Byline : Celeste Rogers

The hikes organized by Hoyt were often embedded with hidden gems. I discovered San Francisco through the Stairs Hikes such as hidden gardens among the stairs and awesome views of the Bay and unknown lakes (to me) in Golden Gate Park.

This Lands End hike is no different. I discovered that there is a wonderful trail after the Cliff House, a blow hole inside the tunnel, the maze, the USS San Francisco Memorial, the Palace of the Legion of Honor (The Thinker is here), the Holocaust Memorial, the stairways, the incredible mansions on Seacliff Avenue, blackberry blooms, the perfect blooms of yellow, purple, white and red and, of course, the Golden Gate Bridge set against the perfect blue sky on a cool breezy day. I could not ask for more from this hike with great wonderful people sharing stories, their activities and their food and making friends and meeting members whom we have not met in months.

At the end of the hike, Hoyt took us to a restaurant, Mandalay, that is zagat rated. Hoyt recommended the Tea Leaf Salad and ginger tea. The Tea salad is not what a salad is in our definition. It consisted of fermented tea paste, and all things fried, such as split peas, sliced garlic, broad beans, sesame, ground nuts, chili, shrimp paste and some lemon. One bite into the mixture which was mixed on the table as part of the dining experience, and you are hooked and filled. The ginger drink is actually mint with lemon juice and so cool, refreshing and delicious after a long hike of 6 miles and 4 hours later. Also, the coconut rice is a must if you happen to be there.

Food, hike, great weather, wonderful friends and beautiful scenery make for a perfect day!! Life is Good!!

Days later, I was still raving about this wonderful hike that make my Saturday last forever!!! A great BIG thank you to Hoyt and Nancy Nelson.

Cheers, Celeste

By : Celeste Rogers (ed. H.Nelson)

The Falls Creek got its name because of its musical & soft caressing water sound among tall straight redwoods. It was a shaded hike to soothe your soul and to be at peace within your heart.
We got off to a late start waiting for late comers. A larger group by Meetup was organized by Steven at the same time and same place that I normally participated every weekend took off for a 10 mile hike.

Hoyt was very kind to warn vehicles coming into the parking area to slow down as there was a huge “pothole” that scraped vehicle bottoms even for the SUVs.  Hoyt probably saved a few “broken” hearts that day.

As usual with Hoyt’s hikes, we learned a bit of history along the hike such as about the Lime Kilns, Powder Magazine and the Barrel Mill Area where we rested on fallen logs along the creek and have our packed lunch before looping back. The Barrel Mill manufactured parts for barrels that were used for shipping lime. The nearby redwood trees were cut into blocks to be sliced and assembled into barrels.

We took off to an organic winery where the fields have to be left fallowed for 5 years before being certified as organic. The patio of the wine tasting area was a great place to rest and chat before heading home after a lovely, relaxing and cool hike with such soothing water music that I took several recordings of the sound of flowing water.

Tom Ryugo a.k.a. “Gilligan”

Poppa and his Fish

It’s been a while since I’ve gotten excited about salmon fishing.  The salmon season was closed in 2008-2009, opened back up in 2010 with miserable results, and was pretty mediocre in 2011.  But 2012 opened with great anticipation because biologists, fisherman, and whale watchers alike all reported seeing conditions conducive for a banner salmon year.  The biologists counted lots of fish and the other observers reported the ocean being full of krill, anchovies, and other salmon food.  For salmon anglers, the year didn’t disappoint.  Starting in late May/early June, boats reported catching between 1-1.5 salmon per rod.  In early July, the scores increased to a fish per rod to limits (2).

With all that news, I put together a group to go salmon trolling aboard the New Seeker of Emeryville.  There were 8 of us: myself; Nelson Owyang; Karen Soo; Greg Wong; and Celeste Rogers (all NSC members) plus three other friends: Chris Mackey; Irena  and Mike Pattullo.  We arrived very early – 4:30 – because the boat was sold out (hot salmon fishing news travels fast).  Given that the previous day, all boats caught limits of salmon, we looked forward to a great day.  Chris even convinced his sister-in-law to babysit his two boys with the promise of a salmon dinner.  Alas, that’s why they call it fishing not catching.

The ocean was a tad rocky on the trip out so some of our group were looking a bit uneasy.  Plus, it was a long boat ride.  Not surprisingly, when Captain Harry stopped the boat after about two hours, somewhere between Stinson Beach and Point Reyes, some of our group headed for the rails and tossed their cookies.  The weather was overcast and breezy but the ocean had just the right color salmon like – brownish green water full of plankton.  On the very first drop, I had a bite and then a fish.   When the fish came into view though, it looked small, a measurement fish (minimum size for salmon is 20″).  I was thinking how disappointing after all the reports of fish averaging 12-15 lb.  Irena was feeling too uneasy to fish her line so I checked her bait and put it back down – but when the bait was barely 20 feet away, a big salmon came up and grabbed it.  I called for Irena to reel it in but she said she was in no condition – so I reeled it up.  A real beauty ~ 18 lb.  Not long after that, I had a bite on my own line – and another tough salmon fight.  After ten odd minutes, this salmon was in the net, also ~18 lb.

