We have been in Santa Cruz for 7 days and we have really been enjoying ourselves. Santa Cruz has a beachy tourist feel to it. The harbor is very picturque and very active with sailboats, fishing boats, outriggers, and paddle boards. Also, there is alot of sealife. Everyday, we are treated to sea otters, sea lions, harbor seals, brown pelicans, and cormorants.

The first several days we were here, Tom was busy working on the engine while I maintained the household and assisted Tom when needed. We treat ourselves to one meal out everyday, so last Friday, instead of walking to have lunch, we launched the dingy. Besides laying out on exotic beaches, I think the dingy is going to be my second favorite thing to do. We dingy everywhere, or atleast, as much as we can to get engine parts, food or to go to the harbormasters office.

This past Sunday, we walked over to the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. It is a permanent fair or a small amusement park that is located right on the beach. They have everything a fair has; food, rides, and games. We had a great time walking around, riding several rides and enjoying the beach scene; we even enjoyed a deep fried twinkee. We went to a restaurant on our way home and got to watch alittle bit of NFL. (we only get one TV channel on the boat)

Some afternoons, we walk to the beach, put our barefeet in the sand and walk the waterline. Other times, we opt for an afternoon ciesta. Our evening ritual is sitting on the bow of Tanga, watching the birds and sealife. It appears that right before sunset, it is hunting time. Once it gets dark, we retreat to our cabin area for dinner and a movie.

Today, the mechanical fuel lifter pump arrived and Tom immediately went to work installing it in the engine room. I took a walk into town, to West Marine, to exchange out our new chartplotter that we purchased about 3 weeks ago. When I returned to the boat, Tom was ready to bleed the fuel system. Wow what a difference a new mechanical lift pump makes. What had been a 1.5 hour process was now a 3 minute bleed process. All the air is gone and Ethel is purring like a kitten. Thursday, we will be motoring out into the Monterey Bay to run sea trials on the fuel system in predicted heavy seas to make certain all is well. If all goes well, we will be sailing away from Santa Cruz at the next weather window.

Also, there is a new photo gallery for Santa Cruz.