San Diego

The Santa Anna winds did come one morning through to evening and, like our Squamish winds, have a good blow even on land. Fortunalely, we are tied to the Police Dock. Foreign yachts must tie up at the Police Harbour dock which is just at the end of the Bay and on Shelter Island. Convenient by water, the walk to the first bus route must be 50 miles away (well maybe one mile). Our first day, some cruisers from Marina del Rey gave us a car ride to groceries and chandleries. So nice! This would have taken us days to figure out and to do. Most of the boats tying up here are offshore and are so well equipped. We feel very small but still have people approach us and recognize the CS 36 boat. This has happened all down the coast. We had no idea it was well known. Next to us is a young couple (30s) about to do the “South” –as in Cape Horn—in 6-8 months with few stops. On a home made nice-looking 39 ft boat, they have four solar panels and two wind vanes and big dreams. Apparently, they are locally known for many come to chat and look at the boat. He is known as Mr. Confidence and she is called Miss Super-anxious (She is new to sailing!). We will attend their Farewell Party (as we are moored next to them!). Also present are several vagrant boats. The Police (with guns) frequently chat to them and have them leave as the stay for all of us at this cheap moorage is limited to ten days. On another day, a fast above ground trolley train took us to a brand new marina (Pier 32) out at National city (a suburb) that was to be our new moorage. We’re glad we took the time to do this ride for we found it was not yet completed! We will move, instead, to the docks in a boat yard. Reasonable in price and close to facilities, we will restock, clean and sightsee. Martin Pengelly joins us Nov.1st and we will then finally start the “real” trip.

Dana Point/Oceanside

Another lovely sail in 10-15 kts had us head further East towards this very affluent area. Stunning Spanish style houses on the beaches and hills made these Orange County cities striking. Wanting to see the area more, a friendly bus driver suggested a bus route along the water! However, we took an inland one not realizing each way was 2 ½ hours. Huntington Beach was lovely. Santa Ana ( a bit rundown) and later San Clemente had most road and building signs in Spanish. This reminded us of Quebec and its French postings. The 40th Anniversary of Hobie Cats gave us an exciting show of 100 Hobie Cats racing. Still with hot weather, we heard of possible Santa Anna winds (off the desert) coming later. They never did this time.

Catalina Island

Sailing in 10-15kts in sun with the Monitor windvane made for an enjoyable 30 mile trip to this island of contrasts. Low red beige sandy hills with sage and cacti dotted over them, we see over 100 mooring buoys in the small, “quiet” anchorage of Catalina Harbour. Room for 200 to anchor or so says the guide book, we see room for perhaps thirty in this small Bay. Through a sandy half mile walk , we come to the other side of Two Harbours—more open to swell and stuffed with mooring buoys. A trendy dining room, outside bar, little grocery store and laundry make up what one cruiser told us was the only place twenty-five million people could go on the weekend. '

This Isthmus Cove is developed, busy with frequent passenger ferries unlike the “quiet” side of Cat harbour. Rates to permanently buy a buoy were $72,000.00for a 30 ft boat, $1,000,000.00 for over a 100ft. Owners can rent out the buoys or sublease them. The waiting list for sublease is 10 years, 15 years at Avalon, the “famous” anchorage. The island is actually beautiful but so cluttered with the buoys in the anchorages and hotels, condos and shops on the shore. Cruise ships come every two days to Avalon. With no cars, people buzz around in golf carts on a handful of skinny, little streets. So much for getting away from it all!

Marina del Rey, CA

Another short motor and then a beautiful sail in 15 kts in sun found us more excited to reach this part of the world than San Francisco. We’re not sure if it was because we were this far south or because we still had sun. The Marina holds 16 marinas and 9 yacht clubs but was easy to navigate. The transient dock is next to a small, family oriented park and is our cheapest moorage yet ($15.00 with electricity and showers/water). We weren’t interested in the Hollywood scene so visited the local suburbs.

A bus ride and we were at Venice Beach and further on, Santa Monica Pier and Beach. Tom was looking for bikinis on roller blades and Pam was searching for muscles at Muscle Beach. Pam found her muscles but Tom found his kind of people again. The board walk was very seedy with many tacky shops and fast food restaurants. The sandy beach was wonderful as temperatures have remained in the mid 80s. Santa Monica was a whole different place with 3rd St Promenade full of nice boutiques and the beach full of families.

Another, longer bus ride took us through Brentwood and BelAir to UCLA and then the Getty Centre. Perched on a hill, a tram ride takes you up to the Centre of five buildings surrounding marble courtyards. Each building has works of art from 1440 and on. Not being knowledgeable in art, we wondered how this would be but we quite enjoyed this visit. Sculptures, painting, ancient books make up quite a collection. (Many are on loan from the Canadian Museum in Ottawa!). Another bus ride and we enjoyed a jazz band in the park (sycamore trees, birds of paradise and scrawny junipers---that wasn’t the band).

The People

The People
Starting to understand why cruisers speak about the people they meet----the amazing to the crazy! Tom seems to attract those in need of medication or a drink; while Pam seems to seek out persons with more to offer. Pam finds them quite knowledgeable about Canada, well, at least about Canadian boating. Each hopes to get to the Pacific Northwest and rain doesn’t seem an issue. Tom’s group don’t seem to care and conversation tends to be more simplistic. His people are also well-tanned as they live outdoors a lot. Pam’s people are now wearing Fall clothes ---high leather boots and silk scarves with their shorts! One of Tom’s people told him the Homeless were the first to recycle bottles!
Most boaters give us helpful information about their favourite anchorages and ways to travel. A couple told us of a “beautiful” anchorage inside San Diego Harbour. The rats will swim out to your boat but they gave us directions on how to cut a plastic gallon milk bottle into a flange around the anchor line and we would then be fine. Another told us of how wonderful Mexico is in spite of “all the people murdered there”. She would not go there any more but said we would love it! One has told us we will now meet Mr. Rude as we are in Southern California. So far, we’ve met very friendly people---especially Tom’s friends.