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

San Francisco Holiday

Hi all, We are enjoying ourselves on our San Francisco mini hoilday. Although I have spent some time doing repairs we are still getting time to go out and see many of the cities attractions. We've been on the cable cars (Nadia thgought they were fun but too noisy), Pier 39, the SF Zoo, had lunch in Chinatown, taken in the Exploritorium and had many nice walks throught the cities neighbourhoods. Nadia has really gotten involved in sewing crafts, she is working on a patch work blanket, doing beadwork, and reading her usual 5 books a day. Her and Brenda are working their way through Harry Potter and are now on book 2.

Dale and I put the repaired windlass mount back in place yesterday. It wasn't welded quite right (what else is new) but after some thought and a few modifications I think it is more likely to last than before. For you non boaters the windlass is used to raise the main anchor, without it we would have to use a much smaller anchor which can be hand hauled. Dale left us yesterday after a full month on board. I told him we would be about 2 weeks total, ha ha, that was a good one. He will be missed but I'm sure he is happy to get back to Suelaine and his regular life. I wish him all the best in all of his adventures.

We will get busy studying all the pilot charts of the Pacific and decide on the best route south of here.

Many thanks to everyone reading our blog and to all those who leave comments, we love reading them,

Pete

San Francisco

We arrived yesterday (Wednesday) to much fanfare (on the boat) and hoopla. Sunshine, no fog and calm winds. We are staying at a marina in The Marina district. A short walk or bus ride from all the sights. There is a lot of activity all around us. Lasers and larger boats sailing in the bay, wind surfers, kite flyers, joggers etc. I spent my first full day doing maintenance. A few things have broken and need attention. I met a fellow on the docks who does a host of repair work and he helped me out
with getting a part welded. I still have a few things to do but have managed to complete most of the important work. Brenda and Nadia went to the Exploratorium, science center.
It's a pleasure to be here. I feel we really deserve it. There is a great deal of satisfaction in doing a trip like this all on your own. Making all the decisions and taking responsibility for the outcome. It has been a long trip, much much longer than I would have expected. Everyone learned a great deal. Now it's time to relax and get ready for the next leg. Whatever that may be.

Peter

Turning 50 in Bodega Bay

Pat mentioned in an email that Hitchcock filmed The Birds here at Bodega Bay. Seems like a good place as any to turn 50 in. I had a very nice day, the weather was sunny and fairly warm. We made omelets and biscuits for breakfast, went out for a great lunch (courtesy of Dale) and had Thai curry with spinach salad and key lime pie to put the candles in. Nadia's idea and creation. Mercifully there are only 5 small candles on board for celebrations, we only used four of them. It was a small but fabulous
party. I'm now the proud owner of an underwater camera system. I can't wait to get to someplace where the water is a little bit warmer. The water outside Pt, Reyes is 49F. Also many thanks to Pat and John for the magazines and $$. Nadia, Brenda and I went for a walk and flew kites. Kite and other wind sports are a big deal here. The wind never seems to stop. The Bodega Bay buoy was reporting 29G41 kts at 7 pm and we hope it will subside so we can make the final run to San Francisco.

An apology to Suelaine for dragging Dale along on such a long outing. He's been very good to us and Nadia has grown quite attached to him.

Pete

Late Night Eats

Dale sneaks a piece a chicken during the midnight to 4 am shift.