Pics from TSCA Petaluma River row 4-5-09

[Thorne]

David Yearsley and the Friends of the Petaluma River threw a great party at their new digs near downtown Petaluma -
http://www.friendsofthepetalumariver.org/

The Sac TSCA launched at the Petaluma Marina, and I walked the docks getting photos of many of the boats.

[Thorne]

[Thorne]

[Thorne]

Rowing under the freeway bridge towards downtown -

[Thorne]

The old livery stables, home of the new museum and ? site -


Me posing in front of the museum -


The rest of the TSCA fleet arrives and jockeys for dock or shoreline space -

[Thorne]

Food and drinks were well-received by all -


Inside the museum -






John and his two boys showed up in Royal Navy kit, rowing Merryrow -

[Thorne]

Many wiser folks just rowed back to the Petaluma Marina, as a strong headwind kept blowing right up the river. But a number of boats rowed all the way downriver to Papas, where everyone enjoyed fine Greek food and pitchers of beer.

Rick Thompson and I rowed down together -- well, he slowed down a bit -- and we tried different techniques for dealing with the wind and current. Dodging back and forth across the river to the dubious shelter of the mud banks worked best, as the wind was far more of a limitation than the gentle ebbing current was an advantage.

[JC 72]

Thorne, You are amazing! The boat is still wet, and you already have pics up! John.

[Thorne]

The boat is still muddy 'cause I'm faffing about on the computer rather than washing it..."amazing" is one interpretation.

[BobW]

Thorne -

That's another great set of pics from another great outing!

Thanks for sharing.

Bob

(PS: Construction has begun. I'm blaming you and John... )

[JC 72]

Whatcha gona build Bob?

[BobW]

Hi John,

I've started the foils for a Goat Island Skiff.

I decided to start building/making/fabricating what I can in the space I have. The right space for assembling the hull will make itself available when the timing is right. I don't really blame you and Thorne... You two were more encouraging last month... kinda nudged me in the right direction.

Thanks.

Bob

[David G]

Lovely fotos, as usual.

[rufustr]

Thanks for the photos.

Looks like you had a beautiful day.

[Thorne]

One more shot from my iPhone showing the temp docks and shoreline by the barn / museum.
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pi...f&id=519763645

[ChaseKenyon]

Thorne

Nice pictures.

With my natural curiosity I checked out the link.



I can not believe they have a land fill next to a tidal salt marsh system.

I think if the counties are not willing to get rid of it let alone expand it some serious action needs to take place.

I suggest contacting the appropriate agencies in Connecticut and finding out the costs to resurrect a tidal marsh. RI and MA and even NJ might be good
also.

As someone whose AS was in Environmental Tech / Soil Hydrology, the only thing as a natural balanced environment more fragile than a tidal marsh is a true alpine marsh.

One of the rarest Alpine Meadow/Marshes is here in
NH above Wonalancet in my family's old stomping grounds. When the state Highway 113 a ( small town road (the first section of Chase Road)the state takes care of) make a 90* turn you go straight and on ferncroft rd til you get to the right turn It has several names one is intervale rd one is whiteface rd and one is valley rd. at the next turn a rt is the second section of Chase rd it will take you out into the apline marsh wich has biologists from all over the world visit.

Yes I was named after my great grandmothers maiden name and the road goes to the Chase homestead. Now the houses at the end of the road are at least 20 years ago when I was last there, all occupied By my distant cousins of the Ambrose clan.

http://maps.google.com/maps?utm_camp...h%20road%20map

[JC 72]

Good for you Bob W. A Goat Island Skiff would look great in Petaluma River next year? You are right though, a place to build will come up when you are ready. John

[Thorne]

Originally Posted by BobW

Hi John,

I've started the foils for a Goat Island Skiff.

... I don't really blame you and Thorne... You two were more encouraging last month... kinda nudged me in the right direction.

Thanks.

Bob

I guess that the sheer terror of riding around in the sternsheets of one of my boats is enough to inspire ANYONE to build their own, eh?

;0 )

Best of luck with the build. If you run out of steam, you can always pay my Twin to help you out with the GIS...he's got plenty o' shop space about 12 hours north.

