Saturday, July 26, 2014

Trolling for bottom dwellers (Marine Science Ecotour)

Steve, a good friend, suggested that Alex, Inna, and I would enjoy participating in a Marine Science Ecotour in Redwood City. It would allow me to explore some of the native marine life in the San Francisco Bay and to see firsthand the work that marine biologists do.

With Steve's help, we purchased tickets and headed for the voyage.
Thanks for signing up for our 2 Hour Discovery Eco-Voyage!
We are looking forward to seeing you on board Saturday, July 26 at 1pm, and hope you enjoy your adventure with us.
Our 90' Research Vessel, the Robert G. Brownlee, will depart from the Marine Science Institute. Weather at this time of year can be pleasant or chilly, so please dress in layers! Please also plan to arrive and be ready to board 30 minutes before your trip starts. This means leaving lots of extra time for driving to MSI, finding parking and walking to the dock. If your party is not signed in at the dock 15 minutes before the trip departure, we will open up those spaces to anyone waiting who is present.

Some additional tips to prepare for the voyage:
• Closed-toed shoes are required
• Always keep your children in sight. Our instructors cannot watch everyone at once.
• Minimum age is 5
• Dress for the weather; conditions at the coast can be vary drastically.
• And be sure to have fun!
While waiting for Robert G. Brownlee to depart, we saw a few people row on Hawaiian outrigger canoes.


When the time was 1:00pm, Inna, Alex, and I put on our lifejackets and got ready to board.


During our brief journey, we trolled for some fish and bottom dwellers. Alex learned firsthand how bottom-dwellers could be scooped up.


After trolling a bit, we picked up a bunch of marine specimens. We did not see much, just a few small fish.



After picking up the bottom dwellers, we sifted them through strainers.



We also saw an old shipwreck that's right in the bay.




A few boats were sailing and enjoying the beautiful, warm weather and clear skies.


After the trip, we decided to go to Redwood City and get lunch there. We rarely visit this area and thought it would be interesting to explore it.

Looking at Yelp reviews, we decided to try Vesta. On a beautiful summer day, we sat down in a nice shady spot outside. We were surprised by the number of quality restaurants in Redwood City. We will need to go back again.


We ordered "Mushroom Toast" for the appetizer and were delighted by the delicious and tasty concoction seen below.


Alex ordered a "Margherita Pizza" and enjoyed eating it.


Inna and I were adventurous and ordered a "Sausage and Honey Pizza." It was unique and very filling.


We really liked our pizzas in Vesta and would be happy to come back at another time.

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