Fog has a way of not only clouding our vision but our brains as well, it is one of those weather events that makes us want to stay in bed all day until the grey clears and our minds wake up, the squirrels don't venture out in it, is that a sign or a warning?
Fog, typically three days after a heavy rainfall and true to form this morning is shrouded in a grey, cool, and moist blanket. July and August are foggy month's for San Francisco Bay, the central valley experiences it beginning in November and ending around February. There are times when the entire valley is "socked" in from Redding to Bakersfield, the impact to travel by vehicle, trains, and aircraft is well known. Fog is many times nearly as wet as an overnight rainfall, as it was this morning, all that is exposed to it is dripping wet. Visibility is all but gone, sounds are dampened as well, life takes on a slower pace. Lighthouses, fog horns on ships and trains, vehicles equipped with special lights, have all been created to assist us in the gloomy reality. Waking in the morning to the sight of a foggy landscape alters ones entire day, allocating extra time in the morning, and hoping it dissipates by the time the evening commute starts are winter rituals.
Evening arrived and although the sky is clearer the thick haze continues to linger before the sun sets. Dusk brings cooler temperatures to the air, the fog begins to form as the cooler atmospheric air glides over the warmer moist ground. Each year the Yacht Club on the small Island sponsors a lighted boat parade, there are normally around a dozen boats. Participants work hard to present the vessels, donning lights, moving displays, and Christmas music adding a bit of spice to our lives. Six events color our lives throughout the year, New Years Eve with an abundance of fireworks, New Years Day is "The Frozen Bun Run" a waterskiing competition in the cold water, Opening Day Boat Parade around April 1st, Fourth of July, A 50's Bash takes place in August or September for 3 days, and the Boat Parade.
Let us get back to the fog.
(Follow this Link to my Boat Parade Video)
Saturday night I set my camcorder up on the levee, the goal was to video the parade, edit it, and post it on the Islands Facebook page, which I did and it ended up pretty good. I am not by any stretch of the imagination an accomplished movie maker, but I do alright and improve with each video I make. Fog remained in my viewfinder, I then had Fog, Moisture, Wind, and Cold air to contend with, my biggest concern is always the moisture. My camera is not moisture resistant let alone waterproof and I am not sure if there are any video cameras in my price range that are. The video was completed, posted and commented on by the locals, several others had the same idea, 4 were posted in total.
When Fog shrouds the river and Islands navigation is difficult, at night or when the sun is up it matters not, luckily all of the participants of the parade know their way around the Island. One mile north of where the video took place is the end of the housing, the wilderness begins, the three sloughs are winding, deceiving with shadows, and unlighted, with no landmarks the bank is almost impossible to make out. Normally the boats stay in a tight group as they traverse the 5 miles of total darkness, many boats have ended up on and over the levees due to miscalculations. A one-way flow of traffic makes the excursion easier to maneuver it is a relief to make it to the other side and the lighted homes that line it. I appreciate the efforts of the participants to ensure a successful boat parade.
There are times boats must go into the gloom unrelated to a good time, people get themselves into predicaments on the river and they need help. Not many boats venture out at night into the foggy 1500 miles of sloughs, rivers, and swamps that make up our California Delta, but once in a while, I see one chugging by. Making for a dangerous situation if the Captain does not know what he/she is doing, sometimes overindulgence of alcohol is a factor. Taking the wrong slough is easy when it is dark, and it is almost unavoidable when it is dark and foggy. We get lost, no matter how long one has been on the river, we get lost, not only at night and not only in the fog but all of the time.
One night during a light rainstorm our local Tow Boat company went out to assist a distressed vessel, the pilot of the Tow Boat was a professional. He was almost to the point of being a living legend, we have one or two and it's an accurate description. On this particular night, the Tow Boat Captain was speeding down a slough that is commonly used to access the main San Joaquin/American River channels when he struck a buoy at full speed, resulting in a disaster that defies description, our island was in mourning.
