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Maiden Voyage of Captain Parker

It was quite a momentous day when my instructor, Captain Signol, and my insurance company agreed to let me set forth as the skipper. Even though it was just a short cruise to the San Mateo Bridge and back it was a milestone. All the dock came out to watch and were there to greet me when I returned. It was only then that I realized they were out ready to protect their boats if I screwed it up. Fortunately all was well.

Winter at the Harbor House

The first winter at the Harbor was really interesting and fun. All the boats were decorated for the holidays and a wonderful holiday party had all the boaters sharing in pot-luck and holiday-cheer. The Harbor House looked warm and inviting against the winter night sky and inside the fire was roaring and the mulled wine was very warming.

Next door neighbor contemplating lunch

The wildlife in the dock is a source of endless fascination. As well as the brown pelican (seen here) there are white pelicans, blue herons, white egrets, common terns and the ever present seagulls. Hours can be spent watching the terns and the brown pelicans fish in the slips: never hitting the same slip twice and always seeming to come up with a tasty snack. The harbor seal lazing in the empty slip next door is a pleasant morning sight but for real drama the nightly visits of the bat ray that grazes on the algae on the dock walls is truly a fascinating sight.

Boat dog “Dusty” preparing for a little nap

In the realm of the not-so-wild wildlife: the regular visits of the Dusty the boat dog are always welcome. She has her favorite spots to curl up in, like under the chart table, or at my feet when I’m at the helm, but most of all she likes to find a soft spot to snooze on. She is not a big fan of her PFD (pink floatation device: a little boating joke there) but she wears it with good grace. When out on the water she has learned to squat over the scuppers if she gets caught short. She is quite a smart little doggy.

The harbor is a haven for dogs and many of the boaters have their pooches on-board. However the queen of the dock is Spinnaker the cat. She wanders freely about the dock and sits patiently waiting for the gate to be opened whenever she needs to go and explore on the land-side of the harbor. At night you can see her on patrol because her owners have thoughtfully fitted her with a bright flashing light to give the nocturnal creatures a sporting chance.

There are rabbits too that live in the open spaces around the dock. There’s a pair of Canadian geese that visit and raise their family in the harbor each year and the adjacent salt ponds are a mating ground for tens of thousands of migratory birds in the spring.

Endless beauty at dawn and dusk

Each morning and each evening the elements of our planet compete to create beauty. I have scores of pictures of sunsets and sunrises and each one is more breathtaking than the next. It is as though in this small place, this tiny patch of the planet, all of the forces of nature have come together to recreate paradise.

Enjoy your tour around.