Journal 7 1/2

Veleda has headed out for Oxnard and then Catalina Island. Our plan is to try and catch up with them on Catalina!

After a ‘nap’ and a shower we took the electric trolley into town and picked up a few groceries and took in the sights. Some folks advised us, you know who you are, that Santa Barbara had the most beautiful women in the USA, so we were on the lookout for that attraction.

October 20-21, 2005

Awoke to brilliant sunshine and warm temperatures. We got started on a whack of chores and caught up on some rest. We were surprised to hear Nuage hail the harbour patrol for an escort in, as we were basking in the sun, they were talking about visibility less than 50 ft. and they were only 3 miles out. Sure enough, as they pulled in the fog had reduced visibility significantly and knowing they were probably really tired after rounding Pt. Conception and the challenge of getting into port with fog. We thought we would be helpful and catch them at the guest dock. As we jogged from M dock to the guest dock and waited for Nuage and the harbour patrol who had gone out to escort Nuage. We waited and only the harbour patrol showed up, they had taken them directly to their berth, and tied them up in M33 directly across from our berth M32. So much for good intentions. They were all tied up, settled in, and looking for breakfast and a shower.

We get the occasional grandbaby fix, here we had the pleasure of Jonah 3, and his little sister Gabrielle 9 mon. Cruising parents are more than happy to let grandparents in training the opportunity to spoil their babes. Jonah was a real cuddler and was happy to walk with his surrogate grampa to get ice cream.

A grey day as we departed from Santa Barbara, not only was there no sunshine; we never did find the most beautiful women in the USA. We headed for Ventura, and as we were at the waypoint, Dick decided we should continue on to Oxnard, only an additional 8 miles away, with the intent of trying to catch up with Veleda.

October 22, 2005

The entrance into Oxnard was a new experience. It had a detached breakwater protecting the harbour or as I named it the “canals of Oxnard”. This is the first manmade harbour I’ve ever seen. Everything has straight lines, beautiful, and bazaar. The homes here offer you the opportunity of having your vessel tied up right outside you door.

We really enjoyed Oxnard; you could walk for groceries, a cup of coffee at the local coffee shop and enjoy a hot cinnamon bun to boot. However, no Veleda, they had already headed out to Catalina.

A quick phone call to Adam, a fellow who owns a 34’ shadow (the same make, model, and vintage as Blue) listed for sale in Latitude 38, a San Francisco based magazine, a chat about his boat moored in Ventura turned out to be a really good excuse for the guys to get together and do a show and tell about all the modifications, passages each had made.

Ventura, as it turns out is just a short drive away and Adam picked us up and took us to see his boat. We then waited for his wife, Maru, to finish work and took them back to our boat for some more show and tell.
Happy Bday Sophie!

October 24-27, 2005

As Veleda was already gone, the weather, cloudy and damp, we decided to go back to Ventura as opposed to moving onto an anchorage at Catalina Island. We would be able to get some chores done and have the company of Adam and Maru.

Ventura’s entrance was an interesting one as we ‘surfed’ in along side a few other boats. Finding our slip as always, can be fun, as I’m directionally impaired and even though the slip numbers have a pattern, finding the right B dock with the corresponding slip # provides some cheap entertainment for any onlookers. It seems even more difficult in these manmade harbours.

After we were settled into our berth Adam invited us to dinner aboard. It was fun visiting Babe and comparing the how’s and why’s of their modifications and the following evening we invited Adam and Maru for a reciprocal dinner and evening of how’s and why’s.

Adam has been cruising around on Babe, for 14 years and Maru for a few of those years. They have spent the last couple of years moored with live aboard status with Mishka (mouse) a diminutive miniature Doberman in Ventura. They are not planning to cruise, at least not for awhile. Even though, they both talk about missing the cruising life.

Like many of the cruisers we have run into throughout out journey, Adam offered to chauffeur/tour guide us around. We were able to get a number of chores done leaving us (she says with fingers crossed) time to play more in San Diego.

I turned 50 or as I would like to say golden this year and celebrated with the most glorious sunset and fellowship with Dick and Maru. There were many well wishers who sent email messages and there were also phone calls.

We headed out of Ventura in sunshine and a light breeze. A woman friend of mine, Helen, from Victoria had mentioned that there were pig farms in this area. I was reminded of that fact as we left Ventura, as the wind had changed and was now providing us with the land breeze that gave us the opportunity to sail away, but also cleared our sinuses in the process. We actually sailed, briefly, on our way to Marina Del Rey.

October 28 – November 1

Sunshine and more sunshine and even some heat attached to it. Lots of humidity as well.

The entrance to this manmade harbour was similar to that of Oxnard, as it has a detached breakwater.

We stayed at the municipal dock the first night and discovered Nuage already tied up, invited them over for a glass of wine (some $2 buck chuck we scored from Trader Joe’s in Ventura) We discovered later that another BCA boat Seafire was tied up there as well. Seafire is a 46’ steel boat, and Mettle 50’ (not a BCA member, yet!). They are both Waterlines, Mettle is owned and crewed by the former Waterline boat builders out of Sidney. So you know there was a whole lot of steel boat, chatting going on the next morning.

