Update on Crusing Thanks to Sandy

Here's some more info on two areas (Newport, OR and Fort Bragg, CA) from my friend Sandy. Thanks Sandy!

Newport, OR: The first marina to starboard as you pass under the bridge is quite nice. Guest dock is the very first dock to port – just across from the fuel dock. Moorage (2008) was $20/day. There are very nice shower facilities and Laundromat at the top of the ramp. Good (free) WiFi in the laundry room. There is also an RV park there. You can walk to the aquarium and the Rogue Brewery (which is at the other end of the marina) but to provision you need to go into town. Fortunately there is a free shuttle to/from several times a day. We were there 10 days waiting out bad weather so by the time we left the shuttle driver knew us by name…sigh…

 

Fort Bragg, CA: I was there long ago taking a smaller (33’) boat from Portland to S.F. The entrance is quite narrow and not particularly well marked. Lots of rock & cement blocks on both sides. Would I go in at night? No! Once inside, the channel is quite narrow and shallow. The boat I was on had a 6’ draft and the middle of the channel was 8’. This is a very “authentic” fishing village and very quaint. Huge population of wildlife and those nasty Sea Lions are quite happy to lie about on boats. The fuel dock is like the one in Eureka. The people are very friendly and there are some great places to eat. I’d have loved to go there again with “Faith” but really didn’t feel like negotiating the tight quarters with that big a boat (41’).

Jerid's Mini-Cruising Guide Part 2

This is from Santa Barbara to Newport Beach. By no means is this a full guide, just the places we've been.

Southern California Cruising

Southern California check in for visitors in many of the harbors is quite different from Northern California and the West Coast. Most, but not all, harbors require the visiting vessel to tie up to the Harbor Police docks to check in and for slip assignment.

Santa Barbara- This is the first harbor that requires checking in at the police docks prior to slip assignment. They are also the first requiring transient boats to show proof of insurance. As of the fall of 2011, the going rate for a slip was 90 cents per foot per night, including showers, water, and electricity. The pump out and fuel dock will be passing on the starboard side of the boat as the visitor is pulling into the police docks. Showers are located through the marina. Laundry facilities are located on shore and require a prepaid card with a minimum purchase. The marina is gated and a key card is required. As of 2011 the rate for the gate key was $8. This is a purchase not a deposit. The key is yours and should you return they will reactivate the key, or pass it on to other boaters coming down behind you. At the marina you will find many restaurants and a small West Marine. Downtown is within walking distance, but they have an excellent trolley system. If you follow Cabrillo Blvd east and turn left on Milpas you will find Tri County Market. This is a great produce stand and market. Following Milpas away from the beach there is a Trader Joes located a few blocks from Tri County. Down town on the corner of Chapala and Carrillo if a Ralph's grocery store. State St is the main street with many wonderful shops and restaurants. There is also a Saturday Market. Ask for time and location at the Harbor Master's Office. To the east of Stearns Wharf is a free anchorage. The anchorage nearest the pier is only available until November 1^st. After that the anchorage is further east. Be advised of all Santa Ana warnings. They can be severe and that is one of the reasons for moving the anchorage further away from the pier during that time of year.

Ventura- We only pulled in for fuel. When attempting to find a slip the rates were some of the most expensive we'd encountered. $1.60 per foot per night. It was decided to go further down the coast to a more reasonable rated facility. The fuel dock is very convenient and easy to find. Visiting boaters are not required to check in with the harbor police. Contact the individual marinas for guest moorage.

Channel Islands Harbor- Many good options for overnight accomodations but not good for provisioning. You are not required to check in with the Harbor Police. Contact the many marinas for a slip. It truly is out in the middle of nowhere. Not a very convenient place without a car.

Marina Del Rey- $1 per foot per night. There are designated transient slips at Burton Chase Park. The rates there have gone up quite a lot in the last few years. Boaters staying there as recently as 2009 reported it to be one of the most reasonably priced harbors in Southern California. To find the transient slips is very easy. After entering the harbor, you find them just past the first basin on the starboard side. There is a large statue of sailor with a helm in his hand at the edge of the park. The statue is sometimes hidden in the tree foliage. After grabbing a slip head, get your slip number and find the police office in the park. They will require insurance and registration. There is a Ralphs across from the park as well as a West Marine. Showers and restrooms are conveniently located in the park. The moorage slips are gated and a deposit is required for the key. Use cash for the deposit as it can take up to 6 weeks to get the deposit back on a credit or debit card.

