A SLOUGH LESS TRAVELED By: Edward Jochim While on various trips up the Napa river, I have often wondered what the area west of the river was like. According to the chart the water is not very deep, the water ways are not very wide, and some of the bridges are not very high. Not exactly the kind of place you would want to take a sail boat not even a small one like Eider, my 15 ft. Potter. Still, think of all the possibilities, just look at the destinations Dutchman Slough, Mud Slough, Coon Island, Devils Slough the list goes on and on. I had set aside a couple of days in July for a trip in Eider. Where to go this time? Upon reading the Tide and Current Table for the days in question, it looked as if the trip through this area would be possible. During the daylight hours the tides were 4.0 hi. 2.0 lo. 6.2 hi., perfect for exploring the Napa Slough / Sonoma Creek area. After launching at the Vallejo Launch Ramp and sailing up the Napa River, I anchored at green marker number eleven and transformed Eider from a sail boat into a River Rat. Down came the sails, next the mast and boom which were stored in the crutch, then off with the rudder. Every thing was properly stored, the anchor pulled, and the motor started. We headed into Napa Slough. The chart shows numerous snags in the area as well as a depth at mean low water of 1/2 ft. at the entrance. Needless to say in this area caution is the watch word. I raised the motor to a height where the prop was just covered by water and raised the center board about 2/3rd. We moved forward at idle speed while holding the center board lanyard ready to raise it if we bump the bottom ( sort of an early warning device ). After bumping a number of times, we cleared the area of shallows and could pick up the pace. The next destination was Hudeman Slough. I asked a man and his son, who were pounding nails into their fishing shack, if the entrance was near. He grunted something to the effect that the next turn off would be what I was looking for. Sure enough there it was a battered, weathered, sign sitting at a rakish angle with the name Hudeman. Ahead lay the main reason I had taken down the mast it was the northern Skaggs island bridge with a clearance of 3 ft. at mean high water. The chart shows a launch ramp just beyond the bridge. The best description for the bridge and ramp is tired but serviceable. It was in this area that I saw the only other humans on this waterway. Two guys in a fishing boat waived as they made their way back to the launch ramp. Hudeman Slough runs into Third Napa Slough. I turned right at Third Napa Slough, and headed toward my final destination for this day, "Wingo". Why Wingo? Well for one thing it's a connecting water way to Sonoma Creek. Also, as a youth my father and I used to fish in Wingo. I remember that at that time there was water, although now the chart does not show any soundings. Just goes to show you forty eight years can make a difference. Finding Wingo turned out to be the tough part. The folding chart showed only two channels exiting Third Napa Slough the first has no name and the second was Wingo (should be a snap) . I went past the first visible entrance and searched the shore trying to find Wingo. Third Napa Slough disappears behind the compass rose on my chart just beyond the Wingo exit. To sum it up Wingo just wasn't there. Went back to the only exit to be found and entered a different world. The channel was very narrow, very shallow, and loaded with organic debris that was constantly getting wrapped around the prop. It is difficult to access distances when you're entire world consists of two tall curtains of tulles with an occasional sighting of wild life. After approximately forty minutes, I came to a very low bridge just high enough to sneak under. A good look under that bridge was enough for me. The canal was choked with organic material, the only thing missing in that primordial soup was a couple of trolls. At this point it looked as if forward movement would be impossible. (time to reconnoiter). Turned off the motor, tied up to a bunch of tulles, and climbed on the cabin for a look see. There we were surrounded by a large agricultural complex, a number of buildings, some equipment, a no trespassing sign, and about five hundred yards away the Bascule railroad bridge that goes over Wingo at the Sonoma Creek entrance. Since forward movement was impossible, it was time to backtrack. Turning the boat around in an area as wide as the boat is long took a little doing. A couple of pulls on the motor, followed by many more, some very nasty comments regarding the legitimacy of this otherwise reliable mechanical device, a spark plug replacement, then an extra careful clearing and cleaning of the prop. Finally as if governed by a power out side the natural world, the motor belches to life. We retraced our steps to Third Napa Slough, and anchored for the evening. Some time spent in the cockpit that evening revealed a world of bright stars, and aside from the sound of an occasional air plane, the only other sounds were from the wild life both ashore and on the water. Next morning after coffee and breakfast, pulled the anchor and set off toward San Pablo Bay. We backtracked up Third Napa Slough to Second Napa Slough did a left at Sonoma Creek, and anchored just beyond the fixed bridge at highway 37. Then to the background din of beeping horns, shifting gears, and other motorized madness, I proceeded to convert Eider back into a sail boat. The wind wasn't ready to cooperate so I cranked up the motor and headed into the bay. The chart shows an unmarked channel bordered by stumps and pilings, and if that isn't enough to think about the depth at mean low water diminishes to a paltry 1 ft. Once again with the early warning device (center board) raised 2/3 rds. we proceeded cautiously until in enough water to sail once again. We headed west until reaching the well marked channel that leads to the Petaluma River. Spent the evening anchored about 1/2 mile beyond highway 37 crashing and thrashing about to a strong north west breeze. Eider finally quite dancing around the anchor late that night and peace was once again restored.( made a mental note to seek shelter on arrival, and not to expect the breeze to moderate when the sun sets ) Next morning had coffee and breakfast then motored out the channel into the bay looking for a breeze. The shallows were occupied by flocks of pelicans all keeping a jaundiced eye on Eider. At red marker number eight we left the channel, put up the sails, then headed toward Vallejo, and the launch ramp on Mare Island Strait. The trip was with out incident except for the ramp area where several small Navy boats were in the process of launching. Each carrying three or four Navy Seals dressed in camouflage, and blackened faces. Since that day I learned that the seals do training exercises in the area. After spending about twenty four hours on the Napa River Delta I begin to realize just how big it is. To really cover it thoroughly would take several days. Pick the tides carefully, bring along some mosquito repellent, and a good sense of humor. It's worth a shot. (TRY IT YOU'LL LIKE IT )