Sacramento City Guide Escapes toTake the Drive into the California Delta by Barbara L. Steinberg
Despite yesterday's gloom and cold, I ventured into the California Delta. Just one more escape from the urban environs that I live and love. Not my first time driving these back roads -- a journey I dearly love. Though I have scoured many of the twists and turns, there's always some other road that I see and wonder, "What's down there?" There just are never enough hours in the day. On this particular outing, I got a late start. The heavy winter fog necessitated even more cautious driving and navigating the narrow lanes – what with water on the one side and drop-offs on the other. I knew that with impending darkness I wanted to be off the levee roads before the meager light retreated.
But this trek had a specific destination and one that really befits the quote, “You just can’t get there from here.” And my own personal favorite, “The best thing you almost missed.” In the case of the California Delta, the latter applies to an endless number of landmarks. The former…well, ditto. My intended destination was many miles away and weak-of-heart drivers probably wouldn’t take this test alone. For me, I know all roads lead somewhere I want to be and so I go.
The Delta is a step back in time. A place where life seems to stand still. The very reason I love it so much. I am sure I am not alone in that assessment. On this particular visit, it’s one of those time warps that have called me to drive. The soon-to-be-replaced Real McCoy ferry between Rio Vista and Ryer Island. The 65-year-old Real McCoy has reached the end of a useful life and will be replaced by the Real McCoy II. Before that happens sometime later this month or perhaps in February (2011), I wanted to take one last ride – honoring the vestiges of the past and predecessors who used this time-tested transit out of necessity and not as a novel pastime.
The Real McCoy II is heading to Rio Vista from Alameda and, once staff has been trained, the dedicated McCoy I will float off into the sunset. I hope it's last days will be gentle and memories of this tired and devoted workhorse will endure. So even if you miss this golden moment, there will be many more days ahead for the new ferry. Plus, twice the fun since you can still take the J-Mack from the other side of Ryer Island and enjoy a true California Delta driving tour. Some years ago it was rumored that CalTrans would take the ferries out of service. If true, I thank the ferry gods above and praise the wisdom of CalTrans higher-ups for embracing the past.
I don't much about "Back to the Future," but I sure love getting back to the past. This Delta adventure is all that and more! And I look forward to new Delta adventures to come.
More Delta Stories:
Sacramento City Guide's Top Eleven includes the California Delta.
California Sacramento- San Joaquin River Delta is Great Getaway
In This Case, The Road Taken
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