Los Alamitos Bay Marina (Long Beach)- Visiting boaters much check in at the police docks. If it is after hours you must tie off at the police docks and wait until they open in the morning. Do Not! Do Not! Move to a slip until you have checked in. This is a very serious offense to the authorities and they do not mind you tying up to the docks for the night. They may or may not charge you for the night on the police docks. The going rate is $1 per foot per night. They require registration and proof of insurance including the amount of coverage. As of the fall of 2011 they required a minimum of $300,000 liability coverage. Once in a slip, you will find this an excellent place to provision and find boat parts. There are two boating stores in the parking lot, West Marine and The Captain's Locker. There are several sets of showers, but we found that if two people are showering at the same time only one of you will get hot water. Slips include water, showers, and electricity. As for provisioning within 2 blocks you will find: Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Albertsons, Ralph's and a Sunday Farmer's Market located in the parking lot of the marina. There is a movie theater, Barnes & Noble, Bev Mo Liquor, Best Buy, and many other shops and restaurants within the same two blocks. In & Out Burger is across the street. There is a Passport pickup station at the base of the bridge. Passport is a public bus that will take you all the way to downtown Long Beach for a dollar per person each way, as of the fall 2011. There is an excellent store in downtown Long Beach for charts.

Avalon- Amongst the cruisers we know it is hit or miss whether they like Avalon. We loved it. This is another mooring ball situation which is the easiest we've ever seen. Go to cityofavalon.com for details. When approaching Avalon wait outside the harbor, the harbor police will come to you. As of 2011, they require cash in advance for mooring, but we have heard they now accept credit/debit cards. Call (310)510-0535 to verify this. The rates are posted on the website above. It is expensive considering the only amenities are water, pump out, and the mooring (they also have trash pick up off your boat), but if you travel off season there are substantial discounts. After November 1^st rent two nights get the next consecutive 5 free. There is also a deal between September 15^th and November first (if you rent Thurs, Fri, Sat, and Sun, you get the consecutive Mon, Tues, & Wed free. If staying longer than 2 weeks you will be required to put the City of Avalon on your insurance. The mooring is fore and aft. There is a map of the moorings on the website that is very helpful in finding the assigned mooring ball. The harbor police will give you directions or if it is your first time, if you ask they may guide you directly to your assigned spot. To pick up the mooring have a person the bow and one at the helm. The bow hand will pick up the pennant that is floating and pull it up until you find the first loop. Wrap it around the bow cleat and hand over hand the line to the stern cleat, being careful for hooks that may have gotten hooked in the line. Once at the stern wrap the loop around the cleat. It is recommended to have some form of a chaffing guard. If a Santa Ana occurs during your visit the harbor police may ask you to move and if possible ask to use a double mooring if the one next to you is available. They want your boat safe and not breaking free and heading towards town. Once mooring is complete the harbor police will come on board and put a dye tab in your holding tank to prevent pumping overboard in the harbor. When you are there you will see how clear the water is and really appreciate this pre-caution. There is a water taxi to take you ashore, but it is expensive. It is $5 each way per person. That can rack up quickly. It is more convenient to have your own dinghy for coming and going. There are well marked dinghy docks through out the bay. Please observe the marked rules at each dock. The docks can be crowded and it is common to climb over other dinghies to get to the dock. Showers are located across the street from the Tuna Club. You can't miss the club. The showers are $3 for 5 minutes. Water is a premium on the island. They are hot and clean. There is a laudromat in town and well as a grocery store. The grocery store is a Vons (Vons is the same company as Pavilions and Safeway, they will accept both a Safeway & Pavilions card for discounts). Because space is a premium in town, the Vons is in two locations with one housing the produce, meat, can goods, etc and the other with the bakery & deli. Both are within walking distance of the harbor. There is also a Radio Shack, Hardware, and the post office is located in the center of town. The post office will accept general delivery should the need for mail arise. Tourism is the heart of Avalon and the locals will go out of their way to be friendly and helpful. One more piece of advice, go to the Marlin Club for a drink. The locals are very colorful and no where is this more evident than the Marlin. Drinks are good, the bartenders lively, and the live music on the weekends is excellent. You never know who could be playing there.

