Sailing Encore

The boat arrived here about a week after we did. It was delivered to Marina del Rey and slowly put back together. The boat yard workers returned the keel and mast to their proper positions while Vernon and I put back on the radar, solar, dodger and sails. And cleaned and cleaned and cleaned. We had the yard run new wiring up the mast for wind instruments that will be installed in December as the old ones were toast.

All things considered, comparing the two transports across the continent, the ocean freighter was cheaper with less wear and tear on the boat than this truck transport. Live and learn.

While the boat was being reconstructed we stayed with Kaylyn and Drew (our daughter and son-in-law) in Long Beach for three weeks (they were so gracious to have us!). Their timid cats even started to let me pet them and our dog Mac was in heaven with all the ones he loves close by.

I was there for Halloween and got to pass out candy to the trick or treaters. There were plenty of Disney princesses and some x-men and characters I did not recognize. I did not see any homemade outfits and wondered if it had been my supermom ideation that had me making them all those years.

The daily drive to Marina del Rey from Long Beach brought back some of the Southern California reality and we were happy to have the boat work done. We left the marina on November 8^th and sailed south. The day was clear and beautiful and I could see the Hollywood sign on the hills as we headed out to sea.

The most amazing thing was the depth of the water. On the East Coast when we were 3-4 miles off shore, the depth would be 30-40 feet. Here, within half a mile it was 180 and suddenly about 300 feet deep.

The trip along the coast was smooth and soon we arrived at our new home base – Cabrillo Way Marina in San Pedro.

Our first night in the slip we are entertained by this sunset:After spending some time getting acquainted with the marina area and visiting friends and family we took off for some quiet time at Catalina. On the sail over we saw whales heading south to Mexico for the winter (a trek I would just as soon not do again) and dolphin playing at the bow.

We sailed to the back side (far side) of Two Harbors on the West end.

It is so quiet here. Just a few resident boat people in the back bay and only two boats in the normally crowded front side of the Isthmus. And no campers on the hillside. The weather is wonderful and we have hiked every day. And after the hike we had champagne picnic (isn’t that what you are supposed to do?).

Here is an eerie photo from anchorage looking back at Isthmus toward LA lights…We spend four days hiking every direction from Isthmus- here are back side views. More year round residents in this anchorage where our boat is. The next stop from the back side is Hawaii… what do you think Vernon?

We leave Catalina and head over to Long Beach to anchor off the oil island.

This one is called White after the one of the Apollo 1 astronauts that died on the launch pad explosion in 1967 (the other two are Grissom and Chaffee and the fourth is named Freeman after the first astronaut to perish in active duty). Sunset at Long Beach. And this is White island at night- decorated with a waterfall that lights up! We used to come anchor here for a quick get-away in the summer when Steve was a little kid. It was such an adventure. He would fish over the side during the day and watch the Queen Mary fireworks at night.

We wake up to some amazing southern California weather. I took these pics through the port holes from down below because I was chilly at 55 degrees.

Sunrise and Saddleback to East

And then my son sends me a pic from his morning in Syracuse, NY. And it isn’t so cold anymore.

And because it is so nice, we dinghy to Alamitos Bay and picnic through Naples for fun. I can’t count the number of times I have done this and don’t tire of it. (Usually have Mac along). We will head back to San Pedro slip soon so we can celebrate Thanksgiving with family at my sister’s home. I am still sad that we did not get to spend time in the Virgin Islands as we had planned. But I am so very thankful for my health, my love, my family and friends! Cheers!