M.V. Madaket Harbor Cruise

Today we took a ride to downtown Eureka to the seaport and went on a cruise on the 102 year old M.V. Madaket. This vessel is the last of 7 ferries that operated on Humboldt Bay.  The ferries usually were used to take workers to and from the lumber mills, sawmills, fishing boats and docks.  The M.V. Madaket is the oldest passenger carrying vessel in continuous service in the United States.  The ferry is classified as a California Historic vessel.  Our Captain for today was Eric, who's father before him was the vessel's Captain.  Eric has been the Captain for 18 years and his father was Captain for at least 22 years before that.  The first mate is Tiffany, Eric's niece from Tampa, Florida.  On the far side of the islands, along the Pacific are miles of WWII built ammunition bunkers and places to set up cannons to protect the area from a feared Japanese attack, just like at Pearl Harbor.
We also stopped by the site of Fort Humboldt and had a nice walk on the bluff overlooking Eureka.

M.V. Madaket

 

Captain Eric

First Mate, Bartender and Ticket taker Tiffany

Getting ready to go crab fishing

The Coast Guard Cutter "Barracuda" (all new and aluminum)

Debbie was having fun

                                                                          

One of the few remaining buildings at Fort Humboldt