San Diego 'Summer'

Jay's post: We have traveled 526 miles down the California coast and now find ourselves in San Diego. The longest leg of our journey was 104 miles, when we sailed off shore, overnight from Morro Bay to Santa Rosa Island. It was this leg of our trip that took us around Point Conception. Our most enjoyable anchorage, thus far, has been Mariner's Basin here in San Diego, where the waters were “bathtub smooth” regardless of how hard the winds were blowing. Our worst anchorage (see the “rock in and roll in” post) was in Pfieffer Cove. Sailing down the California coast, our most enjoyable marinas include Monterey and San Diego. Along the way we have met many wonderful people. It is amazing, regardless of where we go, we meet someone we know or someone who knows someone we know.  Tomorrow we cross into Mexico and head for Ensenada! We are anxious to see what this next leg of our journey brings, as we struggle with the lack of internet, cell phone service and marinas.

Balloons 30 mile offshore

As we travel, people ask us what we do all day as we sail. Obviously there are routine daily tasks like driving the boat, which entails trimming sails, navigating and steering. These tasks can be more time consuming than one might think, depending on the winds and seas. Throughout the day, the wind tends to shifts from east, to south, to west. There is also a surprising amount of trash, crab pots and kelp we have to steer around to avoid wrapping it around the propeller or having it tangle in the rudder.

There is also the task of planning meals. It is amazing how much time goes into meal planning. It is not because there is a shortage of food on “Little Lara”. Quite the contrary, ever drawer, every locker, and every cabinet is jammed full of food: everything from cereals, to pastas, to soups, to cookies, to candies. The problem is we spend a lot of time planning and cooking these meals. Not your typical boat food (i.e. spam, corn hash, or beanie weenies), but pork chops with salad, potatoes and green vegetables, or spaghetti with clam sauce, tossed green salad and fruit. After dinner there are also desserts of cookies, cinnamon rolls or muffins.

There is also a great deal of time spent watching and identifying birds, dolphins and whales. It is always fun when a bird lands on “Little Lara”. Sometimes they stay for a short while, as if catching their breath before they fly off. Other times they will stay the night. Dolphins never cease to amaze us. When they see us coming they race toward “Little Lara” to ride our bow wave. Sometimes they even put on a personal private performance, jumping clear out of the waves, turning somersaults, and swimming upside down – a “Sea World” kind of entertainment. Whales, on the other hand, we enjoy watching only from a distance as they breach, blow, then sound. As they sound they often throw their flukes high out of the water. Once, on one of our offshore legs, Peggy was fortunate enough to be at the helm when we came upon a Sunfish sunning itself on the surface of the water. It was a spectacular sight.

Peggy's revenge fishing lures

We are often asked if we fish while under way. The answer is yes. We have a fishing real attached on the stern pulpit, which allows us to drag a line behind “Little Lara”. We also have a fishing pole that we use while at anchor. So far, I have caught a Sea Bass and a Rockfish. When we were sailing between Santa Catalina and Oceanside, I caught a Sooty Shearwater. These birds are very abundant along the California coast and migrate in a great circular pattern around the Pacific Ocean. Fortunately, we were able to untangle the bird before any real harm came to it.  I also threw both fish back arguing they were to small to keep. So, the score is Jay – 2 fish + 1 bird, Peggy – 0. To even the odds, Peggy went shopping this past week for fishing lures (giving credence to the adage that fishing lures catch more fishermen than fish). She also asks advice of every fisherman she meets. Time will tell whether her strategy pays off.

Peggy's post: We have truly enjoyed our stay in the San Diego area. My sisters, brother and sister-in-law met us in Oceanside and I was able to spend a few days in a hotel with them. A real bed, bathroom and shower! Also a real breakfast buffet as well as eating out in restaurants. What a nice treat! And it was especially nice being together around the time of our mother's birthday. We played "Zilch" (a dice game) one night in honor of her ... it was one of her favorite games. I think they let me win!

