Sponsored by the Vaca Valley Volks, the 2011 Mare Island Walk was held in conjunction with the 15th Annual Bay Area Flyway Festival. Registration was towards the center of Mare Island and the walk went past now vacant buildings, heading right for the Mare Island Causeway. The bridge there is still an active draw bridge and it provided access for the thousands of workers at the Mare Island Naval Shipyard during its hayday of ship bulding. The bridge is 165 feet long and 48.5 feet wide providing crossing for vehicular, pedestrian and rail traffic. The walk went across the bridge and through a wetland park area that runs along the Napa River. After passing three houseboats which had been converted to permanent houses, the walk headed for the graceful Highway 37 bridge. It was a gentle walk to the top of the bridge where you could look down the river to see boats passing under the Mare Island Causeway bridge. Coming down the other side, you could see the wetlands spread out before you. The walk went back and headed out for a short visit to a nature trail. Dogs weren't allowed on that segment, but there was a special alternate walk set up for them. Although not part of this walk, one of the three dry docks on Mare Island was in use. The SS Solon Turman had been taken from the Mothball Fleet and put in dry dock for dismantling. It is the first of two ships that will be dismantled here.