Newport Beach- This is an excellent place if you need parts or to get work done on your boat. If is another harbor that you need to go to the harbor police docks before mooring. When you come in the entrace they will be off the starboard side of the boat. You can tie off to either the pumpout station or just past the police & life guard boats there is a temporary tie off to check in. If you choose to use a slip they are right next to the pumpout. Just grab one and head up to the office. They include water, electricity, trash, and showers. There is also a beach at the top of the ramp. The showers are not our favorite. They never seem to get warm and they are timed. You'll need to get the code from the harbor patrol office when you check in. As of 2012, the slips are $40 a night for any size boat that can fit into the slip. Somewhere around 40 feet, but if you hang over a little we've never seen evidence that is is a problem. If you are a more budget minded and if you have a dinghy, they also have mooring. The moorings include water, pumpout, and showers. The bay has public docks throughout that are extremely convenient. I would suggest if you have a choice to opt near Balboa Island in mooring area B. You will be further away from some of the tourist area and there is a laundromat on the island. Pavillions is also within walking distance, as is one of the two West Marines. If you go to the other end of the bay there is a public pier that will take you to Newport Blvd. If you follow Newport Blvd you will come to Minney's Yacht Surplus (Think Disneyland for Boaters). Minney's is a second hand store with just about everything you could imagine. It might take some digging, but if you are looking for a used sail, prop, or anchor you're gonna love this place. There is also a sail loft and engine supply store right next to Minney's. If you can't find it at Minney's there is also MMI but it's a bit of a walk. Minney's is already close to a mile and a half from the dinghy dock. If you don't mind walking, you can get fresh produce at Grower's Direct. Excellent and cheap! There is a public transporation system that looks really convenient. Sprouts, TJ's and Fresh & Easy are all good for finding provisions as well. There is no Walmart within reasonable distance. If you go over to the pumpout dock near the police docks you can make your way within walking distance to Corona Del Mar. In CDM there is an Ace Hardware and an Albertsons.

Additional Newport Beach info: We've been here long enough to add a few more details. MMI can be found at
www.mmimarine.com

They are another boating supply store in the area. MMI is a long walk from the bay, but if you can't find it at any of the other alternatives give them a call and make the walk! LOL! 

Also if you need the bottom scrubbed off try Kim Ozolins from Atlantis Dive Co. (949)722-8693 or cell (949)233-DIVE. He does hull cleaning, zincs, inspections and recoveries. He was a great guy and did an excellent job. He also will give you quite a lot of advice about keeping your hull in good shape here and in Mexico. 

Jerid's Mini-Cruising Guide Part 1

I've put together a baby cruising guide based on our experiences from last fall. There have been a number of inquiries for this information and I'm finding that I'm e-mailing to a number of people. If you know of someone who is interested in going down the Oregon/California coast please forward or direct them to this site. I hope they find it helpful and if you or someone you know finds a correction to this list please send it on to me so we can keep this current.

The first installment will be Astoria, OR to Point Conception, CA.

Astoria, OR-

First and most important- TIME YOUR BAR CROSSING CAREFULLY! With that being said, Astoria is a beautiful and quaint town. There are two marinas, with the bulk of the transient boat berthing in West Basin. West Basin offers showers, electricity (at a fee), and water. If coming in from the Pacific it is before the bridge, if coming down river it is just after the bridge. It is recommended to call to get a slip assignment when a couple of hours out (503)325-8279.If you have done any fishing on your way in, be sure to have a valid fishing license. During our visit, we saw the Game Warden sitting on the dock with binoculars in hand checking every pleasure fishing boat that came in. There is an Englund's Marine a short walk across the parking lot. The is Safeway is a very long walk away. It is recommended to either use a bike or the street trolley that has a stop directly in front of the marina. You can follow the trolley path all the way to the store. Downtown is very close with lots of restaurants and shopping. On Sundays is an excellent farmers market located downtown, just follow the crowds. Excellent produce! The marina offers all the usually amenities: showers, laundry, water, and electricity. The rate for our 41 footer was $20 a night for the slip and $3 for the power hookup. They also have a haul-out and work yard. The last we heard you could do the work yourself, this will be one of the last places for the do-it-your-selfers. The East Basin Marina is a little closer to Safeway, but it is mostly fishing boats and there is quite an issue with the sea lions all through the day. The Columbia River Maritime Museum is well worth the visit. If you are coming down river and crossing the bar for the first time, you might want to avoid it, the 2000 wrecks that have occurred over the last 200 years is a big part of the theme. The town thrives on tourism and the people are very welcoming and helpful. There is also and excellent fish monger at the top of the ramp in the marina. The fuel dock is locating in the marina, but is usually very busy.

