Heading out again...

... this time for a long haul. The next leg of the trip is from Monterey Bay to Morro Bay. If you've been following on a map, you might notice that this leg is slightly longer than all 3 of our last trips combined.

Dad found a travel journal of some other people who did this trip around the same time of year with a slightly smaller and they did it in about 27 hours. However, they had favourable winds... and guess what, we're getting S-SW winds the entire way, which means we'll be motoring against the wind. Looking at... at Least 30 hours? Closer to... a year? Divine intervention would be swell.

Speaking of swells, I picked up some sea-sickness drugs today.

So, today, dad did some wiring while I stayed in bed and read (an entire book), then dad did some more wiring while I checked the internet. We went out and got more groceries (including some MEAT this time... mmmm...) and then wandered around a nearby farmer's market that, luckily, is only open on Tuesdays. Saw plenty of fun costumes (a lot of goths out here...), and I did a little bit of Christmas shopping. Dad bought a toque for tomorrow's overnighter, and I bought a scarf.

Wish us well. These next few days are going to be tough, and from what I've heard about after Morro Bay, it's an even rougher journey than this next one.

Monterey Bay

Today was great; we had good winds for pretty much the entire time. Didn't have to use the motor at all except for the last hour to cut across the wind into the bay, and through harbour, which Dad says was like a zoo because of all the seals posing and barking Everywhere (a ton of fishing boats nearby...)

We're going to stay in Monterey Bay tonight and tomorrow for provisions and for me to get a bit more climatized to the boat... although today, I'm very proud to say, I didn't get sick ONCE! The weather was in my favour, it was smooth and calm for most of the day (and no motor bouncing us along the waves).

Anyway, off to dinner! Enjoy the pics...


another smokin' picture; me and our now functional spinnaker sail


The bluffs at Ano Nuevo.


Sunset over the ruins at Ano Nuevo.


One of our circus performers here at Monterey Bay.

Santa Cruz

So had a poor wind day again... we pulled into Ano Nuevo around 4pm, the midpoint between Half Moon Bay and Santa Cruz. Apparently there was a nice place to anchor that was protected by rocks... but it was waaaaay too bumpy for me. Which meant we stayed long enough to anchor, close up for the night, have some food, then unpack and set sail again. This time we sailed in the dark; what with the time change the sun had set at 5:15. We made it to Santa Cruz just before midnight, and were asleep by 1. I wasn't much help for the night sail because it turned out that my motion sickness was amplified by the fact that there wasn't anything stable to look at, and each time I got sick I was overcome with chills. Dad wound up sailing it all while I curled up with a sleeping bag and my bucket. Poor dad, he was pretty tired by the time we got here.

Anyway, we docked at the marina, and here we are. At a coffee shop, with free wireless. No pictures this time, sorry!

Yesterday was cool though; we saw some great landscape, plus a few pods of dolphins (from afar), and a lot of elephant seals (apparently Ano Nuevo is "famous for its elephant seal rookeries")... when we were leaving our little bay, one actually followed us for Quite some time; he seemed very curious as to what we were doing.

So today, we might stick around town and provision a bit; get me some SPF 8000 or something for my face and some more food, water, and fuel.

My cell actually has coverage right now, so if you're looking to call, today is the time!

Much love!

Half Moon Bay

Dad and I made it to Half Moon Bay yesterday-- we wound up leaving around 9:30 and made it here around 6. Sketchy winds slowed us down, along with the fact that I felt the need to throw up every few hours. I don't know how bulemics do it. OH, I'm also the proud new owner of a sunburnt face... except for my sunglasses tan, of course. Very classy. That's pretty much the only place I got any sun, I've been keeping my parka on in the wind...

We looked into getting a berth here at "Pillar Point Marina", but the harbourmaster's office was closed, so we just anchored behind a breaktide and called it a night. Made some pasta (I needed calories!!!) and passed out. Well, I did. I think that Dad stayed up to do some electrical.

Had a problem yesterday with one of the sails; some briefly intense winds just as we were slacking the sheets whipped the spinnaker right out of its clip at the top of the mast... so we put the jib back out, and once we made it to the harbour, i pulled dad up the mast in a harness. tough work, but it all worked out, and the spinnaker is functional again, although slightly damp from being flung into the ocean.

for today, we're either going to try to make it to ano nuevo or santa cruz, depending on how we do wind wise and such. enjoy the pictures below!


dad at the golden gate


bon at the golden gate


half moon bay


dad up the mast

pictures from san francisco

so i discovered a free wireless provider out here in the marina, built an account, and here i am-- sitting on the deck of the boat (best reception out here) and posting those pictures i mentioned! click on the photo to see it bigger, then click Back to return to the blog.


everytime i see this sign a laugh a little...


here's the san fran skyline + golden gate bridge by day; this was only about a 2 minute walk from the marina, and was right next to the hot dog vendor that has been feeding dad and i lunch (jealous erin?)


sun setting behind the golden gate bridge


dad hard at work; i took this picture about 2 minutes ago when i realized i had internet and could post something online


here i am... hard at work... *cough*


and here's my view... pretty rough, isn't it?

dad wants the computer now, so i'm off! next post from somewhere south of here. heh.

