Avalon to Shelter Island
11 November 2009 | N34 42.594 W117 14.052
With forecast of chance of rain and increased winds, we decided to head to San Diego (over night). The sunset over Catalina was pretty as ever. Seas were fairly calm and temperature stayed relatively warm. Without the winds, we decided to put our shade over back up over the cockpit to keep us warm and cozy for the journey.
It wasn't as pitch black out as we thought it would be. Lots of lights reflected from the coast, slight moon behind the clouds and lots of stars. Kinda cool looking at your mast with a blanket of stars behind it! We kept thinking about those really brave or really crazy early sailors! How did they ever do it?
We came up on some huge boats with lots of lights on them seemingly anchored. Then we got hailed by a boat the came just off our bow telling us we were in the middle of an operation and basically, could we get out of their way? Sure thing....no problem but which way is out of the way? So we altered course for land and then adjust course south again. We didn't hear back from him so must have been ok. After that, we kept coming up on all kinds of buoys and other blinking lights (some on the charts/GPS and some not) that we had to keep altering our course.
Phil & I only took a couple of rest breaks during the long night and got to San Diego Bay entrance around 5am. Being still dark out and a bit foggy, we decided to float until the sun rose to get a better chance on not hitting something on the way in.
11/12/09
As the sun rose and we made our way back to the entrance, we heard all
kinds of warships on the VHF - even a Canadian one! We had one behind us and one coming out of the bay. Lots of military presence here. We ended up getting a slip at the transient docks near the Harbor Patrol office on Shelter Island ($10.50 per night max 10 days). The docks looked a lot like Ventura -- lots of people working on their boats!
Phil checked the engine compartment - lots of oil! Looks like we have to replace an oil line (seeping from the connection). So we hiked into town (over a mile away) and got something to eat, Phil some smokes, and oil and oil pads. Looks like all the boat places are in this area. Downwind Marine, West Marine and all kinds of boat yards and stores. We were so whooped by the time we got back I had to have a nap, while Phil pounded energy drinks to try to stay up.
Phil talked to lots of people on the docks and ended up recognizing an old neighbor's (from Burbank) son. Small world it is. He'll be heading to Mexico in January.
Down early again.