Newport, OR-

There are three options for berthing in Newport, OR. The first is to anchor. It is OK to anchor in the bay, as long as you are well outside the marked shipping channel and further upstream past the Embarcadero. As always watch tides and depth. As of 2011 we saw no more than day anchoring in the bay, but in years past we've seen quite a few people anchoring. The second option is Newport Marina just after the bridge. The third is The Embarcadero Resort and Marina. They have excellent facilities, including: showers, hot tub, pool, crabbing dock, work out facilities, laundry, water, and electricity. The staff will even accept mail and package delivery for you at the front desk if you inform them in advance. Most of the cruising guides list the transient dock just at the end of Englund's Marine, but there was confusion in the fall of 2011. We were allowed to tie off there, but there was a new Harbor Master and it wasn't clear if the marina had the right to use that spot. Englund's Marine is in the adjacent parking lot. The historic downtown is within walking distance with many excellent restaurants. There is a small public bus system that does go to the Fred Meyers grocery store and Wal-mart. It is not a super Wal-mart to the groceries are limited. You can obtain the time schedule of the bus system either at the front desk or at one of the stops. The marine research center is across the bridge as well as the Rogue Brewery. There is also a welder located across the bridge as well as a small boating store.

Coos Bay-Actually Charleston-

Charleston is very convenient but follow the channel markers very closely. The Coast Guard station is on 24 hour alert and very helpful if needed. The transient dock is usually very busy with people crabbing from the dock. The rate for a 41 foot boat were $18 a night as of 2011. The transient dock is near the end of “B” dock and is a side tie. It is recommended to contact the harbormaster (541)888-2548 for a slip assignment. See if they have a slip off of the transient dock. In Charleston itself there is little to no provisioning and what is there is expensive. There is a Super Walmart only a $6 cab ride each way in Coos Bay itself. See if there is another cruising boat willing to split the cost. Verify with the taxi dispatch office the current rate. The marina offers showers, electricity, and water. It's nothing really fancy. The laundry facilities are locating in the RV lot near the marina. The fuel dock is located to the right of the transient docks. It is not in any connection with the marina and he will not fill fuel jugs that are not on the boat. The Englund's Marine is just a short walk across the bridge. Behind Englund's is a boat yard. We needed some welding done and found an excellent welder in the yard. He actually came to our boat and picked up the part.

Crescent City, CA-

Due to the tsunami in March, 2011 there were limited facilities in Crescent City. Contact the marina for current information (707)465-1776. The fuel docks were open and they did allow anchoring in the bay with protection from the breakwater. It is not certain whether anchoring in the bay is actually allowed, or was only allowed due to the marina being repaired.

Eureka, CA-

There are 3 options for Eureka as well. The first is to anchor in the bay. The rumor is that anchoring is allowed anywhere outside the channel for up to 72 hours. This has not been confirmed and it is at the boaters own risk. The other two options are marinas. The first is the Eureka Public Marina. Very convenient to downtown and a few grocery stores. It offers the usually amenities: showers, laundry, water, and electricity. The marina is gated and requires a key. Leave a deposit at the harbormaster's office. The gate key is also needed for access to the showers and laundry. The rate for a 41 foot was $30.75 a night. In addition to being very convenient to downtown the fuel dock and Englund's Marine are also very convenient. This is a fishing town, the fuel dock is designed to accommodate fishing vessels rather than pleasure. The fuel dock will be higher and much more abused than the average cruiser may be accustomed to. The other option is Woodley Island Marina. This marina is further away from downtown, but with a substantial savings. A slip for a 41 footer was running $17.90 a night with similar amenities. To reach downtown, cross the bridge which has limited pedestrian crossing safety. There are several grocery stores within walking distance of the Public Marina and a Winco is a short bus ride away. During the week there is also a farmer's market one morning. Ask the harbormaster for the correct day and time of the farmer's market.

Fort Bragg, CA-

We did not go in, but all parties we know who did said the entrance is very narrow. One set of friends came in during the dark and said they wouldn't have tried it if they could have seen what they were really getting into.

