Second Half - Post Baja Ha Ha Adventure

We're Backkkkk! 

Needless to say there was much more to the images and dream of sailing the ocean blue! While sailing/motoring down the coast of California to Mexico blogging was all but impossible as we traveled. The truth be known, it took all we- okay "I" had to be a descent human being - due to relentless seas and the motion sickness that forever haunts ones insides (okay! and outsides!) 

So having released a TMI I thought I would just check in to say we made it home for the holidays and are currently on our way back to Sea Otter who awaits us in La Cruz, Mexico.  Unfortunately, we had to relive saying goodbye to our family, friends and last but not least dogs. But here we are back on the road again.  This adventure we embarked on has allowed us to not only to test our survival of one another but find a rhythm in our family unit that even the ocean could not disrupt. (With all due respect that's not to say the ocean could not bring the rain and crack our family code!) We are currently in Seattle visiting more family and preparing to land back on the boat in a couple days. Hard to believe we will be going from 27degrees to 80's within hours. Talk about wardrobe drama! 

While we have had a wonderful time being home I found my thoughts returning frequently to the new found friendships we've made with our fellow boaters back in La Cruz (and surrounding ports). I think when you travel the distances we have you build relations that are like no other. You are often put in situations that test you in ways you didn't think possible. Hence, friendships form - after all it is mundane to guffaw at yourself when the fishing net finds a way to wrap themselves around your prop "At Night" or you are walloped in the face by an 8 inch squid during a cat nap after two sleepless nights out at sea.  So when you make these friends and you turn to laugh at yourself and they are not there - you miss them! We have been so fortunate to build some triumphant memories from these experiences! Strength in numbers, right? 

 

It is my intention to be a better at blogging as our Internet connections are projected to be better than the past 4 months. So with that, I will take this time to wish you all a Happy New Year and look forward to a few tongue and cheek entries before this journey ends for Ben and I in May. (Well, that is our current plan. But as cruisers we all know plans have to include plans that can change) 

Lastly, I am attempting to attach a link to the Baja Ha Ha that we took part in Oct/November 2013. If I am successful enjoy the photos! 

Until later Peace Out 

Julie 

Baja Ha Ha 2013 Photos

Hi Everyone –

Here is a brief progress report from Capt. Mike posted 10/13/2013

 1.     SAIL FROM WASHINGTON to SAN FRANCISCO W/O JULIE AND BEN. 

The sail down the coast from WA to San Francisco was the adventure I hoped it would be.  The most challenging section came right at the start, when, at the end of the Straits of Juan de Fuca, we rounded Cape Flannery (most northwesterly point in the US lower 48) and headed south.   Our intention was to beat a low pressure system coming into NW Wash. from AK,  and get to the NW Oregon coast ahead of it, but Mother Nature had other plans for us.  About 5 hours after turning south along the Wash. coast (during which time we had perfect NW winds, 10-15 kts.), the storm hit; the winds shifted to directly from the south, and the seas kicked.   As our second night out approached we found ourselves motoring into 25-30 kt headwinds & 8-10 ft. waves, making minimal headway of only 2-3 kts.)  We were trying to make it down to Grays Harbor,  but after consulting by VHF radio the USCG we moved in closer to shore into shallower water, dropped the anchor and spent a very rough rocky-rolly night at anchor.  The next morning, to our great relief, the seas calmed down and the sun came out.  We motored into Grays Harbor, dried out, took hot showers, had a good meal.  We actually enjoyed reviewing – in hindsight –the thrills and challenges of our first storming night at sea.  All agreed that we had done well under the circumstances, standing up to what the sea threw at us, and that our boat, Sea Otter, had done very well indeed.  It was one of those experiences, that, while certainly not enjoyable or comfortable one, was worth going through and a good learning experience.  We were never in any serious danger and were pleased and proud of how we handled ourselves..  After finishing dinner and refueling at Gray’s Harbor, we headed out for another night at sea  -- in much calmer conditions – and resumed our travel south.    Unfortunately, although the storm had subsided and the seas had calmed down (which was good), for the next two days the wind continued to come from the south  --- instead of from the northwest -- where it typically blows from this time of year.  As a consequence, instead of sailing we did a lot of motoring coming down southern Wash. and the north coast of Oregon. That was little disappointing (and more costly, due to fuel consumption), but still a big improvement.  After the rough first couple of days, we  weren’t complaining.  With the relatively calm seas were able to prepare and enjoy some good meals, and get some good sleep. 

