Sailing Encore

Knowing we are heading north to live near Steve, Sarah and granddaughters, Vernon and I have been prepping the boat. We got a Wifi booster to help with living on the boat. The day we installed it was long and tedious. We had to run a wire from the salon back to the end of the boat where the antenna was mounted. This involves opening and emptying every cupboard to run the cable behind and along the boat length. In the middle of this installation the water pump starting recycling, indicating a pipe fitting had come loose (totally different problem, but why not!) So we had to stop installation and tear apart the rest of the boat to find the leak.  Here are some pictures of our normally tidy home.

After fixing the leak we installed the Wifi booster and are very happy with the outcome. I am able to log into the internet and stream video here in the slip. Very nice.

We did a road trip north to find a “Live-aboard” slip in the San Francisco Bay Area. And after lots of marina visits we were able to secure one in Marina Bay in Richmond.

We made another trip north in the car to visit with Steve and Sarah while they house hunted in the Alameda area. Got to spend some fun granddaughter time with the little one. Melt my heart.

I have loved being able to see my daughter and son-in-law frequently. Kaylyn and I rented Lime Bikes and rode around San Pedro, picnic’d in the park and took Mac to the dog beach. They will be moving in August to Austin, Texas where Drew will go to grad school.

I had another cold- they seem to hit me hard and I am more susceptible now than all my years in nursing… wonder if the Dengue Fever messed with my immune system… This was my view every morning for three long weeks.

We did a three day trip to Newport Beach to make sure all systems were in working order before our sail north. Before we even left the slip, the shower sump pump caught fire… Haha… but we were here and no harm was done. Other than that we had a great sail both down and up the coast. And enjoyed the relaxing time at anchor and dinghying around in the warm SoCal sunshine.

We have been back from the east coast now for over 6 months. Living on the boat in San Pedro. Taking it out for trips to Catalina, Newport Beach, Long Beach and San Diego. And hanging out with family- mostly my mom and dad. Running errands and going on outings. Then, four weeks ago, my father was preparing to go to church and instead, left this earth to visit his good Lord in person. He was 91 years old and had what he knew was a good life. He is survived by my mom, his seven children, 13 grandchildren and two great grandchildren. He loved to travel and had some great times touring America in his 5th wheel RV. And when Vernon and I sailed the Caribbean with the kids, he and my mom would come visit us and share in our adventures.

He was a good man and is truly missed by those that knew him.

We have prepped the boat, fueled up the tanks and stocked the frig and cupboards. We went out to lunch with my mom yesterday. She isn’t rid of me- I will be driving south to visit often.

Vernon has been watching the weather diligently to find a good window to go north. Getting around Point Conception above Santa Barbara can kick your ass if you do it wrong and I don’t need that. He uses a website that predicts your trip weather. It uses 4 different wind models. In this one our boat went aground (not an omen, right???).

I have my Scopalomine (anti-nausea) patches and saltine crackers ready if needed. But hope to motorsail on up the coast in low wind and smooth seas. If need be, we will pull into a protective cove along the way and wait out the foul seas. If all goes well, we will sail for 3 days straight on up to San Francisco and slide under the Golden Gate to our next adventure.

Wish us well!