Bodega Bay, CA-

A love picturesque town with a very safe harbor. It is not recommended to make an entry for the first time after dark. That is not to say it is impossible. It can be confusing and people like to fish from Bodega Head. The problem is they turn on the headlights of their cars and point them straight at you as you come through the jetties making all the marker and range lights difficult to make out. Finding your way through the channel is easy, just go slow and take your time! Do not go outside the channel. There is shoaling everywhere. There are markets, but they are expensive. Fuel dock is very convenient and the staff at Spud Point Marina is very helpful. This was our most expensive marina ($40 a night for a 41 foot boat). The marina has the usual amenities: shower, water, electricity, and laundry. The showers are high-school locker room style for the men.

San Francisco, CA

If only staying a few days, check out Aquatic Park. It is a free anchorage right downtown. Be warned about all the swimmers in the Park. It is right downtown for everything! There is another anchorage (free) in Richardson Bay up near Sausalito. There is also another free anchorage on the backside of Treasure Island on the east side of the island north of the Bay Bridge. As for marinas, they are to many to name. There is an excellent boating map and guide on the Bay Area that was available at Spud Point Marina's office.The going rate was roughly a $1 a foot per night in the bay area. The only marina I will mention is Emeryville Marina (510)654-3716. It was $25 a night for our boat. Don, the harbor master, was super nice. They have a fuel dock, pump-out, laundry, and showers. There is limited hot water to take your shower early. The town of Emeryville has a free shuttle. It's a quarter of a mile walk to the stop, but it will take you to any of the shopping and provisioning you may need in Emeryville. It will also take you to the Bart Station to go over to the city. This is the first Trader Joe's since Portland that we found and it's within walking distance (about a mile). There is also a movie theater close by. There is a small market on the peninsula that has a lot of great stuff if you don't want to go all the way to TJ's. The view from our boat was downtown San Francisco. This marina is also gated. If you go in here, get directions to the slip. There are all sorts of turns and twists. It's almost as if they just added willy nilly. Oh, one more piece of advice, if you find out how to get there the Blue Pelican is a great used chandlery, not as big as Columbia Marine Exchange, but if you are desperate it's a good option. In the San Francisco, if you are there for a few days we recommend any of the exhibits in Golden Gate Park. We loved the Natural History Museum and the Japanese Tea Garden. Also go for a drink at the Top of The Mark at the Mark Hopkins Hotel. The view is unbelievable. You do need closed shoes and pants (boating attire would not be welcome). Just about anything can be found here. If staying more than three days in San Francisco- check out the Muni Public Transportation system. They operate all public transportation in the city with the exception of BART. A three day pass can be purchased for roughly $20 per person and covers all San Francisco buses, street cars, trolleys, and underground (except BART). The famed cable cars alone are $5 per person each way. This would be a great saving based on that alone. There is an excellent map with all the marinas (phone numbers included) listed. A copy of the map can be requested by calling (415)355-3760 or (415)904-6905. It is called the “2011-2012 San Francisco Bay Area Clean Boating Map”The map can also be found in the harbormaster's office in Bodega Bay.

Half Moon Bay, CA-

Nice little hop down from San Francisco. There is anchorage behind the breakwater that is free. The rate for a 41 footer was $32.80 a night at the marina. There are some restaurants, but the downtown is to far to walk and there is no provisioning close by the marina. Contact the harbormaster at (650)726-4382 about an hour before arrival for slip assignment. It has the usual amenities: showers, laundry, water, and electricity.

Monterrey, CA-

Contact the harbormaster via VHF 16 for moorage. They will assign a spot. $28 a night for 40 ft. They will charge you by the slip they put you in and not on your boat. Deposit is required for the keys to the bathroom. Showers and laundry are OK. TJ's within walking distance as well as a great downtown. If you take the walking path to the Aquarium and then go up the street one block from the aquarium you will find a Rally's grocery store. If you take the main street heading in the opposite direction toward Moss Landing about a mile and a half you will come to a little produce stand on the right hand side of the road. Very good produce and good prices. There is also a great French

Bakery within walking distance. It's called Paris Bakery at 271 Bonifacio Plaze. There is also a seafood market on the pier. There is quite a lot of sea life. Sea otters and sea lions with lounge on the docks and will not move.

Port San Luis, CA-

A great little layover. The guest moorings are cheap, either $5 or $10 a night. The fuel dock is set up for fishing vessels. No provisioning within walking distance. A dinghy will be needed to get ashore. There are no marinas. The entire bay is mooring balls. This is an excellent spot to rest up before Conception. The guest moorings we used didn't not need for us to have our own lines. You reach down with a boat hook, grab the loop, and attach it to your bow cleat. It's been a year, so it may have changed. It is a bow only mooring ball. Contact the harbormaster on VHF 16 with getting close to arrival. There are no facilities. There is a very limited boating supply store on shore.

