Delta cruise - report with pictures

[Arnold]

Well, we just got back from our yearly cruise to the Delta. Everything worked out well and enjoyed the peace and quiet that the Delta can provide. Following many suggestions from this board I did not want to take any chances of touching the bottom going off the San Joaquin River so we docked at Rio Vista and at the new Stockton marina and cruised around (over 80 miles) by dinghy. We did not stay at Windmill Cove because of the water hyacinths and also the water was too shallow. I have to tell you that the Stockton Marina is one of the best marinas I stayed in the Bay Area. It is very well run, very clean and the Harbor Master made everything possible to make our stay pleasant. We docked at the guest dock on the south side next to the Waterfront Warehouse mall and close to cafes and restaurants. Also, at $30 per night it is a real bargain.
Following are some pictures of our trip:

Leaving the Oakland Estuary

Goodbye to the fog

Some sun the at Richmond bridge

More sun at the B&B

Passing Eslo, a 1947 wood classic

Approaching Pittsburg

Entering Rio Vista marina with The Point restaurant

Docked at the Rio Vista marina

Approaching the Three Mile Sleuth

The Three Mile Sleuth bridge

The Three Mile Sleuth

The Outrigger Marina

The way to Willow Berm. I decided not to go there

The Hilton House

The water Hyacinths almost blocking the entrance to the Stockton Marina

Docked at the Stockton Marina

It must be custom built

The Stockton Yacht Club

Another beauty

A nice house with a new 53 Hatteras at the private dock. This is living!!

Sunset at the Stockton Marina

Paradise Point

King Island

The cable ferry at Hermann and Helen

The coffee shop at Hermann and Helen

Entering Tinsley Island

Some big boys at Tinsley Island

A parade of house boats at Tinsley Island

Not many boats at the Delta Yacht Club

What are they doing at Lost Isle?

Traffic on the SJ

Water hyacinth on the SJ. They said that this year has been the worst

Back to the fog

 

[Flutterby]

Thank you so much for this pictorial! Not having a boat anymore, many of those places are just fond memories for me now. I'm glad to see the H & H has been able to get back on its feet. I think all those houseboats at Tinsley were formerly rented at H & H. Are they still being rented? If so, who rents them?

BTW, you boat is soooo beautiful! sighhhhhhhh

 

[deltabighat]

Great pictures Arnold.....as Flutterby noted, you captured some of the most famous places on the Delta. I especially like the one of East Brother Light Station, a fabulous place for a gourmet dinner and overnight stay if you have a couple dollars. They do a marvelous job and the scenery cannot be beat. Good job, great boat but the only negative was that I wasn't along sipping a beverage or two with you. Thanks for the pictorial tour.

DBH

 

[MarcJ]

Great pictures. I never had the opportunity to cruise the Delta. It looks so beautiful and interesting.

 

[UpperDecker]

How did those custom yachts make it all the way from Mayberry?

 

[BayAreaBoater]

Thanks for the awesome trip report! [:-thumbu]

You sure charted a nice trip up to the Delta!

This might be the worst that the hyancinth has been lately, but it was much worse back in the early 80's.

I believe the "Delta Destroyer's" were at Tinsley for their annual Stag Cruise. They usually have more participants than boats, so they bring some of the rental fleet in for the party. There are more Rolex's per capita on that Island during that weekend than at any other time!!! [:-bonc01] I've been to more than my fair share of Stag's there over the years and I tell ya, it is one BIG party! [arty] The mornings sure are quiet though!!! [:-drunk]

Good times!!! [:-bonc01]

 

[dugsboat]

thanks Arnold, they were perfect pictures and very enjoyable. The pictues of the yachts at Tinsley and the questions about Lost Isle brings back a funny memory. One year one of the really big yachts was anchored just west of the LI docks.
Many of the Tinsley people hopped a ride over to see the show. I was sterned in and watching the goings one from my bridge, with a surreptious drink. Pretty soon the stripper from the show that was now over walked to the end of the dock. Obviously paid off, she took off her top. The guys on the big boat started to throw money in the water at her. She continued her show, and then they started to motion for her to swim over. She jumped in. I wasn't sure if she was going for the money or an actual swim to the yacht. It didn't matter, because as soon as she took one stroke about a dozen drunk young men dove off the fantail of the yacht and headed like torpedos for her. She immediately climbed back on the dock looking for protection. It was very funny. Thanks for the memories Arnold.

 

[deltabighat]

My brother and I were fishing one Sat night at Lost Isle, it was kind of late, and we caught o large stripper. I wanted to keep her but my brother being a superior court judge thought we should throw her back. I deferred to his judgement andvwe ended up drinking by ourselves all night. She was a good looking a stripper as I have ever caught up on the delta but we returned her to the island where she continued her dancing and her quest for younger fisherman She may not have been legal size anyway.

Dbh

 

[abalmuth]

Arnold

Great Pic’s and I’m jealous
BTW: I think that Hatt is a 63/64 footer, not a 53

 

[Arnold]

Abalmuth,
You are correct. It is a 63 footer by the name of Bellissimo. I typed wrong.

 

[brokenrule2]

Nice Pictures - I hope to visit that side of the Delta next year. I posted pictures of our trip at http://picasaweb.google.com/113615358580311562427
Enjoy.
Mike