Moved over to the Pacific Mariners Yacht Club (PMYC), following Nuage’s lead with assurance that there was a berth available for us. We were told that the slip would be a tight fit, as the slip was measured at 10’8” and we have a 10’ 6 beam. As we tried to squeeze into our slip it became apparent that the measurement of 118” which actually translated into 9’10” was not going to work. So with the help of the 2 engineers (John and Dave) who had made the original measurement, the residual crew from Nuage and Caretta, Frank, club members and us we sort of side tied across the alleyway. Carreta and Chavelita had been hanging out at PMYC since Margot left from LAX on the 20TH to visit her mom in Germany.

We have teased Dave and John, mercilessly since the mix of measure.

The members of the club have been extremely generous to the Canadian contingency and have included us in all the activities and celebrations that the club has had to offer. We attended their Halloween Party. Dick and I agreed to become the judges for the costume contest, with assurance that the outcome would not result in an International incident. Another opportunity to practice being grandparents presented itself as a member’s 9 month old attended the party. Dick snatched the little guy up almost as soon as he got in the door. I’ve got to keep a close eye on that guy.

We attended the Monday night football (MNF), dinner. Which had little to do with football and more to do with dinner fortunately for us as neither of us could even fake an interest. This club is totally volunteer run, with the exception of the janitorial/maintenance. The volunteer, Helene for MNF had made some incredible ribs, baked beans (to die for), an interesting salad that had blue cheese, cranberries and pinenuts, and a tasty pumpkin pie square for dessert. And, the cost $5.00. The dinner and the fellowship that followed the dinner was exceptional. We were given tips on which YC to approach for the same kind of energy/philosophy tips from cruiser who had recently entered Mexico with the new rules.


November 2-5

Sunshine, heat and a little less humidity.

As we left Marina Del Rey, we had clear skies and sunshine. The sky was covered with what looked like completed tic-tac-toe games using the jet trails as you would a pencil/pen. LAX must have a million flights coming and going out of that airport daily.

A quick trip to Newport Beach in shorts and a T-shirts, I was almost ready to complain about being hot, however as soon as the sun starts going down, its cool and time for long pants and long sleeves.

The trip had been uneventful until we approached the entrance where a ‘school’ of dolphins provided us with an escort.

We finally caught up with Veleda, and we were able to get a mooring buoy close enough to chat to one another. And, finally celebrated Alice’s belated Bday, Oct. 2,
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Newport Beach unfortunately doesn’t have a particularly good reputation as to being cruiser friendly. Many cruisers bypass Newport because of the over ambitious nature of the harbour patrol. I’m not sure if they feel that monitoring the coming and going of the 10,000 registered vessels is overwhelming and don’t feel any need to cajole the transient vessels or what but they seem to go out of their way to ensure that all the rules are adhered to. Despite the harbour patrol we thoroughly enjoyed Newport and all its natural and manmade wonders. The people were friendly and helpful. The guy at the gas dock, who still remains nameless, and maybe even more important he didn’t know our names, went so far as to giving Dick and Jens the use of his brand new Ford pickup to haul our dingy motor to the local mechanic, two days in a row with side trips to Home Depot and West Marine. We cruised around the canals rubber necking at the houses and boats. There was one vessel moored in front of what one could only assume its owners’, no let me say that again, there was a vessel moored in front of two homes and was taller the two storey homes where it was moored. What a place!

November 6, 2005

Dana Point, sunny and warm.

Another really neat working members’ yacht club. These folks have taken over a huge failed waterfront restaurant and are actually making money with the facility while using it as a clubhouse. Unfortunately they haven’t finished remodeling so there were no showers. Another man made small boat harbour but only a few thousand boats in it. Not as pretty as Newport, more, well, manmade looking. Carreta and Chevalita showed up and we all had a great meal at the club because Sunday is their casual dining night.



November 7-8, 2005

Another uneventful motorsail with plenty of sunshine as we arrived in Oceanside, just afternoon. Two dolphins aided us in the entrance. We tied up at the guest dock at the Oceanside Yacht Club, another OYC and were invited to attend another Monday night with the NFL and enjoyed some fabulous folks, potluck chili, BBQ’d dogs and burgers, and a few libations at the bar. Guess Monday is our lucky night.

Happy 60th, Penny!

Tuesday the rear commodore took us on a tour of the Carlsbad and we ended up at the old Spanish mission of San Luis Rey where we toured 200-year-old grounds and buildings including the old church and a museum. There is a lot of history here.

There is a lot of military activity here as 30,000 marines are stationed at Camp Pendleton next door. Which explains the helicopters circling overhead as we were approaching Oceanside. They have an interesting variety of boats and airplanes including some very noisy tank carrying hovercraft. These things are HUGE and fast. They can travel fully “loaded” in excess of 40 kts.

Next stop San Diego!

I want to thank all you folks who send us your comments, questions and concerns as to what we’re up to and why you haven’t heard from us for awhile. Your words encourage us to continue writing about our adventure and hopefully you’ll continue to find some enjoyment from our notes.

Things, Internet wise, are going to be rather bleak for the next few weeks. So have patience, and pls. don’t worry about us, we’ll get a note off as soon as there is an opportunity. And, by the way, keep your messages coming as well. We love hearing your news too!

As always,
M&D

Writing from San Diego, CA.