Last Stop – Paradise Cove

At the end of a cruise, there is always a “last stop.” That could be in a marina or anchored someplace. Wherever it is, there are two conflicting emotions that creep into one’s mind. One is the sense of relief that you’ll be home soon. The other is disappointment that the cruise is ending.

Whichever emotion captures your feeling, why not mark the occasion in a special way? If you’re in a marina, consider a dinner out in a local restaurant or yacht club? If at anchor, simply having cocktails in the cockpit is not a bad choice.

Our last stop was at anchor in Paradise Cove on the east side of the Tiburon peninsula. We were on our way back from a fun cruise to Petaluma. We’ve done that before, but this time we cruised in-company with friends who have a motor yacht. In fact, if you look closely at the far right in the picture, you can see their boat anchored nearby.

San Francisco Bay is noted for having a daily blast of cool Pacific ocean air. The “marine layer” moves in to replace the rising hot air in the Sacramento Valley. This typically starts about noon (or shortly after) and lasts until sunset.

The Tiburon peninsula acts as a wind break most of the time. This late afternoon in August was classic. We had the luxury of a very light breeze. It was just enough to make it so pleasant in the cockpit while enjoying chips and a favorite glass of wine or cocktail. T-shirt, shorts, and bare feet were the uniform of the day.

The two conflicting emotions gradually faded – replaced by that mellow feeling at the end of another great day on the water.