One day we toured Old Town San Diego where we were fascinated by the Mormon Battalion

historical site. The multimedia presentation is truly amazing. If you ever have the opportunity to travel to San Diego, I would definitely recommend it. As Jay mentioned we sailed down from Oceanside to Mariner's Bay, which was one of our favorite days of sailing and the anchorage here rates as my favorite. The bay is encircled by beaches and we were entertained by multitudes of stand-up paddle boarders, kayakers and swimmers. One day we swam to shore (too lazy to inflate the dinghy!) and walked the perimeter of the bay. Then as we were checking out all the cute vacation rentals homes, we discovered that the real “ocean pounding surf” beach was just two blocks away, so we enjoyed wading in the surf. On the beach I saw something tumbling in the waves, someone's swim fin. We continued walking further down the beach, and I was able to do my good deed for the day ... I found the owner and presented him with his lost fin.

Mariners Bay Anchorage

Yesterday we rented a car and we were grateful to be able to attend the San Diego Temple. It is very beautiful and peaceful place. How ironic it was to go to the shopping center across the freeway and see the Temple from the view of the 'World'. On Sunday we attended San Diego 6^th Ward as recommended by the senior missionaries we asked to take our picture at the temple. We saw them at Sacrament meeting, before they left to go work at the Mormon Battalion site (where I plan to take Jay this afternoon). And as usual we meet someone we knew at church. It took me a few minutes to figure out why one of the men looked familiar. Don and Karen lived in Redding for a few months while he was working there, and we had invited them over to our house for dinner. He is now working in San Diego and has returned the favor by invited us over to his house for a home cooked Mexican dinner. Unfortunately, his wife was out of town. It shouldn't surprise me, but it always takes me by surprise at how small the world is. Thanks Don! Another sister approached us to tell us she was from Redding and her parents still live there, attending one of the other Wards. I feel next week when we go to church in Ensenada this trend will probably end, but the members in any Ward feel like family.

San Diego Temple

We send our love to family and friends. We plan to work hard to stay in touch!

Boat Works

Jay's Post: When we arrive in port there is generally a list of “tasks” that must accomplish before we head out to sea again. Foremost are any boats repairs. Fortunately, “Little Lara” is a very seaworthy sailing vessel and these tasks have been fairly minor, primarily falling in the routine maintenance category. More pressing tasks, however, tend to be to laundry, groceries and ice cream.

Avalon, Santa Catalina

Most harbors we have stayed in have laundry facilities. I must admit, I have not washed clothes in a laundromat since my college days. I did not like laundromats then, and find there has been little improvement to them over the past forty years. Laundromats tend to be hot, humid and dirty. We carry plenty of laundry soap, but you still need a hand full of quarters – OK maybe two hands full (we are learning, see the previous post on washing clothes). One facility we recently visited in Oxnard was trying to be innovative. To uses their machines you had to purchase a card from a vending machine. The card cost $3.00. Once purchased, you went to another vending machine, inserted the card along with dollar bills (no coins, or five, ten or twenty dollar bills accepted here) in order buy washing and drying time. The “money loaded card” is then used to pay for a washer or a dryer. For those passing through, the card is a one time purchase, so you loose the value of the card plus any money remaining on it. To get around this dilemma, we befriended a sympathetic lady who allowed us to put money on her card. Typically, we have two loads of laundry every week.

Buying groceries tends to be much more difficult task to accomplish. If we are lucky there is a grocery store near the marina, but more often it is some distance away. Yesterday, for example, Peggy and I walked three miles to the nearest supermarket. The walk was not bad, as we passed several souvenir and trinket shops, plus we were able to walk along the marina docks admiring other people's boats. This made for an interesting trip, one way. Upon arriving at the store, we found a limited selection of fruits and vegetables. Along with these, we bought bread, cereal, milk, cookies, etc. Then Peggy spied the ten pound block of ice for $3.00. A good buy. Since we do not have refrigeration on “Little Lara” block ice goes a long ways in the ice box. After making our purchases, we loaded everything into our backpacks for the three mile walk back. It is surprising how much food (and block ice) you can cram into a couple of backpacks and a string tote bag! On the way back to the boat, we tried a different route, to add variety to the trip. Also, it gives us an opportunity to see a different part of the city. Once back at the boat, everything has to be put away – not always an easy task – canned goods under the starboard (right side) settee, dry good under the port (left side) settee, and cold goods (along with the block ice) in the icebox. Strangely the cookies have disappeared along the way – a hazard of walking to and from the super market. Needless to say, grocery shopping can be an all day, adventure in of itself when you do not have a car.

