Boating – June 2019

BOATINGMAG.COM | JUNE 2019 | 89

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century, found them-

selves in the region

working to build the

levee walls and harvest

the farmland. Walnut

Grove and the neigh-

boring immigrant town

of Locke were home to

many Chinese laborers

and their families. Offi -

cially established in 1915

by immigrants, Locke is

the last remaining rural

Chinatown in America.

Much of its main street

looks like it did a century

ago, and it is a must-see

if you’re in the area. You

can tie up your boat for

free at the Walnut Grove

docks and walk the half-

mile along River Road

into Locke or, for a fee,

you can dock at the an-

cient Boathouse Marina

and just cross the street

into the village.

The history is

palpable as you walk

along Main Street, and

we made our way into

the Lockeport Grill and

Fountain shop. Martha,

the owner, instantly

greeted us with a big

smile and regaled us with

stories of the building ’s

history. Estimated to

have been built in 1895,

it fi rst served as a jail and

then a gambling house

before turning into a va-

riety of diff erent hotels.

Since she took owner-

ship several years ago,

she’s been updating the

rooms to make a B&B.

She served the crew root

beer fl oats and taught the

kiddos a few songs on her

player piano.

We briefl y stopped

in a couple of museums,

continuing to take in

the history of the tiny

town and what it meant

to the region we’d spent

so much time in as fami-

lies. It was interesting

to think what the Delta

would have become had

it not been for all the le-

vees built all those years

ago. Despite its relative

youth in the world of

boating as well as its

shallow depths, it is

neat to see that history

runs deep in the Delta.

The day and the

weekend wrapped up

with more cruising

along calm Delta canals

under a warm Novem-

ber sun. Like their fa-

thers before them, some

of the kids napped on

the boat as the engine’s

rumble lulled them to

sleep. We took advan-

tage of the weather and

ideal water conditions

to wakeboard, wake-

surf, and even throw

out a couple of fi shing

lines. We caught a little

air and even fewer fi sh,

but the smiles through-

out the boat were in-

dicative of everyone’s

feelings. Once again, the

unique absurdity that is

the Delta had served for

another fun outing with

family and friends. And

for the White family,

the tradition continues.

WHERE

TO GO

Headed to the Delta

soon? Here are a few

spots to check out.

STOCKTON

Tower Park Resort

is home to the

Jellystone Park

Campground, which

is great for families.

Book an RV slip, tent

campsite or cabin;

towerparkresort.com.

Cruise south toward

Port of Stockton and

eat on the water at

Garlic Brothers.

WALNUT GROVE

Tie up at the public

docks and walk to a

number of restau-

rants for a meal. The

Pizza Factory is a

solid choice.

DISCOVERY BAY

Located in the Delta’s

southwest corner,

Discovery Bay is the

area’s largest on-

water community.

You’ll fi nd a launch

ramp, restaurants,

and VRBO homes of

all sizes to rent.

SPECS: LENGTH: 20'11" BEAM: 8'6" DRAFT: 2'8" DISPLACEMENT: 5,100 lb. PRICE: $126,759 (with GM Marine L96 409 hp)

CENTURIONBOATS.COM

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