Rikki-tikki-tavi... Steamboat Slough

The day is waning as we prepare to pass between the raised sections of yet another picturesque bascule bridge at the entrance to Steamboat Slough. A shortcut and a place to stop for the night, we have made it just in time to get the anchor down before dark.

Darzee, our dinghy, is a Porta-Bote. We found it necessary, once we found an appropriate wider spot out of the channel, to row out a stern anchor due to the current. It was a bit of a challenge unfolding and assembling Darzee on the side deck because we had only put the boat together three times before (never on deck) and it was still rather stiff! We did it under the spreader lights and slid it aft into the water off the wing deck.

Steamboat Slough Bascule Bridge

The late afternoon sun highlights the engineering of this beautiful little bridge. Its tender claims to have the best job in the world! There is a shady picnic area adjacent to the bridgehouse where he waits for the occasional boat during the weekdays. We suspect he was enjoying an afternoon nap there when we called for a bridge opening. We called three times while lazily circling out in the main river, waiting for him to answer. We don’t begrudge him his rest. It was a day to enjoy the autumn warmth before the weather changed. It did. Change, that is.

Our dockmate, Mitch, surprised us by appearing on the bank of Steamboat Slough. He waved us close to shore where he tossed us a disposable camera with which he had captured a roll of images of Rikki-tikki-tavi on his very first real journey! Mitch had followed us all the way from Sacramento along the levee roads, stopping to wait for us to go by. He caught us going under bridges and past vineyards. This photo is our favorite of the bunch. Thanks, Mitch!

The weather changes...