Avalon city fountain
where we would sit and eat ice cream

Ice cream is a required staple we can not keep on “Little Lara”. Thus, a great deal of time is often spent looking for the best ice cream shops. Other cruisers (that is what people call those who sail from port to port, “cruisers”) are always a big help with directions to the closest shop, given everyone loves ice cream. But, like grocery stores, excellent ice cream shops are far and few between. Often we have to settle for “grocery store ice cream”. Yet, every now and then we find the perfect ice cream shop, like we did recently in Avalon, Catalina Island. “Lloyd's” sells every kind of confection from taffy to fudge to ice cream. They have the very best hot fudge sundaes! Your choice of flavors, lots of hot fudge, whip cream and a cherry on top. We loved their “Cookie Dough” and “Chocolate Tracks” ice cream flavors. Every day while in Avalon, Peggy and I would buy a “double scoop” and split it. We would sit on the city fountain by the harbor, watch people and boats go by, while we savored this truly delightful delicacy. It was absolutely wonderful! Almost makes the long walks worth it.

Well, we have to go now. We have a few more tasks to complete before we shove off for Mission Bay. I hope all is well with you. Now where is the ice cream shop?

"Casino", Avalon, Santa Catalina
Can you find "Little Lara"?

Peggy's Post: Catalina Island has been one of the destinations we have been looking forward to visiting.  It has been a major tourist attraction in Southern California since the 1890's and a favorite getaway for the movie stars from early silent films to more recent films. The Casino at Avalon wasn't built for gambling, but as a "gathering place for entertainment". It has a movie theater on the main floor with walls and ceilings painted in an art deco style and even has an original 1929 organ used to accompany the silent films. Upstairs, above the theater, is a 10,000 square foot elaborate ballroom. I could imagine it filled to capacity with dancers during the big band era. 

While in Avalon, by chance, the town people had their annual "Fall Festival" with a local band, food booths, face painting, hay rides and crafts. It was pretty fun to sit on the hay bales, eating tamales and pretend we were back in Texas. During the same weekend there was an upscale, star studded, "Jazz Festival" at the Casino ... quite a contrast! Lots of large yachts came into the harbor just for the weekend. Avalon is a real resort with everything tourists could want: hotels, restaurants, bike rentals, golf carts rentals, scuba diving, submarine rides, para sailing, deep water fishing, whale watching, zip lines, jeep tours, shopping and massages. The best part, I think however, is just "people-watching". The funniest thing we saw while at Avalon was a down town traffic jam of twenty golf carts – some turning right, some turning left, some going straight, none backing up.

John & Shelton on "A Deux"

Two Harbors, Santa Catalina

We also enjoyed our stay at Two Harbors (named for the two harbors ½ mile apart where Catalina Island squeezes together like a waist). We picked up a mooring ball there because they don't allow anchoring in the harbor. This takes a bit of practice. Think of being on the merry-go-round while your horse goes up and down, and you try to reach for the golden ring as you swing by. Two Harbors is much more laid back and has a slower pace than Avalon. We enjoyed hiking and meeting people and found the only ice cream at this end of the island at the General Store. While there we met a family with five kids on a catamaran. They named their boat “Family Circus”. What a great name! They also had a great story: Their boat was out of the water for some work in Napa, CA when the earthquake hit about two months ago. The boat fell off the travel lift and slid back into the water ... while they were all on it! It ends up that friends we recently met on “A Deux” grabbed their lines and stopped them from drifting down the river, given they had no working motor or steering at the time! Again a small world.

We love you all and appreciate your prayers. We know your prayers are answered when we have great days and the seas looks like these, as we sailed to Catalina:

Smooth sailing on calm seas

Finally, a special thanks to Bruce, Kimberly and their daughter for being our friends in Oxnard, CA.

