How many activities can we pack into one week?
Watch close!!

First, let it be known that the schedule really had been made before we got to the Petaluma marina on Monday evening.  REALLY!
     On Monday we dutifully met at the Petaluma Marina to ready the boat for cruising on Tuesday.  Of course, things needed to be fixed - as always, so this is a good place to begin a cruise.  That way the rest of the cruise will go well - right?  The shaft needed repair; this picture is obviously not shaft repair.  After the shaft repair was complete, other things needed attention; for example, the bilge.


Repairs took us through Tuesday, so Scouts sailed the Colombia and the Santanna on the Petaluma River. Our best Scouts command the 22' sailboats with a crew of their own.  That is quite an accomplishment for Scouts who cannot even drive a car yet!


Repairs complete, we officially began the cruise on Wednesday.  However, we did not move the Orion on Wednesday because we were scheduled to complete a service project begun months before in San Francisco.  Our Sea Scouts, along with Scouts from Troop 32, provided Color Guard services for the dedication of the oldest NOAA (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - the weather people!) station in the United States; the station is located just east of the south span of the Golden Gate Bridge.  It was only fitting and proper that we should be allowed to provide Color Guard as Sea Scout Ship Orion and Troop 32 members provided much of the labor to rebuild the pier.  (More information about the service project can be found under "Service Projects").  Wednesday morning Derek joined the crew, and Mrs. Martin and the Sterlings drove the crew to San Francisco.  First, Nate, Chelsea, Derek, Michael, and Gregory prepare for the ceremony.



The ceremony began with Nate directing the flag ceremony.


NOAA presented Sea Scout Ship Orion crew with a plaque commemorating service to the station.  All the adults in this picture are  NOAA administrators and Coast Guard and Navy dignitaries.


The San Francisco City fire boat Guardian anchored off the pier during the ceremony, and the captain and crew invited the Orion crew and Troop 32 aboard for a guest cruise.  The Guardian put on quite a show after the dedication ceremony.

 

After a gourmet lunch of grilled salmon, we traveled by car to Pier 2 to board the Guardian for a tour of San Francisco's waterfront. 


Greg and Nate toured Guardian's  wheelhouse.


Derek, Greg, and Michael stood on deck as Guardian passed under the Bay Bridge.


Chelsea stands helm watch aboard the Guardian.

After returning to Petaluma Marina, the crew prepared for cruising aboard the Orion on Thursday.  Checklists must always be completed before the boat can embark.  Mr. Sterling checked Michael's engineering list, then taught him how to align the electric panel before starting the engines.



Scouts stand watch to insure Orion's safe transit.  Chelsea takes stern watch to make sure ferry boats, tankers, and speeding cruisers and ski boats do not disrupt the trip.  It looks as if she is cold; well, it is San Francisco Bay in the summer.  It probably IS cold!


On Friday we picked up the Pearson from Richardson Bay Marina.  The Pearson was donated and Nick and Nate sailed her to Port Sonoma where she will stay for the summer.


Then we cruised through San Pablo Bay, up the Cartinez Straits, past Pittsburg, and into the Delta for a giagantic July 4th celebration on the waters near Venice Cut and Mandeville Cut.  We anchored along side the Compass Rose, Chaser, and Liberty, all Sea Scout ships, which gave the adults and crew time to socialize, swim, and play.  The July 4th celebration was spectacular.  There were hundreds of boats anchord nearby; one of these pictures is taken from the bow of the Compass Rose and the other from Orion's bow.  What it really shows is the fact that there are TOO MANY BOATS CLOSE BY!!  But the show was worth the trip.  We also celebrated Nick's birthday - July 4.



When we tried to cruise home after the festivities and more boat repair, we found the weather too nasty to come home.  So we took the opportunity to relax at Antioch Marina.  The crew pulled out some games, Mancala being one of them, and played while waiting for the weather to clear.


The next Saturday, the crew brought the boat home.