July 20, 2012: We were bushed after travelling 235 miles in three days. Neither one of us had any problem going to bed early and sleeping in the next day. The morning was spent looking at all the weather sites and there was no question we will be enjoying Bodega Bay thru Monday at the earliest. There is a small craft advisory for several days in a row with wind gusts up to 35 knots and seas close to 12 feet.

When we finally got motivated to move off the boat, we entertained ourselves by watching all the small sport fishing boats come into the dock. I cannot believe the poor seamanship we witnessed. However, I was impressed with the way each driver could back the boat trailers into the water. I never got the hang of it but then again Bob never let me drive the pickup attached with the 24’ Bayliner we used to own. Actually I was happy not having to try.

Being stuck due to weather is not all bad – we get to stop moving, catch up on chores and search the internet for car options. We have been touring parking lots and looking at the various models. I am sure people think we are casing the place to highjack a car. Once we get back to Seattle, a car will be our first purchase. Last time we bought a vehicle was in 1997.

Stay tuned for more adventures from sunny and windy Bodega Bay. Two years ago when we were here, the fog was so thick you couldn’t see the end of the marina.

July 19, 2012: No barnacles got to attach to our keel as we moved on early in the morning. The sky was cloudy and overcast while the seas were flat. We knew we had one more day of good weather before the winds picked up. You are probably thinking that having some wind would be great for a sailboat, well not really for the direction we are going.

We passed by the entrance to San Francisco bay and did see the Golden Gate Bridge thru the patchy fog as the marine layer was lifting to reveal sunny skies. Can’t complain about the way this day was shaping up while we watched humpback whales traveling on either side of us. The sport and commercial fishermen were out in force. It was like 5 o’clock traffic on I-5 … we counted at least 40 of the vessels we could see.

According to the weather forecast winds were to pick up later in the afternoon and true to the prediction it did. Thankfully we were just outside the breakwater into Bodega Bay and made our way to the fuel dock down the long narrow channel. There was room at the fuel dock behind two small sport fishing boats … but just barely. Our bow overhung the transom of the boat ahead of us. I found it amazing that the 3 guys from that boat just stood there and watched us come in without lending a hand. At that moment of course the wind had piped up to about 15 – 20 knots and blowing our bow away from the dock. Bob couldn’t get the stern tied off quick enough to then run to the bow before it got away. Fortunately the marina staff attendant was paying attention and helped us in. The other guys were clueless or lazy – not sure which.

Bodega Bay 38° 19.804N 123° 03.470W

July 17 - 18, 2012: Well I told a fib in my last missive … we skipped San Simeon, Monterey and Santa Cruz and booked north to Half Moon Bay aka Pillar Point. It was an absolutely magnificent day on the water for the entire 26 hours. We had cloudy skies that gave way to sunshine; which by the way I happen to appreciate right now. The water was flat calm with very little swell and we had a favorable current as we moved along off shore about 3 nautical miles. I am so thankful we kept on going since conditions were so good. We made the 172 nm trip averaging 6.6 knots which is very good after the prop adjustment we made in Mexico to help out the engine.

The weather was going to hold so we spent only one night anchored in the well protected bay. The homes and area surrounding the marina is quite nice and probably pretty expensive for their water view. The only drawback was the stupid fog horn that bellowed all night and all day long. It gave me a headache; good thing I was too tired to care much.

Half Moon Bay 37°29.889N 122° 29.196W