Bruce, Kimberly and family

California's Cape Horn

Peggy's Post: Point Arguello and Point Conception have been know since the 19^th century as the "Cape Horn of the Pacific". They form a pair of formidable headlands, fog-ridden, extremely windy, and notorious for their turbulence. The very names put fear into even the seasoned small boat sailor's heart. (from CRUISING GUIDE, SAN FRANCISCO TO ENSENADA)

You can imagine the above description has had me worried about this part of our trip since before we left San Francisco. On Monday, October 6, 2014 we left Morro Bay, CA, in the fog (it is beginning to be the norm for us) and in company with another sailboat “A Deux”. We were both hoping the weather forecast would hold: light variable winds with swells and wind waves that weren't too big. And it did hold, until the middle of the night when we were rounding these two dreaded headlands. Then things turned windy and messy and wet (I got dumped on by a wave) and cold and dark and foggy. Once we put a 2^nd reef in the main sail (i.e. reducing the sail making it smaller) the ride wasn't as wild. If you can imagine it, picture Jay hanging on to the mast with one hand, trying to pull down a wildly flapping sail, while trying to tie it around the boom with the other hand; as I am standing in the cockpit fighting the tiller, trying to keep the boat headed upwind (so we wouldn't roll), while pulling the reefing line. This was complicated as we were trying to dodge off-shore oil platforms at the time. Later, as we crossed the Santa Barbara Shipping Channel we also had to dodge huge ocean freighters in the dark. Thankfully we were able to contact them on the marine radio to let them know we were out there too.

All I can say is it was a good thing we were able to spend the next few days at Santa Rosa and Santa Cruz Islands in beautiful anchorages regrouping. We also enjoyed gorgeous sailing weather as we sailed between these two islands. Oh and of course dolphins! There were dozen of them swimming around “Little Lara” performing tricks one typically only sees at Sea World. It was as if they were putting on a private show just for us, welcoming us to sunny southern California. It is experiences like these that makes the rounding of  “The Cape” a bad memory … and a good story.

Jay's Post: A gremlin is a fantastic creature commonly depicted as harmless yet mischievous, with a specific interest in boats. Gremlins' mischievous natures are similar to those of English folkloric imps. Gremlins are also found on “Little Lara”! Peggy says there are no such creatures and says I am crazy to think so. But, they are there. They are not hallucinations brought on by sleep deprivation like the time I was crew on “Serenity” (a Pacific Seacraft 37 and larger version of “Little Lara”). I was on watch three days out of Corpus Christi, Texas bound for Mexico when I went below to update the ship's log, but was unable to do so because the pencil kept floating away from me. As I repeatedly reached in the air to grab it, I heard one of my crewmates ask me what I was doing. I told him I was trying to grab the pencil. He said it was on the navigation table, not in the air! Or the time I was crewing on “Kukulei” (a Nor'sea 27) two days out of Honduras bound for Houston, Texas. I was again on night watch when I repeatedly heard some yelling “help me ... help me ... help me”. I actually stood up in the boat's cockpit and looked around to see if anyone was there. There was no one there.

Gremlins are interesting creatures. They do all sorts of cute things like laugh, sing, play music and dance. When they laugh, it is more like a chuckle. When they sing, you can not quite make out the words, though the tune often sounds familiar. When they dance, you hear them stomping and jumping on the deck.

They can also be quite mischievous, though they never do anything harmful. For example, there is a pressure release valve in one of our thermos bottles. This valve is removable for cleaning. Recently, it turned up missing. We looked for it for over a week, finally giving up, deciding it had been thrown away accidentally. Yesterday, it turned up – on the counter -- in plain sight.

This is not unusual. In the past I have lost knives, tools, gloves, etc. eventually having them turn up later. But what is unusual, which is why I believe there are gremlins on “Little Lara” is I will set a tool down, only to find it elsewhere on the boat. For example, I will put a screwdriver down on the deck next to the project I am working on only to find it in the head (bathroom). And, I had not been in the head until I found it there! Or, I will put my gloves on my bunk only to find them later in the cockpit.

Whether gremlins are real or not, you may argue with me, but I want you all to know what is real: God loves us, the Gospel is true, there is a living prophet on the earth today, the Bible and the Book of Mormon are scripture, and families are forever. May the Lord bless you and keep you safe.

