Donato is tempted to explore the narrow passage.

But Mark rounds him up, and talks him in to taking the outside route.

The La Serena is out for her morning workout with the crew.

VP Dave talks about the history of Islais Creek, Mission Creek (it used to go all the way to Mission Dolores) and other notable facts.

The soon-to-be-decommissioned power plant.

Jane's friend needs to see this.

Lyrinda paddled all the way back to Islais Creek with the gull eyeing her every move, and trying to get a nip in.

Prawn salad.

As I've been inside the wharves, the rest of the group took the more traditional, outside, tour. We rejoin here, at the bow of the Mercy.

Donato poses for another scale shot.

Long forgotten, rotten, and beautiful

And arrive at Warehouse 6 - aka: The Tag Cathedral. This building even has it's own Flickr page: www.flickr.com/groups/warehouse6/pool/

Still more scale.

Jane volunteered her rescue rope to fashion a net to hold the bird from nipping, and to stabilize the wing.

He eventually took the ride in stride. (sort of)

And back to the Tag Cathedral.

I opt for a little more rustic urban exploration.

More scale

Now, a nice little launchsite, watched over by Beethoven (that is Beethoven, right?)

And the return trip past the Tag Cathedral before the big rescue of the day....

Aprez paddle, I do a little sightseeing. Good night all.

And the drawbridge opens "just for us". (not really)

The Mercy - the ship that provides a full floating hospital for military and humanitarian missions. The operating tables have straps on them, so surgeons can strap on, in turbulent seas.

They make pretty good time, in a quiet passing in light fog.

This area has been filled in in the mid 1800's, to make more land. It originally served as the slaughterhouse area. The name "dogpatch" derived from all the dogs that would come, to seek scraps from the slaughterhouses.

Scale

And into Mission Creek, with the ball park as a backdrop.

There was a large flock of gulls, circling and squawking over something in the water. When I approached, I thought I saw a gull in the mouth of a seal or sea lion. It turned out to be a gull with a badly broken wing, preparing to drown, then get eaten by it's kin (weird animal behavior). Lyrinda approached, and calmly grabbed the bird with her gloved hands.

The rest of the group comes around, and head to the creek.