I've been sailing (now motoring) to the Channel Islands since 1975. Haven't gotten one bit tired of Catalina, in fact, truth be told, I did NOT want to leave this time. EVER.
Sparky and Darrell check us into a mooring.
Spark and the Harbor Patrolman remembered one another.
Where's Scrimshaw?
PERFECTION. For 5 days.
Intended stay 2 nights.
Starboard side of The Scrim
We were very happy with our new floating neighborhood. Lots of fun people with lots of water toys. Everyone plays hard during the day, and retires quietly at night. The boats are moored fairly close together, but boaters are mindful of their neighbor's privacy. Everyone is relaxed and everyone has fun. The atmosphere is very groovy. Did I mention I wanted to stay longer? Just look at the color of that water! And it's clear too!
Our Portside Hood.
Our Starboard Hood.
Note the Grand Banks 46. Our fantasy boat.
We LOVE our GB42, but we are Serial Boat Owners.
And, we have Boat Envy. Dangerous.
Another nearby neighbor.
Darrell's boss, Ian,from Cruising Yachts.
The most entertaining guy with the most darling family.
He has lots of toys.
Cruising Yachts (5 California locations eager to help you join our Cruising Yachts Family.) was hosting an annual Thank You-Appreciation to our wonderful clients and owners of Jeanneau Yachts. There was plenty of good cheer and a fabulous dinner at a local restaurant on the water. Darrell and I meet some great sailing folks who LOVE their Jeanneau Sailboats. We totally understand, they are gorgeous yachts. Cruising Yachts also sells many other kinds of lovely sailboats and motor yachts. Call Darrell!
Stern view of our Hood.
Sparky is trying to tell us something.....
"Take me Ashore!"
One of the greatest things about Catalina is there are plenty of opportunities to exercise. We always return back to the slip feeling in better shape than when we untied the docklines. You can hike up to the ridge for a perfect view of the harbor and out to sea, and most likely run into a few local deer. Some people go zip lining - no thanks. Perhaps the best exercise for us is, what is required just to get off the boat, get in the dinghy without going overboard, and then navigate our way through a maze of moored boats and avoid all the other dinghies criss-crossing the bay. Then the most challenging physical workout is finding a spot to land the dinghy and securely wrap a line around a moving cleat among an array of bobbing boats tethered together on a floating dock swaying back and forth and up and down with the changing tide. Now the real fun begins. The goal is to step off the dinghy onto the dock without landing in the water, or falling on your face, or backside, all the while looking graceful with the boating population of the harbor watching. This maneuver allows you to develop muscles you didn't even know existed. After a few days, your body, and ego, learn to master this acrobatic performance remarkably well. Once we return to the safety of a conventional boarding ladder back at our slip in San Diego, we actually miss our Avalon Harbor workout.
Headed ashore. Finally.
Getting closer.
The lawn at Descanso Beach is off limits to Spark.
Bummer.
Back to the floating dock routine, and home.
Our other daily exercise routine includes a long swim off Scrimshaw's stern after trekking around town in the HOT sun. The water has been sparkly clear and just the right temperature. I can stay stay in the water forever, but Sparky is the one we literally have to drag out of the water. He wears a life vest so we can lift him up on to the dinghy, and then he jumps on the stern platform, and is again hoisted up on the deck. Then we all rise off with fresh water with Scrimshaw's outside shower. At the end of the day, we are pooped, and happy. We sleep really well at Avalon.
Spark will swim after the tennis ball all afternoon,
but Darrell has other plans.
Time for a well earned beer.
or nap.
No comment.
Then it's dinner time...and then we do it all over again.
And again.
Like I said, every morning when we were supposed to leave, we looked at one another, and said, "ONE MORE DAY". We eventually decided we would stay to celebrate Darrell's birthday. We agreed to return for mine in 6 weeks. Big Smile on my face.
What better spot to say, "Happy Birthday Darrell", than the widely praised local Lobster Trap. Lobster season begins in October, so we were more that satisfied to order local sea bass baked with a macadamia nut crust. Great choice. Succulent and served with fresh veggies.
Causal and tasty.
A local hang out serving fresh local seafood to local characters and a few hungry tourists.
We'll be back.
The next morning came too soon for all of us. As we left Santa Catalina in our wake, we started to look forward to smooth seas and open ocean ahead of us. The journey was as important as the destination. Almost. Lots of good memories were made, and plans are being made to return in September when the place settles down and the tourist return home.
Going Forward.
Or
Going Back?
San Diego, 72 nautical miles and 9 hours away.
Tough sea conditions. Love the autopilot.
The "Chair" again, right? Last years B'day present was a winner.
Yours Truly
and the Sparkster.
Happy Ears.
Happy Dog.
Ready to return.
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