Rollin' on the river

Rare chance to see the Petaluma River this spring

March 15, 2006

By DANE GOLDEN
ARGUS-COURIER STAFF

Have you ever seen the river? Really seen it -- from a boat?

"Seeing the river from a moving vehicle or even walking along it is a very different experience," said David Yearsley, the former Petaluma Riverkeeper.

"Being on the river actually makes you part of it," he said. "It gets in your blood. You smell it, you feel the movement, you see the tides rising and falling, and you also see the wildlife up close and personal."

Most people haven't had a chance to get out on the river since the Petaluma Queen stopped running in 1997. But this spring, Petalumans will get an opportunity to see their river in a way most never have. Berkeley-based Dolphin Charters will be offering several three-hour tours (no Gilligan jokes, please) for the general public, which start and end at the Turning Basin. The tours will take 32 passengers on a trip to Port Sonoma and back. Tickets are $35, and children must be 8 years or older.

Piloted by Captain Ron Patterson (OK, so no "Captain Ron" jokes, either, please) and crewed by Barbara Fitzgerald, the trips will begin and end at the Riverhouse (formerly Kate & Doc's). The trips will take place on April 8 and 9 and May 13. Trips will be 9 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. On May 13, there will also be a 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. tour. Call (510) 527-9622 to reserve a spot.

Patterson has been running the charter service in the Bay Area for 25 years, but usually just comes up the Petaluma River a few days a year, as he did recently with an elderhostel group. He said he's looking forward to opening up the tours to the public.

"The town is taking pride in itself and the importance of the river, and we're involved in the river," he said. "It's very nice to see the town developing the riverfront, not just in a gross way but a very sensitive way, to take advantage of the historical background and importance the river has had."

Those who take the tour will have an opportunity to see an abundance of birdlife, such as snowy egrets, great blue herons, American avocets, willets, red-tailed hawks, northern harriers, turkey vultures, American kestrels, yellowlegs, sandpipers and more. There may also be a few sea lions doing some fishing, and even some deer along the shore.

Patterson narrates the trips, and the two-deck boat has speakers throughout. He points out various historical features of the river in addition to the natural points of interest. Visitors will get to see Shollenberger Park from the river, the various levees (yes, we have them too), and a lot of other things folks wouldn't have known about otherwise.

Fitzgerald said it's also a great chance to see a diminished resource, the Bay Area wetlands.

"If you can name it or know about it, you tend to want to keep it," she said. "You get more involved if it's something you have seen."

(Contact Dane Golden at dgolden@arguscourier.com)

PETALUMA RIVER TOURS

When: April 8 & 9, May 13

Times: 9 a.m.- noon, 1-4 p.m. plus 5-8 p.m. on May 13

Departure: Riverhouse (formerly Kate & Doc's)

Phone: (510) 527-9622

Web: www.dolphincharters.com

Dress: Rainproof windbreaker, sweater or fleece and tennis shoes (no hiking boots)

"The face of the water, in time, became a wonderful book -- a book that was a dead language to the uneducated passenger, but which told its mind to me without reserve."

-- Mark Twain, "Life on the Mississippi"