Hello All!! I have landed in San Diego, furthest marina down in the bay...next stop Tijuana, Mx! I literally can see it from here (almost). It is warm, sunny & calm. Boat is still at night, an almost coma induced sleep has rejuvenated my mind & body...so time to catch you all up on the happenings of the trip so far....may take more than one post!

Fri 9/29: depart Bodega Bay...0630...nobody up, just me & first light...slipped the lines & navigated the long channel out....easy breezy...should be smooth sexy run south...BUT...windy.ca app LIES!!!! I get just outside of the breakwater...and west wind, west swell...I'm going south...you guessed it...rolling seas...I should be used to it by now, RIGHT? Well, 30 min into it I realize I should have rigged up sails & lines while at the dock because now it's life vest & tether (form over function) to keep my ass on board & not in the water!....As I'm kind of laughing at myself about being overprotective of my life (promised Mommy I would always be clipped in on deck) a big squisher comes bounding over deck, feels like someone pulls the rug out from under me...and thank god for the handrails I so strategically placed all over this boat...I was safe, barely! next 12 hours sucked ass! Confession #1: not a big fan of crappy weather :(

Sat 9/30 101 nm (nautical miles) made good, not bad considering the conditions! winds finally back to the NW and I'm dialed in....still about 6-8' seas and the irritating roller coaster of foamy waves continue to challenge the autopilot and captain. I finally succumb to it, embrace the suck, and just become one with the movement. no, there are no nice big meals made...no coffee...it's snacks and water....tried making a sandwich...during which half the contents of my fridge ended up on the cabin sole...back to cheetos & one Modelo for the day...I can live with that. Oh, fishing boats, long lines, trawlers....all kept me on my toes; getting better at avoiding that confrontation and asking for grey poupon like last week :)

Sun 10/1: 152 nm made good...motor sailing....no wind...40 mn out from San Miguel isl, first of the channel island group where my destination lies, Avalon Harbor on Catalina! SO, about those eggs? Last night in the binge swearing worthy shitty seas I decide I'm hungry for something other than freakin cheetos or crackers...so I decide to delve into the dry storage locker to see what's what in my provisions...Hmmmm...something easy....uh...OH! SNAP (as the trendy millennial's would say)..CHUNKY SOUP?..YES! IT'S EVEN CLAM CHOWDER!! perfectly fitting for my briny baptism....and easy to heat up on a gimbaled stove!....I can't get to it...everything is packed in there so tight (thanks Gail) I have to move a container of 18 farm fresh free range eggs (because why not?) aren't those chickens happier? I put them on the counter, on no skid, behind the teak rail....go to grab the soup, big wave hits me broadside, both me & the eggs go flying towards my brand new, sexy, clean, beautiful carpeted deck....SPLAT!...my hand never made it to the can of soup, but did manage to get in the way of the cabinet top crashing down on top of it....Confession #2...I'm not big on pain...or messes. As I learned some really cool new swear words looking at this holy grail of egg shells, yolks & whites rolling back and forth on my floor I kneel down with paper towels to start mopping up the mess....S*&@t forgot the garbage can!....(remember the shit seas I'm complaining about?) I stand up, another roller hits me, lose balance because it's like two bullies in grade school...forcing you to play dodge ball with them, but they give you no ball...and say..."RUN!"...getting hit right and left then pulled to the ground and rolled around...get the picture?...so back to eggs....I lose balance and one foot goes into the egg disaster....down I go...now I'm wearing this shit...face, arms, legs...and begin to laugh out loud at the calamity....and why not....my own stupid fault for not finding a better place to store eggs!

Fast forward an hour of so...mess cleaned up, paper towels gone, shop vac contaminated with eggs...and no, I did not make the soup....I had another beer and called it a night!!!! Even though I cleaned out the vac, every time I turn it on it smells like, well, I will save you from that visual.

Well that's probably enough blither for now, don't want to lose my audience of 4 over sensory overload!!!