Home	July 4th Benicia Cruise

(If you like, you can skip down through the prose and go straight to the pictures below!)

John & Nanci Melton, Freedom Won, and Bob DaPrato with crew Rob Blenderman, Bella Luna sailed up to Benicia on Sunday the 2nd. It was blowing 20 - 25 most of the way, which isn't bad on a broad reach, and John reported hitting 8 knots with just a main set. But it was the prospect of returning down San Pablo Bay in similar conditions against the wind that propted Rick & Sandy Van Mell to leave Vanishing Animal at Brisbane Marina and choose the land yacht route. Ditto for Eric Mueller, whose Serenity hails from Coyote Point a the south end of the south bay.

Monday the 3rd was a great day for hanging out in Benicia. For 13 months, from 1853 to 1854, Benicia was the capital of California. The original campus of Mills College was founded in Benicia in 1852 as the Young Ladies Seminary, and was the first women's college west of the Rockies. Today it's attactions include some good restaurants and several glass blowing studios and their associated display shops.

Ruby & Rob Blenderman have hosted one terrific party at their house for at least the last five years. Ruby is both a retired welder (think back to the Alaska pipeline!)and creative genius who easily rivals the Winchester House for clever additions and building both house and furniture from old building parts. The pictures give you just a glimpse into the myriad treasures.

With our 10 person Islander contingent, plus Ruby's friends and neighbors, the house was full of good conversation and great eats from 1500 hours on. Ample libations and delicious food eventually led to one of RTuby's neighbors going quickly home to fetch a guitar that Rick strummed for an informal hootenanny as dusk turned to dark.

Bob & Eric remind you all the that the next fun event will be the Coyote Point Destination Cruise (and race for the racers) on August 5th.

Pictures by Rick Van Mell. Click on images to enlarge, click "Back" to return.

Carquinez Strait ...	blowing 20 on 7/3 ...	old crane barge ...	rotten through!	Want one of these?
Waterfront relics.	Breakwater for ...	Benicia Marina ...	Harbormaster shack ...	narrow channel ...
guest dock ...	Benicia Yacht Club ...	Bob lets Rick & Sandy in ...	follow me to ...	Bella Luna & Freedom Won
Maria says ...	"Hi Madison."	Hi John.	Sandy & Nanci	and Riley too!
Madison chills ...	with Latitude 38.	Bella Luna	Freedom Won ...	burgee flying.
Bob's relaxed ...	Madison swings in.	Beautiful Islanders!	Shore-side sculpture ...	pretty amazing ...
works of art.	Benicia's known ...	for beautiful ...	glassworks ...	a real treat!
Then off to Ruby's ...	for words of wisdom.	A welcoming form ...	a gazebo that's ...	inviting and a ...
cozy patio too.	Fishy entrance to ...	warm and welcome ...	time for a ...	purrr-fect snooze.
A work in progress.	Some nibbles before ...	Ruby shows off ...	their airBnB ...	beautiful hanging and ...
apartment with ...	bedroom 1 and ...	bedroom 2 ...	great mirror ...	and kitchen!
Pass master bedroom ...	through the bath ...	to roof top stairs ...	Rob & Sandy	John & Nanci ...
Maria, Bob & Madison ...	and Eric too.	Time to ...	exercise ...	Fidget spinners ...
Rob's got it.	Relaxing after dinner ...	Maria, Eric ...	John & Bob ...	with Ruby's ...
friends.	California's new Gold.

Return to Main Menu