oil and polluting in ppm equal to hundreds of automobiles shouldn’t go unnoticed. However, one should have access to lands, beaches and waterways if they treat them in a respectful manner. Sorry if I’ve strayed off course here but as I said at the outset, your story does make one think.
Many of us have been there at some point in our life….mine progressed from a Sabot to the “luxury” of a small LOA 17 (think P15 on steroids)….grassy marsh, sand bar, nav buoys, parking lots, all safe havens for a free night!
There are certainly lots of bad eggs out there, but there are plenty of good people as well, and one can usually spot them if one looks. Rather than being a suspect stranger it's nice to ask a friendly local for advice or help in a sincere and thankful way. Giving a good person a chance to be good gets the reward of nice tips about their town and locale, the water conditions and best places to sail, etc. and even kindly gestures, like letting one park on their land. A smile and a handshake go a long way when traveling.
It seems you drove from Black Point on SF Bay to Bandon, OR in one day? OMG. I hope you didn’t miss the beautiful coastal lagoon just north of Patrick’s Point, Big Lagoon, northern CA coast right off of 101. I’ve lusted to sail that lagoon, alas no craft with me whenever I pass that way.
I especially enjoyed your observation about people occupying both ends of the economic ladder. I’ve camped next to no trespassing signs a few times, but at an earlier age when that was more possible. Now I’m the property owner looking suspiciously at people like my younger self. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you. You and I both. I took a picture of Big Lagoon when I passed and texted it to my wife to show her the good sailing destinations I was driving past.
Wonderful writing about a great adventure. It is too bad that you overlooked Redwood City when seeking an introduction to San Francisco Bay. You have to pay for a launching but the sticker lets you use of large parking lot. The ramp puts you onto protected Redwood City Harbor which connects to the south end of San Francisco Bay. There also are a network of sloughs that would have given you experience sailing on shallow saltwater. The proliferation of sea life in the area also is its own reward.
That is a clever trick to immobilize your vehicle by removing the fuel pump fuse.
An interesting recounting that makes one think. The search for “freedom” in the modern world constantly encounters roadblocks but some of them may be necessary so that we’re able to navigate the diversity of the planet’s inhabitants without fueling never-ending conflict and harm. I never considered the requirements of vehicle registration, insurance and safety inspections (including SMOG) an unfair burden but I certainly comprehend that the monetary costs of compliance can be onerous for many. That said, certain standards need to be maintained for everyone’s benefit. Anchored and unregulated craft spewing effluents into sensitive environmental areas can’t be condoned as individual rights. Motor vehicles burning oil and polluting in ppm equal to hundreds of automobiles shouldn’t go unnoticed. However, one should have access to lands, beaches and waterways if they treat them in a respectful manner. Sorry if I’ve strayed off course here but as I said at the outset, your story does make one think.
Many of us have been there at some point in our life….mine progressed from a Sabot to the “luxury” of a small LOA 17 (think P15 on steroids)….grassy marsh, sand bar, nav buoys, parking lots, all safe havens for a free night!
There are certainly lots of bad eggs out there, but there are plenty of good people as well, and one can usually spot them if one looks. Rather than being a suspect stranger it's nice to ask a friendly local for advice or help in a sincere and thankful way. Giving a good person a chance to be good gets the reward of nice tips about their town and locale, the water conditions and best places to sail, etc. and even kindly gestures, like letting one park on their land. A smile and a handshake go a long way when traveling.
Beautifully told story of a great trip into areas I've never ventured into, but now would love to visit.
It seems you drove from Black Point on SF Bay to Bandon, OR in one day? OMG. I hope you didn’t miss the beautiful coastal lagoon just north of Patrick’s Point, Big Lagoon, northern CA coast right off of 101. I’ve lusted to sail that lagoon, alas no craft with me whenever I pass that way.
I especially enjoyed your observation about people occupying both ends of the economic ladder. I’ve camped next to no trespassing signs a few times, but at an earlier age when that was more possible. Now I’m the property owner looking suspiciously at people like my younger self. Thanks for the reminder.
Thank you. You and I both. I took a picture of Big Lagoon when I passed and texted it to my wife to show her the good sailing destinations I was driving past.