After leaving Santa Cruz in the late afternoon we spent the night on anchor at Capitola which is a well sheltered cove from northwest winds with a nice view of the colorful shore. Left Capitola in the early morning fog to arrive in Monterey. We enjoyed Monterery so stayed a few days, walking around town.

On Friday, August 25, we left Monterey in the early morning darkness for a long 14 hour day at sea to arrive in San Simion. This was a beautiful anchorage with the Hearst Castle towering above us on the nearby hillside. We stayed here a few days relaxing, dinghy exploring and enjoying life.

We left San Simion on Sunday morning and had a great sail across Morrow Bay with porpoises swimming with us along the bow of the boat and lots of whales. In fact, one whale was so close it smacked us with it's large fin and totally soaked the back of the boat and Ken who was at the helm. Now, that was a bit too exciting! Spent that evening on anchor at Pt San Luis.

Left San Luis eary morning, so dark that the horizon faded into the night. It was a nine hour day but we sailed a lot until the winds picked up to 30 mph and seas well over 10 feet as we rounded Pt. Conception (called the Cape Horn of California). Once around the Cape, we headed due east and noticed a change in the weather and seas. It has been much smoother sailing and calmer seas since. We spent that evening on anchor at Cojo Anchorage. It was a bit of a rolly night as the swells were breaking off the shore.

We arrived in Santa Barbara the next day, Tuesday, and stayed visiting Maggie, Paul and Orion and Paula's other sister Tricia and son Jack for a few days. It has been a treat having the opportunity to see family.

We left Santa Barbara on Friday, September 1, for a short cruise to the Channel Island Harbor to visit more family, Paula's brother Mike. It was a great down wind sail in 15 knts of wind, 5 feet seas until....that darn shaft came off again! This time not at the dock but at the entrance to the harbor being pushed toward the breaking surf. We quickly reefed the sails and headed into the wind which of course had picked up to 25+. Paula held the helm while Ken tried to grip the shaft on long enough to limp in out of the swells and to the nearest dock. Ken had it fixed by six pm. Thank goodness for Ken!

Other than that we enjoyed our stay in this harbor which was very scenic and had a nice visit with Mike. On Monday we headed to the Channel Islands where we spent a few days and nights in Smugglers Cove on Santa Cruz Island and a night at East Fish Camp on Anacapa Island. Smugglers Cove was great for fishing, swimming, hiking and exploring in the dinghy..and reading and relaxing in the warm sunshine.

We arrived in Marina Del Rey on September7 and will spend a week here visiting the last of the California family (Tricia, Dana and Ken's Mom). Also we will have the boat hauled out of the water to replace the cutlass bearing which was threatening a mishap at sea.