Oxnard's Bitter -- Sweet

Crossing the Santa Barbara Channel
 for Oxnard, California

Dolphins Swimming off the Bow

We decided we should visit family for the holiday season so we left Santa Cruz Island on November 14, 2019 to cross once again the Santa Barbara Channel and head for Oxnard California and the Anacapa Isle Marina.  Once "Little Lara" was in a slip with everything stowed, we began making arrangements to leave for Utah.  The next day Jeri came down the dock to introduced herself.  She told us she and her husband Joe had previously owned a Pacific Seacraft Flicka, a smaller, 20 foot version of "Little Lara".  They sold their boat when they decided to purchase a Dana 24, which they had been looking for ever since.  As we became fast friends, we learned they had sailed to many of the same places in California and Mexico we had been to.  It was fun sharing stories of people we had met, anchorages we had visited, and experiences we had. We soon learned Joe worked security at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.  He invited us to come visit the facilities, which we gratefully accepted.

Air Force One

We spent two hours at the Presidential Library looking at all of the displays, gifts and awards.  We were most impressed with Air Force One and the Oval Office Replica.   Air Force One flew President Reagan over 660,000 miles – to 26 foreign countries and 46 U.S. states.  This Flying White House, tail number 27000, served seven U.S Presidents from 1973 to 2001, including Presidents Nixon, Carter, Ford, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush. For Ronald Reagan, this was the plane in which he hand-wrote many of his speeches and signed important legislation. Though we found the plane to be impressive, we did not find it to be opulent.

The Presidential Suite
Aboard Air Force One

Presidential Staff Suite
Aboard Air Force One

Presidential Support Suite
Aboard Air Force One

Exiting Air Force One

Every president decorates the Oval Office to suit his tastes.  President Reagan, inspired by the West, added earthy colors, western art including a collection of bronze saddles, and, of course, a jar of Jelly Bellies for his desk!  A full-scale replica of the Oval Office, decorated as it was during President Reagan’s presidency is on display at the Library.  We were able to peer into the room known as the president’s formal work space.  There we saw his desk, which was made from the timbers of the H.M.S. Resolute, an abandoned British ship discovered by an American vessel and returned to the Queen of England as a token of friendship and goodwill. The desk was commissioned by Queen Victoria and presented to President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880.  Now known as the Resolute Desk, it has been used by every president since Hayes, with the exception of Presidents Johnson, Nixon and Ford.  But if you look closely, you’ll notice that the wooden base appears altered.  This is because President Reagan added the 2” base to the desk to accommodate his 6’2” frame and to keep the desk drawers from hitting his knees! On his desk are two plaques he kept: “It can be done” and “There’s no limit to what a man can do or where he can go if he doesn’t mind who gets the credit.”

Giving a Speech Before
Political Dignitaries

Joe and Jeri were very impressed with "Little Lara" and we were not at Anacapa Isle Marina long before they made us an offer for her. Over a period of a few days, we went back and forth on a price, but eventually we agreed to sell them our boat.  It was hard, very hard, to part with "Little Lara".  We had owned her for fifteen years.  Together we have sailed the California Delta, Pacific Ocean, Sea of Cortez, Gulf of Mexico, Carribean and Atlantic Ocean.  During that time, she has always kept us safe and introduced us to many interesting places and special people.  If there is one consolation, it is that she is going to a couple who will sail her, enjoy her and love her, as we have.

"Little Lara" in Oxnard, California

Peggy Sitting in Little Lara's Cabin

Anacapa Isle Marina
Oxnard, California

Upon selling "Little Lara" we needed to remove all of our personal belongings and transport them back to our home.  This meant we had to buy a car, and it was not long before Peggy selected a used 2019 Nissan Altima with all the bells and whistles.  This is no "grandma car"!

Peggy's 2019 Nissan Altima

From Oxnard we made the 13 hour trip home with a car packed full of boat stuff.  We made the trip safely hitting only light snow on the way.  We will miss "Little Lara", but we are comfortable knowing she is in good hands, and we are looking forward to our next adventure wherever or whatever that may be.

Joe and Jeri sailing off in "Little Lara"

Until then, we wish Joe and Jeri Fair Winds!