We did it!

Well, here we are, Southern California. Actually, we are in Santa Barbara to be specific. Our departure from Monterey was very uneventful and things were going smoothing until our sail ripped (another addition to the list of things to do in port, a list that always grows with every leg). It really wasn't that bad, but meant we couldn't do anymore sailing until at least the next port. Which was Port San Luis. From Monterey we'd plan on stopping in Morro Bay, but we were making such good time and it was early in the morning for a trip into Morro Bay we decided that another 4 hours would only have us in at a little after 2 pm. What we didn't know was the fuel dock closed at 2, then the winds came up. We couldn't get off the fuel dock. The decision was made to sit tight and either wait for fuel in the morning or wait for the winds to slow and try getting off then. Well, the winds finally died down around 7 or so and the harbor patrol came by and said we couldn't stay tied up to the dock. With their help, we found our mooring buoy. It was the first time we'd ever picked one up. It only took two tries and I was so proud as I pulled that slim covered line up on deck and attached it to the cleat. I was also glad I thought to bring along a pair of kitchen gloves to keep the slim off me. LOL! We got a good night's sleep.

Early on Thursday, was time to head down the coast and round Point Conception. It's considered the Cape Horn of the west coast. Timing is everything with rounding Conception. We picked the calmest day in weeks. Light winds predicted, low swell, and a route that took us almost 10 miles off. It would be our second rounding of Conception and the last time was like glass. With the luck we'd had so far, I was expecting a really rough passage around Conception. I was gladly disappointed. Reisender was flying along at almost 6 knots when we passed Conception and we made it there in about 9 hours from Port San Luis. Around midnight we started hearing all this chatter on VHF channel 16 about a missile testing from Vandenberg Air Force Base on the coast. I think 5 or 6 other boats called in to verify the coordinates of the testing. We were already inside the Santa Barbara Channel, so I wasn't very concerned. Around 3 am Scott woke me to see the missile being fired. It was rather amazing to see such technology. It was actually possible to see the different stages of the rocket firing. We were almost 40 miles away and it still filled the sky with light. Well, that actually was the whole of our excitement for the voyage, and I was happy about that. My new mantra is "a boring voyage is a good voyage" and believe me I want a boring voyage every time! After rounding Conception, our speed dropped to about 4 or 4.5 knots. I loved seeing all the oil rigs. The lights made the passage look like Christmas. Then the traffic started building, but Scott had laid a course that took us way outside of the shipping lanes. It also cut off about and hour of our voyage, and I was thankful because Santa Barbara is doing renovations and slips where limited for a boat our length. There was also at least one other ship behind us coming in and we wanted to have a slip at least our first few couple of days in Southern California (I need to desperately fill up on some provisions and propane). 

The view from the companion way is of mountains, palm trees, the beach and the town of Santa Barbara. I smell salt and eucalyptus in the air. We had tacos at Wahoo's, a wonderful taco chain in the LA area. They specialize in the fish tacos the surfers used to survive on back in the 60's and 70's. Scott and I always stop in one when we are in the area. We had a good night's sleep and I'm looking forward to the farmer's market today and another walk on the beach. This afternoon it's time to scrub off the boat and get that sail down and looked at it. We'll stay another night or two. Scott has a look in his eye about going to Catalina before we head up north for our truck, but I'm not wanting another night passage for awhile and may be able to convince him a couple days on Santa Cruz Island might be what we need. Who knows where we will go next, but we are around Conception and we have months to figure it all out. The pleasures of no schedule. Well, wishing all of you fair winds and following seas.....