Back to the Mainland

Scott and I spent 2 very unproductive weeks in Avalon Bay. The first problem was the chop of the sea. Reisender was bounced around rather violently over several days due to the wind and waves. A couple of days we just rode it out on the boat, but we finally had to go ashore and get our balance back. Then, when we settled our mooring with the harbor patrol for a second week everything seemed fine. The next day we were informed that if we extended over 14 days we'd have to place the city of Avalon on our insurance. That wasn't a problem, but we were only planning on staying another week and it wasn't worth the hassle for 7 days. Newport Beach was only 4 hours away after all! We needed to re-provision anyway and it was time to see a new place, besides the rolling in the bay was getting to both of us. Linux seemed green most of the time. So we set off to Newport on the Tuesday before Christmas. It was a nice sail most of the way. Actually, we are still motor sailing most of the time, but that is soon to come to an end. The main-sheet should be fully rigged soon. About halfway through the trip the engine decides to give a little hiccup. It is actually a problem with the full tank that we noticed on the way down the coast. We have a flex fuel tank. It seems that the intake collapses and it gets difficult to siphon fuel. It's an issue we are still verifying so we haven't done anything just yet about it. As always, it seems that a second issue must arise at the same time. The voltage regulator started to burn out. Scott caught it in time and we motored guessing at the rpm's. The best part of all of it was I got to sail the boat for the 1st time. No engine to aid us along. The quiet was the first thing I noticed, then the pride in what we've done. It wasn't really an emergency and I was enjoying the time. Unfortunately I was at the helm and not Scott. After all, this is his true child. I felt a little guilty to get the honor of Reisender's first time under sail alone.

Coming into Newport was an experience. Avalon has spoiled us on mooring balls. Their system is truly idiot proof! Newport's will make an idiot of the best of us. Avalon has a system of two connected mooring balls with a pendant you pick up very easily. Newport is two balls with a loop to each. You need to use your own gear. Avalon has all the lines attached that is simply looped to the bow and stern cleats of the vessel. The crew of Reisender wasn't prepared for this. LOL! That's an understatement. Once we realized our error we set to getting spare lines ready and making do with whatever shackles we could quickly get to. After 3 passes we had the bow line and had to figure out how to get the stern hooked. We launched the tender and I began to row a line out to it. THE LINE WASN'T LONG ENOUGH!!!! Row back! Get a longer line and row out again! The tender got a little sloshed when we launched her in such a rapid hurry and I was in 5 inches of salt water. Now I'm tired and wet. We finally get her secured and make for land to find some dinner.

We've started to familiarize ourselves with the area. I've found the grocery stores, wine shops, bank, and boating stores. Christmas was lovely. It was 70 and sunny. Now we are back to work on the boat. New Year's Eve will be quietly spent on Reisender.... don't worry... I know where to find champagne.... it won't be that quiet!

All are safe aboard Reisender.... Happy New Year's from the Crew...Jerid, Scott, Linux and Pixel!

Back to Avalon

Saturday, Scott & I started talking about how pricey it was to stay in the marina. It was a joint decision to move on Sunday afternoon to a protected anchorage off White Island in front of Long Beach. There are four islands from the 60's that are man made. They are actually designed to remove oil from the rigs that come into San Pedro Bay. We've been hearing stories about what a great protected anchorage there is at White Island. It's the only island with and anchorage in the bay. On Sunday we headed over around noon. It was a nice quiet motor over, and we even took a little tour of some of the house of Naples Island. Heading out of the jetties was an experience.... for those of you in small boats (sail, kayaks, canoes, etc.) if your draft is shallow, move to the side of the channel. I love to watch the under 10 foot sailboats, but they've got to remember a 2 foot draft can go places my 6 foot can't! The reports were right, it was a lovely anchorage with views of the Queen Mary, the Aquarium, and down town Long Beach. We could even see all the way to Catalina Island. The winds weren't scheduled to calm until Tuesday night. So we dug out some projects and books and settled in for 2 days of relaxation. The winds howled and we held great. On Tuesday the winds died, but we wanted to make a chandlery run on Wednesday morning before heading back to Avalon. Around 12:30 a patrol boat came by and told us we could only anchor there for Friday and Saturday nights or in an emergency. What to do?  So, Avalon here we come. It would be very close to dark before we got in. The trip over was quiet, the only excitement not being able to see the crab pots that lined the break water due to the glare of the sun troubled us. Well when the winds shifted around to N we raised the jib and were flying at almost 7 knots! It was a real rush. We made it over in 4 hours. Currently we are on mooring ball #188 in Avalon Bay. Scott has announced today is a day off, and tomorrow starts two weeks of boat projects getting us all ready for the trip into Mexico. I'm not sure where we will spend the holidays, but I can't think of a better place to be unsure.

Waiting out the Santa Ana winds

Well, here we are, again in Long Beach. Leaving Avalon was like leaving a home we never knew we had, but all good things must come to an end... at least a brief interruption. The dreaded Santa Ana winds coming from shore were reported and Reisender and crew headed for cover. Safe and sound back in Long Beach almost 30 hours before the winds kicked up, we watched and listen to the news of what was going on offshore. There was actually more damage up in Pasadena, but we watched for 2 days as the Coast Guard warning flags showed gale force winds out there. So we stayed put! The strongest winds I heard of were out of the desert at 80 knots. Catalina Island only got 40 knots, but the bay we were staying at would have had that coming straight at us.... NO THANKS!!! So we ran some errands, visited with friends, and stocked up for our next set of projects when we get back out there. Today I stocked up on groceries, wine, and ice. There is enough propane to last for 3 months of cooking, or a month of cooking and heating. The truck goes into storage in the morning, and we are ready for a couple of weeks of quiet, work, and meditation. This is definitely not my longest blog, but I've been feeling rested lately and I felt like sharing a little while we wait this out.