Eagles Drop in to Point Richmond Beach for a visit

It has been becoming a pattern for a lone bald eagle to land on the outermost piling at Pt Richmond Beach in the last couple months.  Last week neighbors were delighted to see this early morning visit by not one but 2 eagles posing on the wooden perches.  

Photo by Steve Rees

Pt Richmond Beach Charity Swim a Success!

Point Richmond beaches 16th annual charity swim, "Swim with Fish Lite" occurred on Saturday August 6.  This year's event was a more relaxed version of previous swims. Weather was warm and sunny, and the event was well attended.  Twelve swimmers completed the swim this year. Two other swimmers were unavailable and are planning to do the crossing at a later date.  Among the highlights of the swim was peninsula Sophomore Jonah Bergerson who completed the mile course in 26 minutes: a new course record!  Olivia Eagle was back this year coming in second, finishing 28 minutes.  However, judges are investigating to see if the tape that she used on her suit (pictured below) was really duct tape, or was the banned product “speed tape??” Suspicion has it that the tape was applied in a strategic manner in order to maximize her...speed.  The totals are not finalized yet but so far Peninsula Fish has recorded $8525. The New Phoebe House has $5570 including $1500 in pledged funds.  

Above 2022 swimmers and Paddlers

1) Jonah Bergerson 26 minutes (no fins)

2) Olivia Eagle 28 minutes (no fins)

3) Drew Kellerman 29 minutes (fins)

4) Steve Rees 29 minutes (fins)

5) Joanne Kirby 30 minutes (first place in backstroke!)

6) Tyler Givot 31 minutes, Peter Bortel 31 minutes (fins)

7) Brian Givot 31 minutes

8) Jennifer Driscoll 35 minutes

9) Anthony Pennington 36 minutes (fins)

10) Tres Walker 37 minutes

11) Karen Marie 48 minutes (fins)

Olivia sporting secret tape, father on right

Tesa Johnson had Covid on race day and swam around Tanglewood Island on 9.21.2022 as a makeup swim.

Photos from Point Richmond Beaches Past..

Beach looking North 1950? Closest house with
Chimney is the Webster house.

The Hexagonal shaped house at left is now the Hovey home.
At far north, the A framed house is now the Bortel home.

l 

Central beach about 1981

Warter house left, Rees house right 1981

Left to right; Roe lot, Brower, Rees house with 2nd level being
 added, Sorenson houses. 

South End of Beach early 1980’s 

More Early 1980’s

Early 1980’s

Early 1980’s

Swim with Fish Another Success; $30,465 raised!

 15 swimmers successfully crossed Colvos Passage on July 31, 2021 for the 15th annual Swim.  The Event was also successful in raising $31,365 for the Gig Harbor Peninsula Food Bank this year, $188,000 raised over the lifetime of the swim.

Left to right above: Jeff Sala, Joanne Kirby, Hayden Flaskrud, Olivia Eagle, Peter Bortel, Drew Kellerman, Brian Givot, Taylor Givot (kids swim), Tesa Johnson, Steve Rees, Craig Young, Scott Huntington, Anthony Pennington, Jim Minor. Not Pictured Mike Shields.

1 Mile Unassisted Swim

32:45  Olivia Eagle

33:26  Brian Givot

35:42  Steve Rees

41:45  Craig Young

45:58 Mike Shields

1 Mile with Fins
30:50  Jeff Sala
31:14   Joanne Kirby
31:24   Hayden Flaskrud
32:49  Peter Bortel
33:10  Drew Kellerman
35:24. Tesa Johnson
43:09 Scott Huntington
44:51 Anthony Pennington
53:09 Jim Minor

Tesa, Drew & Peter

 

Brian, Olivia & Peter after swim

Finish point awaited swimmers arrival

 Also Swimming with Fish were Christi Schones and Hannah Welch. These two swimmers were not able to swim the day the rest of the group swam. Instead they swam along the shore the Sunday prior to the main swim.

Christi Schones (left) and Hannah Welch

Sam's Squidtok

Sam Bortel has drawn quite a bit of interest with his "thysanoteuthis rhombus egg masses," or squid eggs. This all started about a week ago when the eggs washed ashore in front of his house. Now over 170,000 views later he is well followed on Tiktok. Below are links to his videos.

Video 1

Video 2
 

Swim with Fish 2020 Another Fundraising Record

Swim with Fish raises $36,408, another record in fundraising.  The swim has now raised approximately $156,800 since inception! Thank you to all who participated and contributed.