During the whole trip down the coast from Cape Flannery to San Francisco the only harbors we went into for overnight stays were Newport, OR and Bodega Bay, CA (40 miles north of SF).  We stayed two nights at Newport, waiting out a day of bad weather.  That was a good move.  We had a good rest and a fun time during our one layover day in Newport.  For me the best part of the day was having dinner at the Rouge River Brewery with two of my crew, my son, Martin, and Doug Welch, my old buddy from public defender days in Sacramento.  (Our 4th crewman, Peter, from Bend, did not join us.  He opted to stay and rest at the boat).   Mart, a craft beer expert and home brewer, enjoyed trying a great many of Rouge’s brews, and I joined him.  The food was also good.  But the best thing was just relaxing with good pals, having fun at a cool bar with a great ambience.  The Rouge Brewery bar/restaurant is in the attic of the main brewery building, which is a large old wood warehouse bldg.  It’s located on the south side of the harbor near the OSU marine science facility.  We took the bus over to the “south beach” area, where the brewery is  located,  and  a taxi back to the marina, so didn’t have to temper our night of serious beer drinking.  It was a good way to celebrate making it through the first two tough days of voyage.  Between Newport and Bodega Bay we went briefly into harbors twice, first in to Crescent City for fuel and dinner, and then at Eureka to drop off Mart.  He had to jump ship at Eureka in order to  make sure he would get back for work in time.  His mother Barbara (my ex wife) and her husband drove over from  Sacramento to  pick Martin up and he flew home from Sacramento.  Regrettably (at least for Mart), after he departed the weather turned nice and the wind shifted to a northerly wind, which meant we could finally sail.   After leaving Eureka, the NW  wind was  very strong (25 kts, with gusts to 30) going around Cape Mendocino, but that was expected (and good, since we were not heading into it) and made for an exciting day of sailing.   After getting around Cape Mendocino, the final stretch from Fort Bragg down San Francisco Bay was close to perfect.  Sunny days (except for morning fog) and winds in the 10-20 kts range coming from the W and NW.  On  our 8^th day from the day we left Port Townsend, WA, sailing into San Francisco Bay, through the Golden Gate and under the GG Bridge, on a bright sunny day, was a total thrill.   All things considered the entire WA to SF trip was a good one and Sea Otter did great.  For me, first substantial ocean voyage as skipper was a great learning experience and confidence builder -- plus mostly fun.  And my crew was great.  Doug’s wife drove down from Sacramento and picked him up the evening of our arrival and a friend of Peter’s, who lives in the Bay area, picked him up the next day.

2.      STAY IN SF BAY AND THE AMERICA’S CUP.

The marina where  we stayed in SF Bay was Grand Marina in the City of Alameda on the Alameda Estuary.  I was there alone for the first few days, and then Ben flew down to join his “Ole Man.”   Alameda turned out to be a neat place to stay.  It’s located on an island, Alameda  Island,  on the Bay southwest of Oakland.  It’s a small town located in the middle of an metropolis.   And  it  has a real small town feel to it – a very friendly almost Bend-like feel, except with a greater mixture of ethnicities.  Ben and I enjoyed week and a half together in Alameda, during which I finished getting Sea Otter outfitted for heading south to Mexico  (installing a wind-vane steering system and a solar electric system) and Ben got started on his Oregon Connections Academy remote schooling program.  We also went to a Giant’s game (taking the ferry direct to AT&T Park from Alameda) and to the Cal v. Ohio State game.  And then the coolest of all was watching the America’s Cup race finals between Oracle USA and Emirates New Zealand.  The AC Race Regatta started out as a big dud, with N.Z. taking an 8 to 1 race lead (needing to win 9 races to win and take the A. Cup off to Auckland), after which, against odds of historic proportion, the Oracle USA team won 8 do-or-die races in a row, to keep the Cup in the USA.   It was an epic comeback victory!  According to the race commentators, the GREATEST SERIES COME BACK WIN in sports history (outdoing the Red Sox’s 4 wins in a row comeback victory over the Yankees in the ALCS a few years ago).  And Ben and I (and at times with few other folks) were there on the water watching several of the races, and we were there in America’s Cup Park on the SF waterfront for the final race win and victory celebrations.  It really was an exciting AC Cup ending for SF and for great fun for me and Ben personally, to be on the scene and part of it.

3.         SAIL SOUTH FROM SAN FRANCISCO. 

 Friday Sept 22nd Julie flew down to Oakland, after finishing up the move out of our house in Bend (we’ve rented it out during the time we’re gone).  Then with her help we finalized provisioning and fitting  out of Sea Otter and last Thursday  headed off down the Central Calif coast.   After sailing out of SF  (spending our last night docked at Pier 39 on the SF Waterfront – serenaded all night by  an army of Calif. sea lions),  we spent our first night moored at Half Moon Bay, and then a night and day at Santa Cruz.  While in Santa Cruz, Ben – and mom and dad too –got to ride the Big Dipper – the 4^th oldest wooden roller coaster in the US  (which dad first rode in the late 1950’s when he was a young boy living in Gilroy, just over the coastal mountains from Santa Cruz).   Day before yesterday, we left Santa Cruz harbor and sailed through the down the Big Sur coast to San Simeon Cove, where we anchored for breakfast looking up at the Hearst Castle, perched on a mountaintop.  Around noon we sailed the 25 miles down the coast to Moro Bay, where we spent last night.  A friend, Mary Main, (with whom we sailed in Italy in 2008),  who lives in Cambria (on the coast just north of Moro Bay, picked us up and took us to dinner in San Luis Obispo.  The next day was  a respite day today moored at the Moro Bay Yacht Club.   Then Marty picked  us up to spend the night at her  The next day’s weather forecast was for a storm coming through with high winds off Cape Conception, which is a major barrier for our sail south to Santa Barbara.  So the next day we stayed put at Marty’s house for a second day of shore leave.  The marine forecast for the  following  day, Thursday, 10/10 was good one (NW winds, 15-20 kts, 3-4 foot seas), so we left Moro Bay Thur. p.m. sail around Point Conception during the night in calm conditions and came into Santa  Barbara the Friday morning.   Now, after two nights in Santa Barbara, it’s on to the Channel Islands, Santa Catalina Island, Oceanside, and finally San Diego by the 17^th  of Oct.  