We hope you enjoy this video of our anchorage at Cochos Prietos, Santa Cruz. Channel Islands:

a Rockin' and a Rollin'

Pfieffer Cove Anchorage

Peggy's Post:  I am loving being still!  And being in the sun!  The day we left the marina in Monterey was clear and the seas were pretty flat ... but within 30 minutes the fog rolled in so thick we couldn't see past the next wave.  And as we rounded the point near Carmel the swells built to 6-8 feet from the starboard stern quarter (the right back corner of the boat) so the motion of the boat was rocking forward and backward plus from side to side.  A pretty good corkscrew motion.  NOT FUN!  We were relieved to get to our anchorage at Pfeiffer Cove later that day, but had to put up with rolling at anchor for 2 days while we waited for the swells to die down.  On the bright side we enjoyed lots of sea gulls, coots, egrets and herons who were feasting on little goodies in the kelp bed nearby and a view of a couple of houses precariously hanging off the cliffs above us.

Right now I am sitting in the Relief Society room in the Morro Bay Ward building waiting for the Sunday morning session of General Conference session to start.  I really enjoyed the Saturday sessions and was especially struck by Elder Wong's talk (in Cantonese!) about Christ healing the man with palsy - he asked if we knew anyone who is spiritually paralyzed and that we must work together to bring them to Christ to be healed.  Another speaker who touched my heart was Elder Klebingat who challenged us to not listen in our minds to Satan's voice, and gave practical suggestions to increase our spiritual confidence. (No, I am not able to remember what each speaker talked about - I had to take notes!)

California Coast

As I think about the fog we were in a few days ago and the disorientation it caused, I am so thankful that we had a compass so we could continue in the right direction and not unknowingly be driven onto the rocky coast.  I was also so thankful for our radar that identified fishing boats around us that we couldn't see.  In a gospel perspective it reinforces my gratitude for living Prophets and scriptures to keep us on the right course, and for the guidance of the Holy Ghost to warn us of dangers in the world we can't see with our limited mortal vision.  And how I loved it when the sun came out! It reminds me of how much I appreciate our Savior, the Light of the World, who warms us with hope and healing and comfort.

Fishing in Pfeiffer Cove

Jay's Post:  Sailing a boat is amazing when the wind, waves and boat are all aligned and all three come into perfect harmony.  It is at that moment that "Little Lara" begins to vibrate oh so slightly, almost imperceptibly.  In sailing terms this is called "sailing in the groove".  The hull slices through the water,  the sails are full and drawing,  and there is a gentle rolling motion to the boat. If you are sailing upwind when this happens,"Little Lara" will almost sail herself.  The water rushes by gurgling and the rigging begins to "sing".  If, you are sailing down wind, the hull rises and falls as the swells rush by and the sails gently collapse when the wind is knocked out of them. Under these conditions the waves hiss as they pass under the boat.  It is amazing to watch and witness.

San Simeon Anchorage

Crash, rattle, bang!  These are the sounds you hear when you are at anchorage and there is a swell running.  Under these conditions "Little Lara" will pitch and roll.  At times you may almost be thrown out of your bunk as you try to sleep.  We were so tired when we anchored in Pfeiffer Cove, that regardless of the noise and motion we slept -- reasonably well -- kind of.  From Pfeiffer Cove we motored six hours to San Simeon Bay where we had hoped for a quieter anchorage.  San Simeon Bay sits right under Hearst's Castle.  The anchorage is beautiful with a pier to the east, a State park to the north and small cliffs topped with trees to the west.  Though this anchorage was calmer than Pfeiffer Cove, when the tide changed, it would send a surge through the anchorage that would again send things flying around the cabin until "Little Lara"  realigned herself and settle down once again.  As Peggy says, Not Fun!

Imagine our surprise while we were anchored in San Simeon Bay when in sails "Evening Tide", a Dana 24 No. 318 (sister ship to "Little Lara").  Ken sailed over and introduced himself explaining he was from Morro Bay.  Later we met him in Morro Bay where we enjoyed getting to know him better.  He says "Little Lara" is the first Dana 24 he has ever seen on the water.  So imagine his excitement when we shared an anchorage together.

Morro Rock at Morro Bay, CA

Presently, we are in Morro Bay meeting wonderful people, watching General Conference and enjoying the town.  This is kind of a touristy place with many restaurants, souvenir shops and art galleries located along the water front.  We plan on leaving for points south on Monday, but until then we hope you enjoy "Cutterfish in your Eye":