[David G]

Originally Posted by Thorne

I guess that the sheer terror of riding around in the sternsheets of one of my boats is enough to inspire ANYONE to build their own, eh?

;0 )

Best of luck with the build. If you run out of steam, you can always pay my Twin to help you out with the GIS...he's got plenty o' shop space about 12 hours north.

BW - no need to even comment. I can vouch for the terrors of crewing for Thorne. And, if there's any weather at all, he puts you up front - to keep the spray off of him <G>

[Ed Armstrong]

Nice set of photos. Beautiful boats!

One of these days, I'm going to have to drag my Acorn down the hill and join you guys.

Ed

[JC 72]

Hey Ed, Sounds good. I'd love to meet you and see your Acorn. It would be great to see some Oughtred boats there. My youngest is on me to build his Auk. We would have to do it in the driveway, as I don't have a garage. John

[Thorne]

The Consumes River Row is on 4/18, for boats that can be moved on a trolley only (no ramp). I'm not there as I'll be marching reenactors around Mt. Tam at the School of the Soldier that weekend, but it is a nice short scenic row -- and close to Sac.

http://www.tsca.net/Sacramento/

[reddog]

Thorne;
I always enjoy your pics and descriptions of your outings.Thanks for posting.

Earl

[Ed Armstrong]

Thanks Thorne, I'll put the Cosumnes River Row on my calendar. I'm pretty much a bumbler when it comes to rowing, but I can flounder along until I exhaust myself . It sounds like a lot of fun! Are sails strictly forbidden at this event?

Ed

[J. Dillon]

Nice set of images Thorne, thanks for posting them, but where's your helmet.

JD

[Thorne]

Back at home on the armor stand. Clashes with my PFD....

For small boat travel I often wear my 18th C "reenactor" straw hat, as it sheds the sun better than the rather goofy floating-boating canvas hat.

[BobW]

Quite the fashion statement there, Thorne! But, I have to agree, that straw hat has a certain panache about it that modern boating hats are lacking.

I don't know that there was any sheer terror involved in being rowed around Lake Chabot, but that does make a better story than my version... I should listen to your Twin and not say anything.

John, getting back on the water again is one of my motivations. I'd love to bring my Goat to the Petaluma River next spring. Maybe Ed can bring his Acorn and join in the fun.

Thanks for the inspiration and help - no matter how it happened.

Bob

[Canoeyawl]

“My hat is my home”
Old West Coast sailor’s expression

(Large straw hats were the plume de rigueur for the relentless California/Hawaii sunshine, you could tell a sailor by the size of his hat)

[Thorne]

Originally Posted by Ed Armstrong

Thanks Thorne, I'll put the Cosumnes River Row on my calendar. I'm pretty much a bumbler when it comes to rowing, but I can flounder along until I exhaust myself . It sounds like a lot of fun! Are sails strictly forbidden at this event?

Ed

I've never been on that part of the river, but the combo of overhanging trees and narrow channel usually puts paid to sailing. And your rowing will certainly improve if you hang with the TSCA -- mine did...

[Thorne]

Originally Posted by BobW

I don't know that there was any sheer terror involved in being rowed around Lake Chabot, but that does make a better story than my version... I should listen to your Twin and not say

Bob

Now Bob, you need to pretend that boating with
me is a terrifying experience -- or you'll shred my cred, duuude!

[Ed Armstrong]

Did anybody here go to the TSCA row at the Cosumnes River Preserve on Saturday? The weather seemed perfect for it. I was hoping to go, but unfortunately, I was too lazy to drag my butt out of bed early enough to get there by 10:00 AM. I actually had a sick daughter, but that just made a convenient (though sorry) excuse to laze around the house Saturday morning instead.

Ed

[JC 72]

Here is a shot of the lads

[oznabrag]

Originally Posted by Thorne

Wow! what a fine flotilla!

I especially like the boat nearest the camera in this pic.

Where can I get plans?

Thanks in advance,

John T

[Thorne]

HeckifIknow....I'm just the guy behind the camera. Looks like a whitehall design to me.

Originally Posted by oznabrag

I especially like the boat nearest the camera in this pic.
Where can I get plans?