Spent the day attending seminars. The one in the morning was on communications, including VHF, single sideband, and ham radio. The most important thing we learned was that to use the VHF in a foreign port, we're supposed to have a special license. We didn't know that when we were in Mexico and Canada, but we didn't get caught. We'll send for the licenses right away ($35 apiece).
The afternoon seminar was on GPS and Loran, and the evening one was on radar. They've added a lot of useful features to radar since Roy bought his.
We had a two-hour break between the afternoon and evening sessions, so we drove to West Marine and Safeway. (I still have my car, remember?) With the help of a little map I'd gotten from the Visitors' Center, I went straight to the stores without a single wrong turn, even though Roy kept saying things like: "You're going the wrong way. Santa Cruz is back there." "The numbers are decreasing, not increasing. Turn around." "Go left, not right." Fortunately, I ignored him.
Ate a bowl of soup and went to the evening session, which lasted from 6 to 9. By the time it was over, we were beat. Had spent 10 hours sitting on hard chairs, listening to technical talks.
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
Tuesday, September 6, 2011
Friday, February 19, 1993 - Santa Cruz, CA
About 2 a.m., the wind started blowing like crazy. Must have been close to 50 knots. Fortunately, Roy had attached extra lines and snubbers from the boat to the dock and had also tied the red ball between the dock and the boat to serve as an extra fender. Even so, by morning, the bow line was frayed, so Roy attached two more bow lines and another snubber. Now we're tied to the dock by eight lines, and we need every one of them.
What perfect timing! We left the boat about 7:20 and zoomed up the hill to the bus stop as fast as we could, considering Roy was carrying the two gypsies (50 pounds), and I was carrying the puller, a gas can, and my shoes (25 pounds altogether). I was wearing my full foul-weather gear, including my boots, in anticipation of another downpour. The bus arrived about two minutes after we reached the stop and got us to the transit center just in time to catch the 71, which took us to the tool-rental place. Returned the puller, crossed the street, and caught the 71 back to the transit center in time to catch the 8:30 bus to Scott's Valley, where we caught the express bus to San Jose. We were in San Jose by 9:50. Hopped right on a 180 and rode it to the Civic Center. Only had a two-minute wait for the 62, which took us within two blocks of Kathy's place. By then, we were hungry, so we went into Wendy's and ate a couple of baked potatoes. Then we went to Kathy's, got my car, and zoomed up to Richmond.
Got to Roy's shop about 12:30, after a quick stop at a bank. He started right in machining the gypsy, while I went over to the deli at Marina Bay and bought him a turkey sandwich, a half-pint of milk, and a couple of cookies. When I got back to the shop, Roy was concentrating on his machining, and I didn't want to disturb him. I waited a few minutes for him to look around, but he didn't. I was afraid that if I said something, I might startle him and cause him to spoil his work, so I set his lunch on the desk and tiptoed out. Unfortunately, he didn't notice his lunch until 3 o'clock, and by then he was half starved.
While Roy was machining, I filled the gas tank and then went to a movie. Saw "Homeward Bound". It was really good. Both hilarious and sad. I was laughing and crying at the same time.
The sun had been shining when I went into the theater, but when I came out, the rain was pouring. Very glad I was wearing my foul-
weather gear. By the time I got back to the shop, it was a deluge.
Roy was nowhere in sight, but he showed up about 20 minutes later. He had taken the gypsy over to his friend Eddy's machine shop to finish the job. Roy could have finished it in two or three days, but Eddy did it in an hour or two.
By the time we left, it was too late to take the car back to Kathy and catch the last bus to Santa Cruz, so we drove back in the pouring rain and dark.
I'd never driven to the yacht harbor before (except maybe once in 1968), but I went right to it as if I knew what I was doing. But when I was a block from it, I goofed and turned left as I would if I were walking. Unfortunately, my car didn't know how to go down a flight of stairs, so we ended up on the wrong side of the channel and had to make a big loop around, but we finally got there.
