[Published: January 18, 2023]
By Kim Ratcliff
Remember the movie “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” starring John Candy and Steve Martin who tried increasingly unconventional transportation modes as they struggled to get home for Thanksgiving?
Stanford Web Services Accessibility Specialist Caryl Westerberg will see John Candy and raise him.
Last fall, Westerberg, who works at the Stanford Redwood City (SRWC) campus, wanted to attend an after-hours team dinner with colleagues. The only problem? Caryl proudly rides Caltrain using her Go Pass (free to eligible Stanford affiliates). “The university’s commitment to supporting sustainable commuting is one of the reasons I chose to work for Stanford,” she said. However, in this instance, she wanted to ensure she’d have plenty of time to socialize without worrying about missing the last train.
Disappointed, Caryl racked her brain. Then inspiration struck. She turned to husband Patrick and said, “Let’s borrow your aunt’s boat!”
Patrick, a seasoned boater, was game. So one afternoon last September, they drove to Alameda and loaded her bike onto “Bumfuzzle," a 32’ Grand Banks trawler, which Caryl likens to an “RV on the water.” Then the couple embarked on a three-hour excursion from Alameda’s Aeolian Yacht Club to its sister organization, the Sequoia Yacht Club in the Redwood City Marina.
That night, the duo tucked into the cozy quarters, falling soundly asleep to the boat’s gentle rocking motion. They awoke in the morning to the sounds of sails clinking musically against masts all around. Arms outstretched, Caryl greeted the sunrise out on the deck as she breathed in the harbor’s deep rich smells. “It was so peaceful,” she said. But duty called. Shortly afterward, Caryl hopped on her bike and rode three miles to SRWC, winding along the wetland’s picturesque trail.
After work, Caryl enjoyed the team dinner with remote team members who’d come to Stanford for a visit. She and Patrick loved their aquatic accommodations so much that they ended up staying on the boat for four nights.
During their outing, a few work friends visited. “One even brought her preschool-aged daughter who had a blast exploring the boat. All in all, it was a lovely experience,” said Caryl.
Why not make 2023 the year we all think outside the commute box?
NO YACHT, NO PROBLEM!
Sequoia Yacht Club, located at the Redwood City Marina, welcomes members from all backgrounds — you don't need to own a boat (or even know how to use one.) There’s something for everyone, notes Caryl, including a beautiful clubhouse with a bar, fireplace, and outdoor deck, racing regattas, cruising and social events, and an award-winning Junior Sailing Program. “It’s a great place to spend family time. You and your kids can learn how to sail and even participate in Wednesday night sunset races,” she said.
