Sightseeing in and around San Francisco!

We’ve had a fabulous week – exploring San Francisco, new anchorages, touristy fun and home school has begun!

Auntie Gill arrived with the kids the second day after we arrived in San Francisco. The kids enjoyed a super fun week with Uncle D and Auntie G and Ruby eating Mac and Cheese and doing fun kid activities in Vancouver. Lucky kids! Thank you so much Gill and D!

Then we all took some time to unwind and enjoy the Bay. Nathan loves sailing the “Byte” dinghy that we brought with us. Thank you Rhea!! He is already zooming around the bay tacking and gybing and has self righted himself after a capsize! Julia has also helped crew the Byte.

We explored Sausalito finding hip cafes, restaurants, a bookstore, kids playground and the famous houseboats Sausalito is known for. There is a vibe here that reminds us of Vancouver. We love Sausalito!

Then we set sail for Angel Island – a short hop across the Bay. Nathan and I sailed there on the Byte and met Slingshot in Ayala Cove where we used a bouy for our bow and stern to anchor for the day. We noticed that we had only 4 feet under the keel with a dropping tide so we knew we could not anchor overnight. 

We dinghyed ashore to meet a friendly state park ranger who directed us toward the best trails to reach the summit- Mount Livermore. We enjoyed beautiful views on our way up to the top and fragrant Eucalyptus trees on the way down. A gorgeous spot!

We spent the night at Paradise Beach Park after two earlier tries anchoring near Ayala Cove and then Corinthian Yacht Club – the first too exposed and the second too shallow. Nathan and Gavin sailed the Byte in 20 plus knots reaching across the bay with Nathan having the ride of his life to meet us around the corner. San Francisco Bay gets windy in the afternoons! We are very happy to have our Cruising San Francisco Bay guide book (by Carolyn & Bob Mehaffy) which we used to find a beautiful spot at Paradise Beach.

Early the next morning we headed to Pier 39 for two nights where we enjoyed being in the heart of San Francisco. We just managed to tie up to the dock with the tide and current making things very challenging! I think there is a reason why this marina is not full with visitors. Gavin had to come in at full speed and I just managed to loop a mid line around the cleat before we smashed into the dock! Thankfully no smashing and we just made it in – albeit to a neighbouring slip as we determined the slip they assigned to us would have been much too challenging. Luckily the slip we chose was free and we were allowed to stay. 

We enjoyed Pier 39.  There were the Sea Lions frolicking on the docks just opposite our stern, close access to the other Piers, a street car ride through the streets of Francisco with Nathan and Julia hanging on the ‘outside’. When Nathan asked “what was that smell?” after the Streetcar started to descend, the streetcar driver yelled out, “If you smell the burnin’ that means it’s workin!’” He was referring to the burning wood smell the streetcars emit from the wood brakes on the track. Then we enjoyed an hours walk through the hilly streets of San Fran back to Pier 39 and took in a Sunday China Town celebration along the way.

The next day, Gill treated the kids to a fancy chocolate tour through the fanciest chocolatiers (bean to bar) that San Fran has to offer complete with full explanation and many samples! Wow thank you Gill – the kids are sure lucky! That afternoon the 65 foot Catamaran Charter on our dock had been chatting with Gav and Nathan and invited them out for a sunset sailing tour of the Bay. Nathan even got to drive! Meanwhile, Gill Julia and I enjoyed a ladies night having a fabulous tour of the Boudin Sourdough Bakery (amazing!) and we got to see the full production of the most delicious sourdough. Then we had a fun evening sampling the sourdough and hosting our new friends from the Catamaran on board Slingshot.