What perfect timing! We left the boat about 7:20 and zoomed up the hill to the bus stop as fast as we could, considering Roy was carrying the two gypsies (50 pounds), and I was carrying the puller, a gas can, and my shoes (25 pounds altogether). I was wearing my full foul-weather gear, including my boots, in anticipation of another downpour. The bus arrived about two minutes after we reached the stop and got us to the transit center just in time to catch the 71, which took us to the tool-rental place. Returned the puller, crossed the street, and caught the 71 back to the transit center in time to catch the 8:30 bus to Scott's Valley, where we caught the express bus to San Jose. We were in San Jose by 9:50. Hopped right on a 180 and rode it to the Civic Center. Only had a two-minute wait for the 62, which took us within two blocks of Kathy's place. By then, we were hungry, so we went into Wendy's and ate a couple of baked potatoes. Then we went to Kathy's, got my car, and zoomed up to Richmond.
Got to Roy's shop about 12:30, after a quick stop at a bank. He started right in machining the gypsy, while I went over to the deli at Marina Bay and bought him a turkey sandwich, a half-pint of milk, and a couple of cookies. When I got back to the shop, Roy was concentrating on his machining, and I didn't want to disturb him. I waited a few minutes for him to look around, but he didn't. I was afraid that if I said something, I might startle him and cause him to spoil his work, so I set his lunch on the desk and tiptoed out. Unfortunately, he didn't notice his lunch until 3 o'clock, and by then he was half starved.
While Roy was machining, I filled the gas tank and then went to a movie. Saw "Homeward Bound". It was really good. Both hilarious and sad. I was laughing and crying at the same time.
The sun had been shining when I went into the theater, but when I came out, the rain was pouring. Very glad I was wearing my foul-
weather gear. By the time I got back to the shop, it was a deluge.
Roy was nowhere in sight, but he showed up about 20 minutes later. He had taken the gypsy over to his friend Eddy's machine shop to finish the job. Roy could have finished it in two or three days, but Eddy did it in an hour or two.
By the time we left, it was too late to take the car back to Kathy and catch the last bus to Santa Cruz, so we drove back in the pouring rain and dark.
I'd never driven to the yacht harbor before (except maybe once in 1968), but I went right to it as if I knew what I was doing. But when I was a block from it, I goofed and turned left as I would if I were walking. Unfortunately, my car didn't know how to go down a flight of stairs, so we ended up on the wrong side of the channel and had to make a big loop around, but we finally got there.
Monday, September 5, 2011
Thursday, February 18, 1993 - Santa Cruz, CA
Still blowing a gale. Took the bus to Aptos and ate lunch at an oriental restaurant at Aptos Station. While we were eating, the rain began coming down in a deluge. In no time at all, there were several inches of rain in the parking lot. Lucky we had our raincoats.
One of the doodads Roy brought home yesterday was a stainless steel gypsy for the anchor chain. In order to make it fit, he had to take it to his shop and machine it. We had found out that a city bus goes all the way from Santa Cruz to San Jose for only $2, so after some discussion, we decided to take the bus to San Jose tomorrow, go out to Kathy's and get my car, then drive to Richmond, so Roy could machine the gypsy in his shop. But first, he had to remove the old gypsy, so we took the bus to a tool rental place, rented a puller, and returned to the boat. After some struggle, Roy got the old gypsy off.
It looks as if this storm will last several more days, so I signed us up for some free seminars this weekend. They'll be held all day Saturday and Sunday in the Coast Guard Auxiliary building on the other side of the Yacht Harbor and will cover everything from radio to fishing.
One of the doodads Roy brought home yesterday was a stainless steel gypsy for the anchor chain. In order to make it fit, he had to take it to his shop and machine it. We had found out that a city bus goes all the way from Santa Cruz to San Jose for only $2, so after some discussion, we decided to take the bus to San Jose tomorrow, go out to Kathy's and get my car, then drive to Richmond, so Roy could machine the gypsy in his shop. But first, he had to remove the old gypsy, so we took the bus to a tool rental place, rented a puller, and returned to the boat. After some struggle, Roy got the old gypsy off.
