Busy Days

We got Patty and Brett off of the ferry and made the trip back down the coast to our Cove. After some swimming, sunning and just hanging around the boat, we went ashore. Brett attempted to fill in the cove with rocks from the shore, but made little difference. Regardless of how many rocks the kids throw in the water, the winter storms just roll them back up on the beach.

Brett played on the swing, hiked up through the trees and climbed up into a treehouse with an ocean view. After a while, we all took showers in the open air shower and went back to the boat.

We had a dinner invitation from our friends Ike and Zuzana, so we packed into the dingy and took the half mile trip down the coast to Emerald Bay where they we’re anchored. We had appetizers on the aft deck and then retired to the salon for dinner. After 10:00 pm, we bundled sleeping Brett up, climbed down into the dingy and took a very dark trip back to our Cove. I was glad that I had kayaked that stretch many times and knew where the rocks were.

Sunday morning was cool and cloudy, but by noon when we pulled the anchors the sun was out and the wind was up. Fifteen minutes under way and we had the engine off and we were sailing a broad reach for home.

We got in by 4:30 pm. It was good that we only had to motor a short distance because a small coolant drip tuned into a big one and the engine started getting hot coming down the Alamitos Bay entry channel.

I poured enough water into the system to keep her running while we furled the sails and got into the slip. I will be glad when the autopilot is repaired. Hand steering across the channel makes for a long day.

At Two Harbors

On the hook

We got in about 2:45 pm and got the anchors down without too much fuss. We pumped up the small dingy and gave Christian a quick tour of the shoreside facilities, as they are. I have figured out that without wifi, I cannot easily transfer pictures from the iPhone to the iPad. So I need to load the WordPress software on the iPhone as well so as to upload pictures.

We had steak, brown rice and broccoli for dinner, capped of with Mystic Mint Girl Scout cookies.

The moon rose; a squid fishing boat lit up the horizon (they shine bright lights down into the water to attract the squid) and we went to bed.

This morning Christian started the morning off with a 6:30 am swim. A little too early for me. Patty and Brett are coming in on the 9:00 am ferry so we have to put the engine on the big dingy to go get them.

Some Pictures

AT SEA

We left the dock at 9:45 am and headed out onto a sunny and calm sea. The light wind out of the east died about 10 miles off shore, so the diesel is chugging away. Several pods of dolphins played in the wake, giving us a break. Right now, about mid channel, the sea is glassy with a 1-2 foot confused swell rocking the boat. The few clouds are burning off, the Island is in sight, and life is good.

CATALINA ISLAND, August 3, 2012

We are heading off in the morning to Big Geiger Cove on the West end of Catalina Island for a three day weekend. The plan is to leave the harbor about 10:00 am for the five hour crossing. Our friend Christian is going with me and Patty is joining us on Saturday via the cross-channel ferry.

Since the auto pilot drive unit gave up on the last trip, and is in for repairs, I will be happy to have the help steering the boat.