November 12-13, 2011

Autumn continued, warm and dry.  The tides were in our favor one weekend, so a bunch of us piled into a Flying Scot and sailed up to a beach as two compatriots kayaked up the bay to join us.

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A panorama for your scrolling enjoyment.

The bay was somewhat was windy as we left the dock, but calmed as we gurgled north.

I handed over the helm to my friends and relaxed as we snacked on trail mix. Nudging the bow of the boat onto the sand of Marshall Beach, we landed and set up camp.  You can hike into the beach any day, but to camp overnight, you need to arrive by boat or other watercraft.  Marshall Beach and Lairds Landing (the former home of the Coast Miwok as well as artist Clayton Lewis) are close enough to a trail that takes you to the low ridge crest so you can see both the bay and the ocean. Any time of year is a grand one to camp on Tomales Bay; I’ve been in every season (once in February!) and there’s always something new to see on the beach or up the hill.

The next morning after the oyster feast dawned overcast but warm.  Tracy and Jon took the kayaks off to explore further north while the rest of us made breakfast and watched the wind fill in, slowly gaining in intensity as the sun rose.

You wake up in the morning to the sound of birds, small waves lapping on the beach, and if you listen very carefully, waves breaking on the other side of the ridge.

Camp in the woods

A successful camping trip

Captain Doug, pirate

We rigged the boat, shoved off, and moseyed down the bay back to the yacht club, riding a flood tide on glassy water to the dock. For lunch, we loaded everyone into cars and headed out to Drakes Beach for burgers and to watch the big waves curl onto shore.  Nothing tastes sweeter than success mixed with local meat and shellfish.