It's all about the crabs

Bodega Bay, California

Like all of the other harbours we have visited along this coast, Bodega Bay is primarily all about crabs.  Once again we find ourselves surrounded by fishing (crabbing) boats - hardly a pleasure vessel to be seen in this marina and particularly no transient cruisers like us.  It would be so nice to see a fellow cruiser, just to know we are not the only ones foolish enough to be wandering down the coast this time of year.

The Spud Point marina is a very nice, first class facility, and the price, although higher than we have seen up till now, is still pretty reasonable, especially for our 46' overall length.  The basic rate here is $30 per night for boats up to 50'.  It is a short walk (about a mile) to the town itself, where there are a couple of touristy California-type eateries, so we have got into the habit of going there for breakfast in the mornings. 

Otherwise, we have spent our time on the boat, or sitting on the benches, reading books, etc.  The weather is not bad - temperatures are around 50F at night and maybe 60 to 70 during the day, but it is often overcast and foggy, which, with the high humidity, makes it feel a little cool yet.

This is soooo California!

The boat is pretty well ready to go again, but the seas are reportedly a bit high (7 to 9 foot swell and 3 foot wind-waves), so after our last experience, we are staying put for a while.  We may take a walk down the road to the marine lab today to see what that is all about.  One interesting note: We were having breakfast a couple of days ago at the "Tides" wharf, taking note of the large number sea-birds in the spooky fog in the bay, when we read about the history of the place and discovered that this is the site of the 1963 Hitchcock movie "The Birds".  Somehow it really looks the part.

One of the few advantages of cruising this coast at this time of year has been the fact that there have been no crab pots to contend with.  Crabbing season is due to get underway on the 15th of November, and there is lots of activity here in the marina, with boats loading up their gear.  They tell us it will be pretty exciting when they start coming in with their catch.  They are anticipating a good harvest this year.

I apologise for the lack of pictures in the last few posts.  I have not been able to get a really good Internet connection here.  The only reason I have any connection at all is that my big antenna sporadically picks up someone's unprotected wifi router, but the speed is never very good.

This is why you stay in the dredged channel!

 

{GMST}38|19.8068|N|123|3.4517|W|Bodega Bay, California,|Bodega Bay, California{GEND}