Leaving Cabo San Lucas

I will tell you more but for now let's just say it was amazing!  On the one hand a wild and crazy place, on the other a rolly, but gorgeous anchorage, breezes blowing to keep us cool, fabulous water to dive into whenever we wanted and the wild and crazy city just a dinghy ride away.  The Bajahaha parties and awards evening (we came third!....more on that later) (oh well okay....everyone who didn't come first or second came third!) were fun and the days after it was all over were pleasant.  Lots of boat work and repairs as usual, but lots of eating and drinking out too.  Off just now for a nightcap at our favourite spot.  Tomorrow wrapping up bits and pieces here at the dock (we moved in yesterday so Mel could do boatwork on an even plane), a visit to the Port Captain, the marina office and we'll head back out to the anchorage for another night.  Some more bits and pieces to fix up there and then we'll pull up the anchor and head for Mazatlan, stopping overnight at Los Frailles (sp?) and then one overnight passage.  We've had some great times here in Cabo, the most recent a moonlit dinner on the beach last evening with our feet in the sand! 

Next stop Santa Barbara

Have had a great time in Monterey but it's now time to move on.  Mel rebuilt the water pressure pump today so another job crossed off the current list.  We plan to leave before 0800 hrs tomorrow morning and sail overnight hopefully getting into Santa Barbara Monday around 1800 hrs.  The winds and waves all look pretty good so we hope to have an uneventful but pleasant trip.  More from there!

We Survived and Arrived!

Much more to come but suffice for now to just say that we had "one hell of a ride", gained lots of experience and hope never to do "that" again!!

San Francisco is amazing and we are getting sorted out and enjoying the city a bit.  I will update you with more details very soon.

California Here I Come!

We are leaving today....yes TODAY!!!....for San Francisco.  We are totally pumped and mostly ready.  It is crystal clear to us after three years of preparation that you are NEVER "ready" so mostly ready is just fine.

Nancy and Gary Davis are coming with us which eases our stress hugely.  Gary is a very experienced sailor and has done this trip several times before.  He will boost our confidence for sure by sharing his knowledge.  They are also lots of fun and ready to help so we should all have a great trip together.

You can follow us on http://www.pangolin.co.nz/yotreps/reporter_list.php just look for VA7MMD.

So, all for now....next post will be from the other side of the Golden Gate Bridge!

I'll be back soon!

Just to let you know that we are fine and now safely tied up in Victoria.  I know there is a large gap in our story but we had very few internet connections and little time.  I will catch you up as soon as a I can!

A more comfortable ride

The next day we set to work on numerous projects some we want to have ready before we head offshore, others have been waiting for a good moment.  With Mel somewhat slowed down by his bandaged thumb we spent time picking up the parts and bits and pieces we were going to need while having a look around PR.  We also decided to move out to anchor across the harbour as our spot at the PRRYC was pretty rocky on the outside of D dock with no breakwater protection.  At the last minute, we got a call back from another marina with space available.  Rushbrook Floast is not far down the shore and is mostly full of fishing boats.  It's quiet, inexpensive and a much more comfortable ride at a more reasonable price.  It means a longer walk to town but we don't mind as the exercise is certainly not a bad thing.  The trick here though is to get to the dock.  The 20 ft tides create a very strong current making it all quite the challenge.  It was good that we got settled in at a dock though as unfortunately Mel ended up in surgery two days later.  His wound developed an abcess under the stitches (nothing to do with my stitching!) but he's fine now, finished his antibiotics and back to work.

An Accident at Sea

As I was saying we started to do jobs as we motored our way north.  On the way to Baker's Inlet where I left you off Mel was cutting a tubular piece of stainless steel when it slipped.  He hacksawed his thumb.  Needless to say it was a bit of a shock.  I knew it was possible for the doctor to get the injury but it certainly wasn't in the plan.  He compressed the wound for a good long time and finally had to admit that he needed some stitches.  Hmmm.....guess that meant I was now the stitcher!  We drapped the cockpit table and got to work.  It helped Mel's pain (and likely shock) to instruct me through the process.  It all went very well and I even took a photo.  I had planned to include it here but on second thought you might not want to see it!  We decided to continue on as far as we could that day in order to make the next day  a short one into Prince Rupert.  We anchored in Kumealon Inlet, a lovely little spot with lots of rocks and islets to manoevre around.  We both crashed early exhausted after our traumatic day!  In the morning the water was covered in foam chunks from the waterfalls.  We headed off  in totally calm conditions and motored our way up to Prince Rupert.  We moored at the Prince Rupert Rowing and Yacht Club which was very near Breaker's Pub where we planned to watch Game 6.  Enough said.