Santa Catalina

After Santa Barbara we headed out to the channel islands, with the first stop at Santa Cruz. Dropped anchor just before dark, did not go ashore as a surf landing and getting dark and an early start tomorrow. Fantastic view sailing around the island, mostly motoring that is, as little wind all day.
Up at 3am next morning to try and get to Santa Catalina before dark, 68 miles. There is a strong current until almost noon keeping our speed down. Arrived at 5pm and dropped anchor in Catalina bay. The weather is always sunny with a few fog patches in California, warm days and cool nights, perfect. Several times today we had dophins swimming under our bow jumping and dodging, put on a great show.
Using our small water maker (Katadyne 40E) to make drinking water now, as the water from Santa Barbara tastes awful and we just us it for cooking and cleaning.
Did a hike up a 1800ft hill up a steep footpath near the anchorage for some much needed exercise. then walked across to Two Harbors for coffee and scone and a look around. Beautiful place, lots of palm trees. A treat for us people from up north. We are doing this blog at a picnic table on the beach under a shade palm, what more could you ask for.
Today (Oct 25 Sun) did a hike up another 2000ft hill got 50cent showers afterwards.

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Content below added by the couch potatoes on land back in B.C.

Nice video tour of Santa Catalina Island is here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzTuZOtI0Fg

Here is the video of the dolphins that Brian didn't manage to get:
(you have to beat this video with your new camera Brian, that is your challenge this month)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zmI25wIL_oY
(added by GV for Brian)
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Santa Barbara

Sorry about the delay here. Our last email spot had this website blocked and could not get to it, must have thought it was a evil sight. (Sorry Barb.)
The Big blow came through Monteray while we were at the dock, it was like a big winter storm in Vancouver, heavy rain all day only even windier than Vancouver. Trees down, twigs all over our boat deck, and some flooding in the area. They said it was the biggest Ocotober storm since 1962.
We left a day later after the seas settled a bit and did an over night sail to Morro bay. about 105 miles down the coast, sailed about half of the distance in a moderate nw wind. Was huge and somewhat caotic swells until we rounded Cape Sur. We spent a couple of days in Morro bay anchored out in channel with a very strong tidal flow, need the engine to get the dinghy ashore, no rowing here.
Sunday Oct 18 left Morro bay for Santa Barbara, another overnight sail. I stayed up all night and let Dorothy sleep. It as a much busyier night that the last overnighter. I got almost no cat naps in. The wind was up and down all night and oil rigs and boats to dodge. We started out motoring for a few hours and then a nw wind came up and got some nice sailing. Then it kept rising until we were down to the 3rd reef with most of genoa rolled up, and wind stay like this until we rounded pt Conception. Then wind died and back to motoring, and then wind back up on a beam reach and we sailed nicely for an hour and then wind was up very strong on the beam I took all sail down for an hour and sailed along at 3 knots and more with no sail and no engine. Got Dorothy up briefly to help as could not get mainsail down in the strong wind without turning the boat into it. The last hour into Santa Barbara we motoring in calm seas, lots of oil rigs around.
Arrived about 1030 am in Santa Barbara and stayed in the marina for the next 3 days, Very nice place, getting around on our bikes as things are spread out. Bike lanes around so cycling is good. So far no boat problems to fix, except touch up a couple of rust zits I saw just starting deck. Also lost the end of my autopilot cable that attaches to trim tab, made up a new one out of a piece of aluminum while under way in about 20 minites.
Maybe heading South Tomorrow still deciding on next stop. Later.

Monterey Ca

Left San Francisco 5 days ago, motored with some sailing to Halfmoon bay, perfect anchorage in 15ft of water, lots of room. We took out the bikes for a great cycle down their seawall trail to the main town where the bigger grocery stores are. six mile round trip.
We cut our visit short after 2 days, as a big system was coming through on Tuesday, and did not want to be stuck here until then. So did the 45 miles down to Santa Cruz and spent the night there in a open anchorage, but it was a quite night except for the hundreds of sea lions barking all night. Then today motored and sailed some to stay at the marina at Monterey for the next 4 or 5 days. Sounds like a gale coming through for a day or two. But the radio is saying there could be flooding and trees down in the area.

After a week around Sausalito, we sailed over to San Fransisco to anchor in front of Hyde st the main tourist area. Anchored in the Aquatic basin where there is lots of swimmers. stayed 2 nights and played tourist for a couple of days. Now heading back to Sausalito for another week.