2 mile swimmers

Lunchtime swimmers

                                                           Start of 1 mile swim

It Must Be Summer!

Even though my calendar is saying spring, the manner in which the animals surrounding us are behaving of late, it has got to be summer! Let me give a few visual examples. This is what occurred yesterday evening...

This group showed up unannounced and interrupted our dinner...

And if that wasn't enough these 2 were spotted in a nearby tree.

But then that is not the half of it. This heron was seen strolling the shoreline -

big fish in mouth! But then..

One of the 3 stooges came out of the water and tried to steal the fish!

While that was happening this doe was in our yard eating our hydrangeas!

It may not have happened all in one evening as I have lead you to believe, but it could have happened this way.

Mother’s Day Piling Jump - Even Better!

 What’s better than piling jumping on Mother’s Day Eve?  Why a jump on actual mother day, of course!

1st Annual Mothers Day Eve Piling Jump

First piling jump ever on Mothers Day Eve! Click on link below to see what happened...

>>Pt Richmond, Mothers Day Eve Piling Jump<<

Earl Visits Point Richmond Beach

A Large California Sea Lion dropped by Point Richmond Beach early Saturday and stirred up what was starting out to be a typical lazy morning. Earl, as one neighbor called him, apparently spent the night on a nearby dock. When he decided to try out another dock with a boat moored to it, the owner decided to take action and chase him off the dock. Earl cooperated with only a minor objection, or maybe it was a grunt.  This pinniped was next spotted at the Rees pilings where he decided to scratch an itch by rubbing barnacles clinging to the surface. Then he decided licking was a better choice.. 

At first earl was estimated at 600 pounds but this quickly jumped to 800 pounds. The heaviest estimate came in at over 1000 pounds. All agreed that Earl has a certain attitude.

Earl eventually moved south and has not been seen since.

Covid-19 Brings New Way to Socialize

Since Covid-19 took the world and nobody is working, neighbors are have been found loitering around the mailboxes right in the street! The above photo was taken on friday April 17 on a lazy afternoon after doing nothing all day.  Folks were at least responsible about keeping to their 6 foot allotted spaces.

Swim with Fish 2019: Another Record Fundraiser!

Photo by Al Brower

The 2019 Swim with Fish once again covered new ground, netting $29,400 for the Peninsula Fish Food Bank. The money realized will be twice this much when the State of Washington reimburses Fish for donations spent, as part of a money matching agreement currently in place. Swimmer Jeff Sala of Gig Harbor took 1st place as he did previously in 2017. Swimmer and swim co-founder Peter Bortel raised the most money totaling a whopping $5910!

Swimmers biggest complaint seemed to be the choppy surface conditions caused by a light to moderate northerly wind on this partly cloudy day. Over 100 people attended the event seen above enjoying the nice weather, potluck and libations.

Times 

1. Jeff Sala  24:48  
2. Joanne Kirby  27:30  NO SNORKEL
3. Angela Goosens  29:48  NO SNORKEL
4. Peter Bortel  30:12 
5. Jen Driscoll  30:50 
6. Steve Rees  31:01  WITHOUT FINS OR SNORKEL!
7. Tesa Johnson  31:55. (No snorkel)
8. Drew Kellerman  32:13
9. Hayden Flaskerud  32:43
10. Preston Fradget  33:31
11. Tres Walker  34:02  WITHOUT FINS OR SNORKEL!
12. Dan Wickland  34:34  WITHOUT FINS OR SNORKEL!
13. Anthony Pennington  36:14
14. Craig Young  37:12  WITHOUT FINS OR SNORKEL!
15. Kristie Ladd  39:16
16. Scott Huntington  39:36
17. Larry Burr  39:53
18. Sasha Mayer  40:13
19. Chris Mayer  40:35
20. Sam Bortel  41:43
21. Nichole Raymond 52:05  (snorkel failure)

Swimmers being transported to Vashon Island

 before the swim

Tesa Johnson ready to start the swim

Dave and Osten Vogel enroute to Vashon Island

Sasha Mayer approaching the finish point

Chris Mayer Greeted by his Family

Sam Bortel makes a good finish!

Tricia Schnieder's incredible handmade cookies along with other goodies 

Tesa Johnson Escaping Vashon Island

Maya gets comfortable with sand

Kids Swim

Future Fish Swimmers Grayson, Paige and Sophia
pose prior to taking part in the kids swim
with safety kayakers looking on

1. Paige  1:44
2. Sophia  2:07
3. Grayson  1:25  (partial swim)

Paige coming in from the cone