It looks as if this storm will last several more days, so I signed us up for some free seminars this weekend. They'll be held all day Saturday and Sunday in the Coast Guard Auxiliary building on the other side of the Yacht Harbor and will cover everything from radio to fishing.
Sunday, September 4, 2011
Wednesday, February 17, 1993 - Santa Cruz, CA
Enjoyed a blissful night's sleep, except for the air compressor going on around 2:30 a.m. I had turned it on during my watch yesterday, but when the gauge showed sufficient pressure, I turned it off. Apparently, Roy turned it on later and forgot to turn it off. Grrrrr.
Got up early and went over to the public phone to call Roy. Got him! He was just about to leave the shop and almost didn't answer the phone. It's a good thing I phoned him, because it hadn't once crossed his mind to do what I reminded him of.
He told me that yesterday evening when he and Al were waiting for the driver from the rental agency, he suddenly remembered he didn't have the letter that was the main reason he was going to Richmond, so he dashed back to the boat and got it. Got back to where Al was just seconds before the driver from the rental agency arrived. Luckily, I had had the foresight to leave the gate ajar. If it had been locked, Roy wouldn't have been able to get back to the boat.
Roy also told me he nearly had an accident driving from Santa Cruz to San Jose on 17. (That stretch of road is notorious; there are probably more accidents on it than any other highway in the country.) Two cars had apparently smashed into each other and were spread broadside across the road right in front of him as he rounded a curve. It was raining, so when he hit the brakes, the car went into a skid. Roy didn't think he'd be able to stop in time, but fortunately, he managed to bring the car to a halt on the right shoulder.
It's a nice stormy day. After breakfast, I walked over to the Harbor Master's office and paid for last night and tonight. Then I walked around to get some fresh air and exercise. I love feeling the wind and rain blowing against my face. Walked along the shore, watching the waves pounding in. I was wearing my foul-weather coat but should have worn the pants and boots, too; my jeans, shoes, and socks were soaked. When I got back to the boat, I dried off and put on dry clothes.
There are gale warnings from Point Arena to Point Conception, so we'll be here in the Santa Cruz Marina for several days, but at least we've started on our trip.
Roy got back around five, having accomplished most, but not quite all, of what he'd set out to do. He also brought back about 500 pounds of parts and tools. It's a good thing he had a car; if he'd been getting on and off buses with all that stuff, his arms would be two feet longer by now.
Got up early and went over to the public phone to call Roy. Got him! He was just about to leave the shop and almost didn't answer the phone. It's a good thing I phoned him, because it hadn't once crossed his mind to do what I reminded him of.
He told me that yesterday evening when he and Al were waiting for the driver from the rental agency, he suddenly remembered he didn't have the letter that was the main reason he was going to Richmond, so he dashed back to the boat and got it. Got back to where Al was just seconds before the driver from the rental agency arrived. Luckily, I had had the foresight to leave the gate ajar. If it had been locked, Roy wouldn't have been able to get back to the boat.
Roy also told me he nearly had an accident driving from Santa Cruz to San Jose on 17. (That stretch of road is notorious; there are probably more accidents on it than any other highway in the country.) Two cars had apparently smashed into each other and were spread broadside across the road right in front of him as he rounded a curve. It was raining, so when he hit the brakes, the car went into a skid. Roy didn't think he'd be able to stop in time, but fortunately, he managed to bring the car to a halt on the right shoulder.
It's a nice stormy day. After breakfast, I walked over to the Harbor Master's office and paid for last night and tonight. Then I walked around to get some fresh air and exercise. I love feeling the wind and rain blowing against my face. Walked along the shore, watching the waves pounding in. I was wearing my foul-weather coat but should have worn the pants and boots, too; my jeans, shoes, and socks were soaked. When I got back to the boat, I dried off and put on dry clothes.
There are gale warnings from Point Arena to Point Conception, so we'll be here in the Santa Cruz Marina for several days, but at least we've started on our trip.
