If you've biked to Sausalito or have commuted from Larkspur or San Francisco any time in the past three years, you may recognize Dan Blythe, a casual relief supervisor for Golden Gate Ferry.
Dan Blythe has two waterfront occupations. When he is not helping load passengers on and off of cruise ships from Pier 27 (left), you can probably find him supervising terminal activities at one of Golden Gate Ferry’s terminals (right).
By Matt Larson
Published: October, 2015
If you’ve biked to Sausalito or have commuted from Larkspur or San Francisco any time in the past three years, you may recognize Dan Blythe, a casual relief supervisor for Golden Gate Ferry. As a casual relief supervisor, it’s Blythe’s job to make sure the whole operation runs smoothly by supervising the terminal attendants, setting up the hydraulic gangways when boats come in to land and assisting with commuters’ questions—when one of the full-time supervisors needs some time off, that is. “I consider us like substitute teachers,” Blythe said. “When the real teacher can’t be there, they call one of us.”
Blythe can be called to work at the San Francisco, Sausalito or Larkspur ferry terminals, but he most enjoys spending time at the Sausalito terminal as it poses the greatest challenge. “That has become a very busy place with all the bikes,” he said. Riding a bike across the Golden Gate Bridge has become a top tourist activity, and these bike riders mostly end up at Sausalito wanting to head back via ferry. “We handle about 2,000 bikes a day and can only put 150 bikes on each ferry,” he said. “During peak times, riders may have to wait a couple hours to get a ferry back.”
It can get a little tense with so many people in line, as there may be unexpected wait time for some tourists, but Blythe is a retired air traffic controller. After 32 years with the Federal Aviation Administration, there’s little pressure he can’t handle, Sausalito terminal included. “It can be frustrating, but at the end of the day it feels good that you were able to get the job done.”
Speaking of jobs, despite retiring from the FAA in 2005 and working part-time for Golden Gate Ferry, Blythe also works a second job as a supervisor for Metro Shore Services, helping load 3,000 passengers off cruise ships at Pier 27, then helping 3,000 new passengers on. “It’s quite a process when you think about it, handling 6,000 people in a matter of eight hours,” he said. “But we have a pretty good system to do it.” Blythe first started working these jobs to stay busy after retirement. Now between the two, he said, “It’s almost like I’m back to full-time work!”
But he’s happy to be working on the water. “Whether it’s a cruise ship or a Golden Gate Ferry, it’s fun being around the water,” said Blythe. “I grew up around boats since I was a kid. My parents had boats, I still have boats to this day, as a young teenager in the early sixties I’d work at the marinas selling bait and stuff like that.”
He grew up in the Atlantic City area in New Jersey and currently lives in Novato with his partner of 35 years, whom he just recently married thanks to the Supreme Court’s decision in Obergefell v. Hodges. In his free time, Blythe loves taking his boats out. From the lagoon in his Novato backyard, he can hop in his boat, head up the Petaluma River and have lunch in Petaluma, or he can go for overnight trips to Benicia. Blythe also enjoys road trips to Yosemite or Southern California. An avid boater, traveler and cook who can make a mean crab cake, Blythe is enjoying his retirement to the max.
For those who aren’t yet retired and still commute to San Francisco for work, Blythe highly recommends taking the Golden Gate Ferry. “For commuters it’s the easiest way to get from Marin to San Francisco,” he said. “You don’t have traffic, you don’t have bridge tolls, you can relax and do your emails, have a drink, have a snack—it’s a great way to travel.” So it may be hard to catch him, but if you see Blythe in the terminal for Golden Gate or by the cruise ships at Pier 27, make sure to say hello and ask about the crab cakes.