Enjoy and Fair Winds! Please feel free to contact me with any changes or questions about the information listed at : svreisender@yahoo.com

All information was current to the best of my memory as of the fall of 2011. It is recommended to contact each harbor prior to arrival to verify location of transient slips, current rates, and any harbor information they feel would be important to a visiting boat.

Four Sea Lions and a Pontoon Boat

As of this morning our neighbors are down to 4. It was a quiet night and morning and we finally got a good nights sleep aboard Reisender. After running some errands this morning we came back and appreciated our neighbors being quiet. We took a nap and were woken to a rather loud noise that sounded like, but did not feel like another vessel ramming us. Sound asleep we bounded out of bed and ran to the cockpit, both convinced we'd been struck. To our pleasant surprise it was only the Harbor Patrol hosing off, once again, our neighbors from the boat they were occupying. The other day I thought the pontoon boat would sink with the combined weight of the occupiers, but Scott pointed out it was a pontoon and are virtually unsinkable, so was the Titanic! Today after the Harbor Patrol left, the sea lions returned, as they always do, and began to re-inhabit the pontoon. This time it didn't rebound to it's normal floating level prior to their return. The port pontoon seems to be taking on water and the pontoon boat is slowly sinking. We never like the idea of a boat sinking or damaged in any way. It's a reminder that our home, in which we've put so much work, could be next. Well, while we hate to see a boat sinking, we are a bit relieved that our war with the natives could soon be at an end.... as of now they are still holding on and the starboard pontoon is keeping her afloat... for the time being!

Our War with the Sea Lions

Two days ago our new "neighbors" decided to make it a war of aggression against us. They tried to sink our dink around 6 am. I actually happened to be up and was out the companion way before they had a chance to take our faithful Komen to Davey's Locker. They'd been particularly boisterous that night, having a fight around 3 am that kept me up. We'd had enough, and I apologize to anyone around Newport Harbor who happened to hear our air horn going off at around 6:30 am on Tuesday. It didn't take long for them to realize it was all noise and really wasn't of any importance. They resumed ownership of the abandoned pontoon boat. Yesterday, after two sleepless nights, Scott and I decided to see what options we had to rid ourselves of the invaders. By the way, as of yesterday morning we were up to 6 new neighbors and they were not contented with just staying on the pontoon. They were now inhabiting at least 3 boats total and trying for a fourth. We looked at slingshots but were afraid we'd be arrested. We opted for a water canon that sprays up to 45 feet. It seems to annoy them a bit, but not as much as the water canon from the Harbor Patrol's boat. Around 4:30 yesterday afternoon they were up to 8 and the end of the pontoon was submerged in the water. I phoned the Harbor Patrol and they came out quickly. They scattered and we had a nice chat with the Patrol. It turns out that the Fish and Game Department says the only legal thing to shoot the Sea Lions with would be Nerf pellets. They are soft and will only annoy the animals without causing any damage. The Environmental Protection Agency say "No Way!" They are plastic and other creatures might ingest them. I have seen a number of boats with boards that have nails driven through them. My dislike of these creatures hasn't made it that far yet, and I find that so cruel. As much as I want them gone, my heart breaks each time I see one with a cut from the prop of a boat across it's back. I also soften my reserve when the mother and her pup also dive in for a cool off and a play, then at 3 am I'm strengthened again by my reserve to have a good nights sleep. There is also the stench. We've been lucky enough to be up wind of them so far! As of this morning there are only four, and they weren't as loud, but we will continue to annoy them until the Harbor Patrol removes the pontoon to where it originally came from.