Meanwhile, however, the rest of our group weren’t faring so well.  Greg had turned several shades of green, Karen was looking queasy, the salmon seemed to be playing with Celeste (one took her bait and sinker when she closed her eyes for a few minutes), and the fish avoided everyone else’s line like the plague.  Despite seasickness, everyone in our group gamely toughed it out and kept on fishing.  Other passengers weren’t faring well fishing wise either – there were 4-5 other fish in the box but that was it.  Captain Harry finally decided to head north to Point Reyes where the rest of the fleet said fishing was better.  I reeled in my own line and then reeled in Irena’s line.  Just 15 feet from the boat, another big salmon hit the bait.  Alas, this one shook its head mightily and threw the hook.  Oh well – how disappointing.  An hour boat ride later, we were near Point Reyes with lots of company from other charter boats, skiffs, and commercial fishing boats.  There was a lot more action here but unfortunately, it came from small fish.  The ratio of undersized salmon to legal (barely) salmon must have been 5-1.  Most weren’t strong enough to release the trolling sinkers (which was good since people got their sinkers back).  Irena, Nelson, and Greg each pulled in a small but legal salmon.  Finally, Captain Harry said enough was enough – we should have stayed put at the first spot – and we were heading back to our morning spot.

Back at the previous spot, the passengers got a huge thrill from a pod of enormous blue whales feeding on the abundant krill.  The biggest looked to be 70-80 feet long.  Some surfaced barely 200 yards from the boat, shooting spouts from their blowholes and waving their big flukes in the air as they plowed through the water.  We joked about the extra charges for whale watching.  Everyone with a camera pulled it out and tried to time the whales so as to catch tails in the air.  Then it was back to salmon fishing.  The action wasn’t fast but it turned out well for our group.  Greg, having shaken off seasickness, hooked a big and hard-fighting salmon.  After a tiring fight, a 15 lb salmon went in the box.  Then it was Karen’s turn – but when the deckhands initially took her rod to work out a tangle, she was reluctant to take it back.  All that dithering gave the salmon a chance to shake the hook – and after Karen finally took back the rod, that’s just what it did.  Finally, at 3 o’clock, Captain Harry gave the order to wind up and head home.  Just enough time for one last thrill.  As Nelson reeled in his line, a big salmon clobbered his bait barely 10 feet from the boat.  A short but fierce struggle later (only ten feet to reel in), another 15 lb salmon was in the box.

Overall, it was a feast or famine day for passengers.  In our
 group, four people caught two legal salmon and four people caught none.  That seemed to go for the rest of the passengers – ~20 salmon for 24 people.  My big fish and Irena’s big fish tied for biggest fish on the boat so we split the jackpot.  I gave my share to the deckhands, Tom and Rob.  I also gave my smaller salmon and the carcass of the big salmon to Chris – couldn’t have him disappointing the family.  Also took home a bag of fresh salmon roe (tasty but very rich).  A fine day of salmon fishing for me when all was said and done.

~Tom~

Celeste Rogers

For those who have never gone fishing in their life, here’s the drill. I woke up at 3:30am to get ready to carpool with Greg Wong to Emeryville for a day of salmon fishing.  The trip cost $100.00 for a spot aboard the New Seeker that can hold 25-30 people along the perimeter of the boat.  It was early in the morning and the line to pay was out the door at the Emeryville Sport fishing office. I had to rent my fishing rod which costs $10.00 a day and a fishing license that contributed $14.30 to the California State Park.  I also participated in the “BIGGEST CATCH” $5.00 jackpot. A nice monetary reward for one lucky angler, who can bring home the biggest fish.

At 6 am we were on our way.  Out on the bay, with views of San Francisco and passing the Golden Gate Bridge. The ride through the Pacific Ocean was choppy and skies were overcast with no sun in sight.  The boat ride lasted 2 hours before the engine was turn off in the middle of nowhere.  With the boat rocking left and right and the smell of diesel fuel in the air, it was a perfect formula to make us throw up!!  Greg Wong celebrated his inaugural fishing experience with a huge “over the railing” throw up extravaganza. With his condition, he was able to catch a very large salmon and another one within legal limit (>20 inches long).

Captain Harry took us from one location to another in hopes of finding the perfect spot for salmon. We were only allowed 2 salmons per day. After the first fish bit my bait, I was not that interested anymore because I had to learn how to reel in the line quickly.  Then I had to learn to cast the line out around 32 feet from where I was standing. I had to make sure that the 2.5 lb. sinker is not released accidentally and not get tangled with the neighbor’s lines and bring up before the boat sped up. There was so much to do. At the bow, the line depth has to be staggered so that the lines do not get tangled too often with your neighbors.  Those at the stern of the boat had their lines down at 50 feet, an ideal place to stand to catch the fish. I was cold and miserable and no fish was biting my line.  The worst feeling was trying to hold down the nausea which was about to bubble over. I was wondering how long I can endure this torture while we were still so far from land.  Finally, I gave in and tossed my cookies. I was ready to fish again!!  Not only did I not catch any fish, just a few nibbles, but I lost 3 sinkers!!!  The sinker ($5 each) is released when the fish bites the bait!!!  Imagine all the lost sinkers at the bottom of the ocean. When a fish is “hooked”, the deckhand nets the fish and clubs it to death until it sees stars. The fish is then gutted and tagged so the rightful owner can claim his/her fish at the end of day. The bait itself is a tedious process. Pushing a long curved hook (J) from tail of anchovies on the hook’s head, not the sharp end and leaving the hook exposed.  The head of the bait has a nail thru’ the hook’s hole and rubber band tied to it!  That way the bait is secured and looks real!  The highlight for me was seeing some blue whales in the distance.  One came really close by and I took a 10 seconds video of it!  Imagine the huge ocean and a view of its back and tail.  I saw the blow hole on the head as it released the stream of water!  Awesome huge creatures!!!

With every NSC event organized by Karen Soo, you can be sure that this is a well-organized trip. Even though this is not an official NSC event, the well thought plan and information provided has the NSC stamp of approval. Tom and Karen thought of everything that a newbie fishing person like me needs to know. I learned very quickly what to do and how to do it.  Tom was very thoughtful and gave me sinkers and set up my fishing pole.  He was the first person to catch fish which resulted in winning the jackpot of $90.00.  / Not the Deadliest but the Biggest Catch.

Cheers, Celeste