AT SEA AT LAST!

[ahmch]

Hello and a belated Happy New Year!

Just got back today from our little voyage out to Santa Barbara.  This is really a nice place to stay.  Easy access, friendly people, and only a few intimidating large vessels tooting at us.
Weather was cold but I am used to that.

Christened our little boat "Mary Belle"  She likes the name.

Great time.  We camped in a slip for three nights. Had good wind for three days.  Practiced some maneuvers, man overboard drill, heaving to, and switching sails while underway.  ( Got myself a little seasick messing with the sails, but got over it quick enough.

We made a list before we left and managed to take most everything we needed.  I did have to buy a $23 West Marine twist lock connector for power that I could have paid $6 for at the Home Depot.  But we had to charge the battery and run the heater.  We never even left the Harbor area.  Between camp food and a night at the restaurant for swordfish and some clams, we had all we needed right there.  Who wants to drive around when you could be hanging out on the dock and going to sea?

Rained the first night and we were snug in our boom tent and heat.  Made caamp dinner that night.
Took a large tote to store stuff on the dock so we had plenty of extras along.  Table, chairs, complete kitchen.  Lashed the gear to the dock while we were gone.
 

Had a ball and stopped at the Grand Canyon on the way home for lunch.  Whats an extra hundred miles when you are driving to the Ocean from Albuquerque.  Saw a bald eagle and the Good Year Blimp.
Bald Eagle in Arizona, Blimp in Pasadena.  Some football game there i guess.

Here she is Next to the "Spray"  A little untidy, but we had just put in.

Thanks to every one in CPYOA with all the help in getting this dream underway.





Camp...



on a reach...



lunch break.....with a view..

[jthatcher]

great pics!  i just showed my wife the one from the grand canyon..  after the girls are on their own, I am going to build a teardrop trailer, and my wife and i are going to do a cross country trip.. it is going to be difficult to pare down the list of sites to see, but the grand canyon is near the top!

good story about your time at the dock and on the water.   I fell short of my goal of 20 nights on board Adagio this past season, but a new season is just around the corner!   I agree that it is cool just to hang around the docks..  I met a lot of nice folks that way over the past two summers..   

We are all looking forward to hearing more about your adventures!  jt

[skip1930]

Interesting pictures. The pirate flag, bow vent removed for electric wire. The cat boat 'Spray...?' in the back ground.
A daughter peeking out from a high up boom tent with a line from top-o-mast holding up the boom.
Sailing among the mountains. Captain Slocum dragged his sail boat up a mountain to sail on the worlds highest lake.
And stopping at the G.C. Wow. Nice trip.
Wish I was there with my boat.

[Now that it's been said, I think your all are correct. It was Tristan Jones. Once again I stand corrected.]

skip.

[Salty19]

LOL..I think that was Tristan Jones that claimed sailing Lake Titicaca, although I wouldn't put it past captan Slocum!! 
The difference would be Slocum would of actually done it (Jones exagerated truths and told some tall tales).

[Bob23]

   I believe your'e right, Salty. I've read about Slocums voyages...he sure didn't carry a 37 foot boat up a mountain to prove himself. I've read his book...fantastic story. I enjoyed the part about how he kept the natives off his boat while sailing through the Straights of Magellan.
   Andrew: Thanks for sharing your photos and adventures with the crew. Sounds like you had and are having a great time! Here in NJ it's 26 this morning and I've got to cover my 23 for the winter...no sailing till spring for me.
   I have never been to the Grand Canyon but the quality of your photograph made me feel I was there! But we also do have Bald Eagels and the Blimp here in NJ! Thanks again,
Bob23