A Sailing Adventure on San Francisco Bay

A couple of weeks ago, Erick and I saw these tall ships in dock at Jack London Square in Oakland.

The Lady Washington & the Hawaiian Cheiftain

We heard that tours of the ships can be arranged and Erika found the web site for signing up for a two hour adventure tour.  http://historicalseaport.org/about-us/our-vessels/

So, on a sunny Saturday, we hopped on a BART train and headed for the Port of San Francisco. Once we got to SF we were dodging trolleys and the crowds along the Embarcadero making our way to the port.

Trolley

Walking toward the main Port building

Once we got to the Port complex, we turned left, heading where we expected Pier 40 to be.

I guess we should have noticed that all the Pier numbers in the direction of Fisherman's Warf were odd numbers.  After a brisk mile and a half walk, we discovered that Pier 40 was not between 39 and 41, but in the opposite direction.  Since we wouldn't have enough time to walk back, we grabbed a cab and got to Pier 40 just in time for boarding.  (We were not the first to have made the wrong turn at the Port building.)

Approaching the two tall ships in dock

We were ready to board and enjoy two hours watching the crew, many of them volunteers, work the sails and entertain us with information about the Lady Washington and sing a sea shanty or two.

Crew member in period costume (18th century)

Our tour guide for the cruise

It was fascinating to watch the crew unfurl the sails.

Up they go!

Unfurling in process

Erika & Michael watching

Erick helping

Almost ready to sail

Ready!

I managed to get some some decent photos of sights around the bay despite the movement of the ship.

Container ship - front view

Container ship - side view

Cranes on the East Bay docks

Heading under the Bay bridge

Crew and fellow travelers look at the San Francisco skyline

Michael & Erick

Glad I remembered to put on sun screen

East Bay hills in the distance 

Yerba Buena island between east and west sections of the bridge 

We think the hills right in the middle are about where our house is

Crew member leads us in singing a sea shanty as we return to shore

San Francisco skyline 

Tower of Port of San Francisco building in the center

We all agreed that touring the bay on a replica of a 18th century tall ship was good choice!

Bonus photos - sunsets, clouds and even rainbows!

And this one taken by Michael: