Biochemist and marine biologist Michael Konrad of South 40 Pier sends along the following natural history of one of our most important neighbors, eelgrass: Life began in the ocean. Then continents generated by tectonic plate movements gradually became hospitable to life, and some living organisms migrated onto this new dry...
Living on the water means having animal neighbors that land residents infrequently see. The terns, gulls, egrets, herons, pelicans, and cormorants are familiar to us all, and if you live near deeper water, you may see seals. Schools of small fish swim in both shallow and deep water around our...
Following up on the popularity of float-in concerts, Shakespeare on the Water will present two floating performances of A Midsummer Night’s Dream on September 9 and 10. The show will feature a multi-generational cast, including students and classically trained actors. This abridged version of Shakespeare’s beloved comedy includes live music...
Spaulding Marine Center will host a remembrance of local sailing hero Hank Easom from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Saturday, March 25. Filmmaker Oleg Harencar will share memories of the legendary Bay sailor before showing his film Hank Easom: Portrait of a Legend. Spaulding Marine Center is located at...
Cormorant feeding frenzies like the one in the accompanying photo are a good sign that herring have returned to the Bay. According to the California Dept. of Fish and Wildlife, “In California, herring are found offshore during the spring and summer months foraging in the open ocean. The largest spawning...
Last week’s early morning (3:39 a.m.) earthquake, which roused some floating home residents from a deep sleep, is a reminder that we are definitely on Terra Non Firma. The December 17 temblor was centered in El Cerrito—only 10 miles away—and was measured at a magnitude 3.6. The tide was about...
This is the fifth and final installment of a research paper on the microclimates of Richardson Bay by Yellow Ferry resident Richard Pavek. An El Niño is part of the normal weather pattern that occurs when surface temperatures in the tropical Pacific Ocean rise to above-normal levels for an extended...
A stroll across the lawn and paths of the newly created Waldo Point Park at Bridgeway and Gate 6 Road will take you over the historic resting place of the Charles Van Damme ferry, a 1916 side paddle wheeler that, in its heyday, ferried people, cattle, cargo, and cars to...
Looking for holiday gifts that reflect our lifestyle? Check out the Boatload of Books section of this newsletter. You’ll find notices of publications by current and former residents as well as select books about our floating homes. Categories include fiction, non-fiction, history, memoirs, poetry and children’s books, so you’re sure to find...
This is the second installment of a research paper on the microclimates of Richardson Bay by Yellow Ferry Resident Richard Pavek. An inch of rain falling on the Bay raises the high and low tides an inch more than predicted. But an inch of rain falling on the surrounding area—which...