Point Lobos Scenics

Nadia Playing In Grass

What to Do?

We are enjoying our time here at Monterey Bay. Yesterday we watched a mother sea otter float by our boat with a baby on it's tummy. They have done a good job at getting these creatures numbers up in the area. We have a sea lion (as usual) resting close by, barking up a storm when excited. The weather is much better, I would say it is actually warm out. We will probably make another hop down the coast in a few days. We keep getting told how much warmer it is once past Point Conception. The winds are still fairly stiff off the coast, typically 15 to 30 kts (some higher). This too will diminish once past Point Conception. We're holding off making any real decisions for a few days. Once everyone has rested and is feeling better.

Monterey Bay

Sorry for not returning emails. As you can tell from our position report we are sitting in Monterey Bay. An obvious unscheduled stop. However after being here for a half day we see we should have planned this, as it is great place to be. Basically what happened is I got sick. I just could not shake the sea sickness. Not just that queasy feeling but the head over the toe-rail, fish feeding variety. I could not eat and quickly found myself useless. Brenda, the super hero, was doing double duty on
all fronts. It was clear we couldn't carry on too much further especially if the weather worsened which it was potentially going to do. It would have made more sense to run in to a location further south but gales were set for the area in a day or two and I couldn't fathom the idea of having to deal with that if they came sooner. So we decided to beat backwards to Monterey. Our fearless self steering system loves to beat into the wind. I am totally pooped. The last time I was this tired we did a
canoe trip then climbed Mt. Rainier a couple of days later. Getting this trip together has been one obstacle after another. The trip itself has been far harder than I could have imagined. Instead of resting during stops there always seems to be maintenance or weather gathering or something that needs doing. The weather has made it very difficult. Even though we are a fair way south, you get out in the ocean and it is cold. The nights are miserable at best. We often boil water and fill a liter Nalgene
container to use as a hot water bottle. On top of it all I caught a bad respiratory infection prior to leaving and I've only gotten it under control in last few days. Antibiotics always give my tummy a bad time. I'm not too sure what we are going to do now. We do know we can't go off on a voyage like this unless I can perform my share of work. Maybe we could get away with it if it lasts only a few days but the trouble is the weather never seems to give us a break. For sure I need a good rest. I
would have sold the whole boat for a buck a day ago if I could just have been in port and had my stomach stop hurting. It's more expensive today (Dale). So we are all fine, Nadia has lost her first upper front tooth yesterday. She accidentally hit her knee on her mouth and out it came. It was very loose and was set to come out very soon anyway. We saw several whales of which Nadia spotted the first about 50 miles out of SF. While returning to Monterey Bay we had 10 or 15 dolphins doing the bow wave
riding and jumping show for us. That was nice of them. The water here is amazingly clear. Even at the dock the visibility is very good. Many dive charters going out every day, perhaps in a few days if I feel better maybe I'll go tag along with one of them. Even though we are not going where we planned it has been a huge adventure for us so far.

Final Preparations

It's time to go. The temptation to remain here in San Francisco is very high. Dock space is only $24 per night, there is lots to see and do. The food is great, transportation is easy. It's safe. On the 12N line off Mexico tropical storm Alvin has been degraded to a tropical depression. Behind it is a much more formidable hurricane Barbara brewing at about 12N off Mexico. Neither one will likely continue to the 135W mark we would like to pass but it makes one a wee bit nervous never the less. The area reminds me of a bowling alley where these spinning storms keep rolling off the Mexico coast. So, we have decided to continue on our planned path with a possible detour through Hawaii. We can sail about 600 nm out of SF before having to decide to continue on to French Polynesia or do the detour through Hawaii. If we do that we will likely continue on south from Hawaii through the Line Islands to the Cooks, not what I wanted to do but some very interesting cruising can be had through that area. It's beautiful night in San Francisco, the first night the winds haven't been howling. The Golden Gate Bridge is about 2 miles away and looks very nice. Time for bed, gotta catch the tide tomorrow morning.

Pete

San Francisco Photos

Going under the bridge, on the cable cars, on a carousel.

Nadia and Brenda By the Golden Gate Bridge