Ocean-going vessel frequent the channels, and they are big commodity transporters, tankers, and bulk haulers of farm products. Spending a night on the water in the fog is incredibly dangerous in the fog, it is difficult to locate the buoys as they are socked in as well. Bells and horns are utilized but sounds can be disorienting and muffled. Anchoring out of the channel is the responsibility of the Captain of the vessel, the big ships are unable to see us, and even when they can the right of way belongs to them. Locating the channel and staying out of it could be the difference between life and death, catching a big wake and capsizing is one real possibility. One hundred yards or so behind these vessels is typically a vortex, you know a whirlpool. With a diameter of more than 30 feet, ( 7 meters) they are capable of taking a boat down in the spiraling column of water. Unseen in the fog and darkness crossing the stern of one of these ocean-going ships is the stuff nightmares are made of, search and rescue are tough in the fog.
Human factors come into account as well, the fog sometimes doesn't slow some boaters down. Parties and boating go hand in hand, there are several party bars on the various islands with a lot of dancing, eating, and drinking. Whether in the fog or not, there is a rush to get home at 2 am, at times it causes problems. One night in the fog two men were at one of the localities having a good time, and make no mistake the fun is overflowing at these places. They were in a new boat, it was owned by one of their wives, in a hurry to get home they flew down our own Taylor Slough. A miscalculation was made and they took a trip onto the levee top and slid for a distance before nosing back down towards the river. If the boat would have made it to the water it was in such a terrible condition it would have sunk, along with the two severely injured occupants. Making matters worse they were about 3 miles from their dock, but the decision was made to walk down the levee back to the Gin joint, 10 miles away. They both made it home eventually, neither went to the hospital, one was and most likely is still in trouble with the wife even after it being almost a decade since the incident. Her boat was replaced, one man left the island and has never returned, the other is still a resident and remains to this day a friend.
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| The Fog is no fun to drive in. |
Driving in the Fog is common throughout the U.S. as well as most countries I am assuming. Vehicles in the dense shroud are more predictable than when on a boat, roads are laid out with reflectors, street lights, warning flashers, and Highway Patrol traffic breaks all assisting us while on the road. Waterborne there are Maps, GPS, Flashlights, and Channel markers at our disposal, knowledge of their use is paramount for success. Speed is one of the only aspects we are able to adjust, and ramping it up is not the answer. Nothing is comparable to moving slowly while piloting a large boat, especially in the Fog, or heavy rain. Motoring slowly while picking our way through this maze at night is the standard accepted by almost everyone with the exception of the partying boats mentioned above. Taking our time affords the Captain time to think and digest the surroundings, a flashlight illuminating the shoreline, and an eye on the depth is a two-person task.
Not often but it does happen a telephone call asking for help is received, we are all willing to assist our friends and neighbors when they are in distress. Two types of boaters live on the Delta, those who have been stranded, and those who are going to be stranded, in other words, we help because who knows if they will be next? Safety in the fog when embarking on a mission to assist someone is the most important factor, at least two people must be on the vessel, three is better. Calling other neighbors and friends in the middle of the night to help is then in order, many times there are plenty of people in the house to help. All of the preparation in the world cannot predict if the trip will be successful or not, it is incredibly difficult to find someone on a river, in the middle of the night, complicated with the addition of Fog. Leave the beer at home, we need coffee, flashlights, warm clothing, GPS, and Maps, and last plenty of luck.
By far staying out of the Fog on a river is the smartest thing to do, but on occasion, a person has to venture out, some live on islands and emergencies happen forcing them to leave. A night on the town is most likely safer by road, better yet pay for a ride or go with a friend, motorboating in the fog is not worth taking the risk just for a party night.
Thanks for reading my blog, now share it on Twitter, Facebook, and give MeWe a look it's a lot like Facebook but more controlled. Thanks for reading and stay off the water in the Fog, do yourself a favor.
JacquesandKate emergencykitsplus.com
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