It’s All Good in Petaluma

We have made annual trips from Alameda to the Petaluma Turning Basin aboard our Catalina 42 Azure for the last several years. The information you were given by the Petaluma Visitor Center is correct — the locking gates have made a world of difference on the docks at night. Before they were installed, groups of bored teenagers congregated at the far end of the dock (below the yacht club) to hang out. They were never rude to us, but they could get loud late at night. A friend once found trash left on his deck, and we often noted fresh graffiti written and carved onto the wooden dock. We never experienced any theft or vandalism. Despite the minor annoyances, we still found Petaluma to be a charming place to visit.

Now, with the locking gates operational, the major hazard facing visiting boaters at the Turning Basin is forgetting the security code after drinking too much wine in one (or more!) of the many fantastic restaurants ashore. The Visitor Center’s information package is terrific and includes suggestions for local dining and activities. The packet also includes a chart of the turning basin, including depth soundings (there are some very shallow spots).

Editorial Note: We’ve received nothing but positive feedback from our request in Monday‘s ‘Lectronic for your experiences in Petaluma, and will be running many of the responses in the September issue of Latitude 38.