Live From the Berkeley Marine Centre...

Its me again. Dad seems to have lost interest in posting himself since he knows that I'll do it in the end. You know me and internet.

In the Berkeley Marine Centre, and just bought a bag of boat parts all by myself. Dad gave his usual instructions ("get a pen zinc, and tell them its for... that shaft... they'll know", and between me and 3 people here, we figured it out. Dad's enjoying the ritzy showers at the C dock, as opposed to our homeless-ridden showers at the J dock, and here I am.

I'll try to be a bit more... readable.

Weather has been gorgeous. High 70s to Low 80s... I've been uncomfortably hot outside, even in just a tank top and pants. We have a great view nearby of the San Francisco skyline, and the Golden Gate Bridge-- I took a few really nice pictures of the sunset yesterday. We've been really lucky in that sense.

I got into San Fran on Wednesday night with no problems. Got back to the boat, quick tour (it was dark already), and fell asleep. Up yesterday around 6:30, and off we went. Got a furling jib sail up (Dad thinks that this is pretty neat; I imagine that the coolness of it is lost on me), and did random tasks while Dad disappeared into the belly of the beast. We then drove around the bay area, and got lost in Oakland only once. Jamie, Jessie's friend who lives here, called at that time, asking where we were-- when we said "lost in Oakland", she replied with "oh my god... lock your doors". I later heard on the radio that Oakland alone has had 120 murders this year... JUST OAKLAND. Nuts.

Anyway, we spent a lot of money on boat parts yesterday, and I went grocery shopping. We were trying to get everything done that was a fair ways away because we had to return the rental car to the airport at 9pm... we pushed everything as late as we could, and made it to the airport at 9:03. We weren't charged extra.

We then caught the BART (Bay Area Rapid Transport) from the Airport in South San Francisco all the way back to Berkeley, then cabbed an extra 15 minutes back to the marina. We were both passing out right there on the BART. So sleepy. Literally walked into the boat with my head lamp on, made sure nothing sharp or pointy was in the way, and fell asleep. It was a long, productive day, and we got a LOT done... it was pretty satisfying.

Today we stayed on the boat. Dad was fixing all of the lines in the underbelly, while I was doing detail work on the outside, one project had something to do with cotter pins, and the other involved sanding the old registration off the boat and putting out new one on. We then tackled the fuel lines (and only spilled diesel on the front end of the cabin), and Dad kinda sprained his ankle, but he's still walking on it, and says its fine. You know Dad.

Anyway, tonight we're going to do a general clean up, pack, and plan on setting sail early tomorrow morning. Depending on my skill (or lack thereof) when it comes to boating, we'll either stop in Enseneda (south of San Diego) or go all the way down the peninsula to Cabo. I guess this next little trip will tell all. Wish us luck, and I'll next post when I can!

p.s-- Dad told me how to spell the boat's name: it's "Tan'si", which is Cree for "Welcome". I'll post pictures one day, I promise.

Live from the Calgary Airport...

Received an e-mail from Dad yesterday that concluded:

"Fell off the boat today. Got wet. --Dad."

I think that he's having fun... :-)


As for me, I'm currently in the fabulous Calgary airport and my flight to San Fran is leaving in just over a half hour. Thought that I'd follow up with my promise of pictures; these are some that my dad took last winter when he went south to get some work done.

Here she is (still not going to try to type the name. Sorry.)











Alright, preboarding is up, time to pack up! The next post will be from California!

Baja bound?!

This may be a little bit premature given the circumstances, but should my dad, Rick, and I, Bonnie, actually get all the paperwork in in time, we will be sailing Dad's new boat from the Berkley area in San Francisco to Cabo San Lucas. I'll let Dad tell you about the boat itself, as I know very little, and am, in fact, merely going along for the ride. Free labour! What a world!

Dad is in California right now, while I'm completing my shift here in the Crowsnest Pass. Should all the paperwork work out, I'll be joining him on Wednesday night, and we'll set sail on Thursday.

More to come, including a tour of the boat, and her name (I don't know how to spell it, and would hate to curse us by misnaming her. The sea is full of superstition, so I hear).