The Bethel Island to San Francisco Run
Sort of………..

My friend Harold and I had been talking about making a run from our home port at Bethel Is to San Francisco for years.  Between our busy work schedules, and family obligations we were never able to make this happen.  Well things changed this year and we were finally able to make plans and set about on our journey.  August 22 was the day our tip was scheduled to begin.  We loaded up the boat and like the happy fools we are, clinked a couple of beers together to celebrate the start of our journey.  We fired up the motor and left the dock at about 2:00pm.  We decided to motor out to the river to charge up the battery and check out the motor.  At about 2:15 the motor came to a sudden stop.  After some checking and thinking, we decided that we needed the repair manual that was at home in order to better troubleshoot the problem.  So we packed it up and headed home. After a good nights rest and a look at the book, we figured out that the thermostat was probably the culprit.  We tore into the motor and sure enough the thermostat was corroded.  We lucked out and located one in San Jose, about 40 miles away, but on the way back to Bethel Is.  We packed up the tools and the motor (in pieces) and headed out.	The old and new thermostat, it is easy to see why we were having engine problems.
We take a port tack as we approach the Antioch bridge in the distance.  We take a port tack as we near the bridge..	Upon arriving at Bethel Is., we put the motor back together and fired it up.  It purred like a kitten.  So at 5 pm on August 23, we left Bethel Harbor and started for our first destination, the Antioch Marina.  It was a clear day and we soon found we had a 10 knot wind and an ebb tide to help us on our way.  As we approached the Antioch bridge, we realized that we had a head wind coming directly at us through the bridge.  We would have to come up to the bridge at an angle, tack right in front of the bridge, and shoot through to the other side.  There was little room for error. Cody supervises as Harold takes the helm.
We passed through uneventfully and continued on our way toward the Antioch Marina.  The Antioch Marina is very nice and has abundant guest docks, and friendly occupants.  There are clean facilities and Humphry’s Restaurant if you don’t feel like cooking.  We arrived at the Marina at 7:45 pm, just in time to make dinner before sunset.  After dinner we had a port and fine cigar and discussed the day’s events and plans for tomorrow’ travels.	Antioch Marina is easy to find as the three sails guide you in.
We woke to a calm morning.  We had our breakfast and at 9am headed out for Benicia, the next stop on our trip.  We started out with very light wind which soon became no wind.  Motoring was our only alternative.
	By 10 am we were passing the industrial section of Pittsburg with it’s big container rigs and fuel plants.  Along the river, we were passed by many boats, but few as beautiful as this classic ship.
Along the way we were to pass a military installation.  Upon approaching the station were found our selves approached by a coastguard ship carrying machine guns.  They hailed us and told us that we would be escorted passed the installation.
	Once we passed the military installation, we could see the Benicia Bridge.  We decided to have lunch while we motored and continue on our way.
To the east of the Benicia Bridge is a graveyard for old military ships.
	As we continued on our journey, the motor started running rough and we decided to make a pit stop at the Martinez Marina to check that out.  The Benicia Bridge is actually two bridges, one for cars and one for trains.  The train bridge has a lift span that opens to allow the big container ships through.
We reached Martinez at about 1 pm.  The motor had a fouled plug which we changed out and then it ran fine.  We also noticed that there wasn’t even the slightest breeze and the temperatures were over 100 degrees.  It looked like it was going to continue with these conditions so we decided to head back and try for SF another day. We left Martinez at 2 pm conditions were dead calm and glassy.  As we headed for home, we were fighting an ebb tide and no wind so progress was slow.  At one point, we decided that we were so hot that we stopped the boat and dove off into the water to cool off.	Cody Watches as we approach the Benicia Bridge.
To keep the deep water chanel opened, constant dredging is required.	A few hornpipes seemed in order.
We arrived back at the Antioch Marina at 5:30, dead tired and fried.  We also arrived to the head-banging sound of the Floorshakers a loud rock band playing at Humphry’s outdoor patio.  They were floor shakers alright.  I went for a nice walk along the shorebird nature preserve for an hour waiting for them to finish their set and leave.  Then we sat down to a nice dinner again followed by port and cigar.	Dinner was worth waiting for.
	Morning found us still becalmed and by 8:30 it was already getting hot.  The forecast was for over 100 degrees again.  We left for Bethel Harbor around 9 am.  Ever the optimists, we raised our sails in hopes of a run home, but no luck.  We arrived back home at 12:30 pm.  Cody was in such a hurry to get back on land, she jumped too soon and ended up in the water.  Harold fished her out while I tied up the boat. All and all it was a really fun trip.  We didn’t achieve our main goal of sailing to the bay, but it was still a great adventure.