On Oct 28^th we will set sail from San Diego for Cabo San Lucas and La Paz, Mex.  It’s been really neat to experience all these Calif. Coastal communities for the first time -- coming in from the sea, instead off from the land.

I’ll do my best to post further progress reports  as we proceed south on our sailing adventure.

Warm regards,

Capt. Mike

The Approach to Moro Bay

After a full night and day in Santa Cruz we left late in the afternoon of Saturday and set sail (sail/motor) for San Simeon Cove. This was a introduction to a night passage that I did not see coming and while it took several hours for me to settle into the thought of it, I found myself welcomed by a number of grey whales. Their massive bodies glided through the water with such grace and poise. However, I was not accustom to the sounds of their voices and was set back on my seat by the volume of which they communicated.  I wanted to say "I am sorry for sailing over the top of your feeding ground", but did not quite know how to billow this out in the clicking and howling language they spoke. Instead, we cut our engine and sat awhile to take it all in. (See Julie Dillard -Instagram for a clip of our sighting.) I can only say the sun was setting and the weather was perfect to be so honored to float amongst these beautiful mammals. It was thanks to OPB that we knew what was taking place when we found ourselves atop a massive circle of tiny bubbles. Apparently during feeding time whales will collectively swim in a wide circle and blow bubble under the water to create a bubble net to confuse and capture the fish that they are feeding on. I must say their was a brief moment that I was feeling a bit vulnerable - as if we could possibly be the bait. Not so!

As we continued further down he coast (about 3 miles off shore) somewhere between Monterrey and Big Sur I became aware of the phosphorescent effects of the water. At one point I yelled out for Mike as I witnessed a rather large fish charging the boat, which of course disappeared under the water as soon as he came. No doubt he thought I was loosing it. However, I persuaded him to stay and watch for a few minutes longer. THERE! Again the approach....and I was redeemed.  It was not too long after that that we were approached by several (I counted 5) bottle nose dolphins. With the phosphorescene outlining every detail of these beautiful creatures. All I can say is it was a memory that is forever etched in our minds. Stay tuned for more to come (my currently wireless is starting to kick me off this web page.)

Half Moon Bay

So given the nature of sailing - there is always that "LIST", weather it's things to do, things to get, things not to forget, people to call, people to remember to put on board the boat before you leave the dock....none the less always a list by which you survive. Well, I think its safe to say our list(s) are near completion. However, for those of you that know other wise please give me a few days before you remind me of one the aforementioned possibilities.

I will need to back track a bit to bring things up to speed. I joined Mike and Ben on September 27th after packing our house to make it ready for 4 college girls to rent while we are out sailing one of the seven seas. In that time, I heart heavy parted my animals to friends I could never possible repay for the managed love and care they are giving our pets (extended family members) during our absence. Meanwhile, I arrived in Alameda California to find that not only was laundry quite affordable but that the available shower was clean and FREE. Unheard of in my sailing experience. (The mere thought that I could actually condition my hair before my 4 quarters ran out! No soap in my eye on this stay.) So we left Alameda on October 3rd to find ourselves tied up at Peer 39 sharing space with the GIANT Sea Lions that the tourist come from all around to see. I think when it comes to a boat and weather PAUSE is a beautiful thing. With wind speeds in the 20s-30s and seas as high as 10 feet -- well, needless to say a few tourist and barking sea lions were less of a force to reconed myself with.

It was a bouncy night but ever so magical as we passed under the Golden Gate Bridge this morning (approx. 11am) to find our way south. We traveled with speeds over ground (hereafter, "SOG") ranging in 5 to 6.9 knots. Note: Not bad! Which brings us to present time. We are treating ourselves to a starboard tie (right side of the boat)  at Half Moon Bay. Our plan is actually to rise rather early as Ben's school bell is ringing at 7:30am. We are still playing catch up from the learning curve of how this homeschool with Connections Academy is ideally supposed to work. (All prayers welcomed as I have become that grumpy 7th grade teacher I had in middle school....oh dear!) But Ben is amazingly flexable and quite forgiving of his parent/learning coaches. After school tomorrow the Sea Otter will make her next stop in Santa Cruz. (Thought recess could be on the beach and boardwalk!) For now I will say goodnight. Until later, Safe keeping is my priority!