A Sea Lion a Day

A few weeks back a friend from high school, who is also a sailor, happen to be in the area and I invited her out for a visit. We ended the day with a dinghy ride around the bay. She's an east coast sailor, so sea lions are not the norm for her. On our ride around the bay, we came across an abandoned boat that had been taken over by the critters. There was some concern at first as to their aggressiveness and I reassured her we were quite safe at our distance, but no closer. I also happen to mention that I was relived they seemed content to stay on the opposite side of the bay from where we are moored. MY BIG MOUTH!!!! So a couple of days ago one of the bucks decided to take up residence on an abandoned boat behind ours. At first, he was cute and I even named him Ron. He was fine at first, just laying about sunning himself, but then he let the word out that there was a boat with plenty of room and his lady friend decided to show up. Scott named her Wanda. At first Ron wasn't very friendly to her and sent her on her way, but she quickly discovered the transom of a powerboat that was unguarded and she took up residency. I was not completely put out, but notified the Harbormaster of our new neighbors. Then the tourists decided it was time to come for a closer look. Now, Scott and I don't like to be disturbed while in project mode and the constant visits of non-boaters out for a look began to wear on our nerves soon. The screaming child scared of the sea lions put me over the edge. It was time to run the lookers off first, not that easy. I kept telling them that 2 feet away from a several hundred pound wild animal was not really a good idea. Then I said forget it, a few less tourists from the beating end of a sea lion would really help the IQ of the world's population. The morning of day three and yup a third sea lion. I stopped naming them. This was getting serious. They have broken some piping on one boat and torn the canvas work on another. OK, they had their boat, just leave mine alone. So far, so good. Then yesterday, they decided that an immaculately kept powerboat would be their next destination. How they did it I know not, but one of them leaped all the way up over the railing and into the aft deck of the boat and decided to plant his flag. That makes 4. The next morning, today, I awoke at 6 am to the sound of fighting from the new neighbors. They were fighting over the boat behind us and didn't really like the idea of sharing. Sleepy eyed I informed them it was way to early on a Sunday for this kind of behavior. They immediately quieted themselves, to my astonishment. Fast forward a few hours and the Harbor Patrol enters the situation. Water cannon on full they blasted the unwanted tenants from the home they were illegally living. This worked for about 2 hours as they moved them ever so gently (right, that's to keep the animal rights people off my back) away from their conquered territory that they were occupying. We are currently back to two. As of now, my unwanted neighbors are quiet and sleeping, but tomorrow will be another story.....

Well Fair Sailing My Friends.....

What a Month!

In the last month we've seen two old friends from my high school, spent a week in Palm Springs, celebrated 3 anniversaries with one more this week, sold our truck, and checked off more projects off our list than I thought possible. That's a busy month!

I couldn't believe when I got the e-mail that my friend, Burkhart, and his family were visiting California on their vacation from Sardinia this year. We spent a lovely morning roaming the Getty and trying to catch up on 24 years of history. A few weeks later I got and e-mail from him saying we hadn't taken any pictures. Well we had a lot of ground to cover and were a bit busy. The other day, I got an e-mail from another friend, Angie, saying she was in SoCal for work. It turned out we were only 30 minutes apart. She moved around her schedule and we had a lovely afternoon touring the bay on our dinghy (Komen). It was particularly fun because Angie is also a live-a-board boater. We haven't seen each other in 23 years and I must say she looks amazing!

Scott and I celebrated 8 years together in July and decided to take a small trip to Palm Springs. As most of you know, I love Palm Springs! We spent 7 lovely nights soaking up the heat, eating, drinking and floating in the pool! Two of our friends were coming through and stopped to stay with us. That was a treat, as they'd never been there before. The day we returned was Linux's anniversary with us. We've had the pleasure of his company for over 7 years now. About a week after that we celebrated what I now call Cruising Day, the day we finally left Portland on our boat. Our final anniversary will be this week, when we spend the day doting over Pixel and her anniversary of coming to live with us. I haven't decided what special treat to give her yet, but I'm sure she devour it.

Selling the truck was a difficult one for Scott. He loves the Ramcharger, and with good reason. She's been a fantastic vehicle for us. We've logged over 60 thousand miles with her. We've traveled across country twice in her and down to Mexico and back, plus I can't count how many trips to California and the Oregon Coast. We're gonna miss her, but I'm sure she's going to a good home where she can roam in a field and munch on grass all day! Next month will be my turn to say goodbye to the Blue Flash, our Volvo station wagon. I don't think I've ever enjoyed a car more.

As for the projects, all I can say is WOW!!! The boat is in constant disarray, and the cats aren't happy about that, but it seems just about everyday or so we are crossing things off that rather looooooooong list we have. The two of us are very pleased and excited about it. We are also very nervous for our next adventure and spend a lot of time looking over cruising guides of Mexico and secreting plans together about what each of us want to see. It's all very crazy here aboard Reisender! But we are happy and well! Keep your fingers crossed for us that we can keep this pace up!

Cheers and fair winds my dear friends!