RIO VISTA BOAT DOCK

The twin towers of the Rio Vista Bridge spanning the Sacramento River are in the background.

Although long time residents refuse to admit that it's hot until the temperature hits triple digits, it is hot enough for me at 95 degrees and above.  And for the last two days it has been that warm inside. Amber is an even bigger sissy about the heat than I am. She finds a slightly cooler spot--next to the tub in the bathroom for instance--stretches out flat, and refuses to move.

Today, which promised to be even hotter than yesterday, I realized that some action beyond whining was called for, and made a foray into the 21st Century as represented by neighboring Antioch with its many big box stores selling portable air conditioners.  I had been warned not to wait until it got hot, but of course didn't listen.  I found a suitable model at Lowes, but was informed that none were in stock.  Supposedly some will arrive tomorrow and I will go back to get one.  At any rate, I managed to get several errands done and was back to Rio Vista by early afternoon.

The drive to and from Antioch affords some of the best views of the delta with all its sloughs and islands.  The view from the top of the great arch of the toll bridge on the outskirts of Antioch is spectacular, a sweeping 360 degree vista stretching to distant hazy horizons, translating the delta map into direct visual experience.

When Amber and I go out in the heat of the day, as we did yesterday and today, it is down to the little park by the boat dock and boat launch.  There is some shade from trees by the river (the cottonwood trees send their little puffs drifting by), and cool river water at the boat launch for Amber to swim in to retrieve sticks.

A sign on the public boat dock reminds us of the bass festival that will be held in October. I have not experienced this but understand it is quite a popular event.  Rio Vista has legitimate claim to being a
major mecca for fishermen after striped bass and sturgeon. There was evidently so much competition for the prizes awarded for the biggest fish--boats, large cash prizes, etc.--that people were keeping large fish alive in their bathtubs for weeks in order to claim that the fish had been caught on the day of the competition.  The festival organizers had to change the contest rules so that the winner would be the fisherman who brought in the bass closest to a secret length, which would be revealed only after the entries were all in.

Meanwhile the dock and boat launch are nearly deserted on hot weekday afternoons, so they are a good place to get a little walk and cool off at the same time.  For rabbit chasing we wait until the sun goes down about 8:30 to drive out to one of the open fields nearby.  Amber has a LED lighted collar so I can keep track of her in the dark visually as well as by her excited yelps as she pursues the jackrabbits.

Fish and bait leave tantalizing smells on the dock.

Cool river water is good for a splash on a hot afternoon.