Roy got back around five, having accomplished most, but not quite all, of what he'd set out to do. He also brought back about 500 pounds of parts and tools. It's a good thing he had a car; if he'd been getting on and off buses with all that stuff, his arms would be two feet longer by now.
Saturday, September 3, 2011
Tuesday, February 16, 1993 - Santa Cruz, CA
Awoke to calm water and gray skies. The light breeze was out of the south, so we had to motor all the way to Santa Cruz. Easy trip. There were swells rolling in from the west, but no waves to speak of. The only excitement was the breaking of the foot pedal for the freshwater pump in the galley. Fortunately, we can still hand-pump water from the emergency tank.
Arrived in Santa Cruz shortly before five p.m. and were lucky enough to get an end tie on the first dock.
Al had planned on taking the bus and BART back to Richmond, where he'd left his van. Then he'd drive home and grab a few hours' sleep before reporting for work at 8 tomorrow morning. However, an unexpected, urgent business matter suddenly came up for Roy, so he decided to go back with Al to Richmond and take care of it. I suggested that since the two of them were going, it would be cheaper, faster, and more convenient for them to rent a car than to take the bus. They agreed, so I phoned around to find a rental car at a decent price. Most of the places were closed or out of cars. One place said they had a car and would wait if we could get there right away.
I asked, "How far is it?"
He said, "Twenty minutes."
I asked, "Twenty minutes walking or driving?"
"Driving."
I laughed and said, "If we were driving, we wouldn't need to rent a car!"
Finally, I found a place that had a car for $34 and would send someone over to pick up Roy and Al. So I left the guys standing by the road and set off to the Harbor Master's office to get keys for the gate and the showers.
The office was on the opposite side of the marina. I could have paddled across in two minutes, but walking I had to go about 1/8 mile to the bridge, cross the bridge, and then walk another 1/8 mile to the Harbor Master's office. Halfway there, I suddenly realized I only had 2 or 3 dollars with me, and they'd undoubtedly want a deposit for the keys.
Earlier, I had talked with Harbor Patrol on the VHF and arranged to come over and pick up the keys, even though it was after hours and the office was closed, but quite a bit of time had passed since then, what with my making all those phone calls and seeing the guys off. When I got to the office, it was locked up tight. I rang the bell and banged on the doors for 15 minutes, but no one responded. I could see a guy through the window on the second floor, but apparently he didn't hear me, so I went over to a public phone and dialed the number that was written on the office door. To my surprise, I got the Police Department! But I told the person who answered the phone what had happened, and he contacted Harbor Patrol. In almost no time, a Harbor Patrol officer drove up. He had the keys but wanted a $20 deposit.
Gulp, gulp. I asked him where the nearest ATM was. He told me, but then said he'd drive me over there, since it's a dangerous road to walk on at night. So he drove me to the ATM, waited while I extracted some money, and then drove me all the way back to A dock, where the boat is. Very nice.
I had thought of something else Roy should do while he's in Richmond, so I tried to phone him and leave a message on the answering machine. Unfortunately, he had disconnected the machine before we left. I'll try phoning him again around 7 tomorrow morning; he's likely to be in the shop then.
Arrived in Santa Cruz shortly before five p.m. and were lucky enough to get an end tie on the first dock.
Al had planned on taking the bus and BART back to Richmond, where he'd left his van. Then he'd drive home and grab a few hours' sleep before reporting for work at 8 tomorrow morning. However, an unexpected, urgent business matter suddenly came up for Roy, so he decided to go back with Al to Richmond and take care of it. I suggested that since the two of them were going, it would be cheaper, faster, and more convenient for them to rent a car than to take the bus. They agreed, so I phoned around to find a rental car at a decent price. Most of the places were closed or out of cars. One place said they had a car and would wait if we could get there right away.
I asked, "How far is it?"
He said, "Twenty minutes."
I asked, "Twenty minutes walking or driving?"
"Driving."
I laughed and said, "If we were driving, we wouldn't need to rent a car!"
Finally, I found a place that had a car for $34 and would send someone over to pick up Roy and Al. So I left the guys standing by the road and set off to the Harbor Master's office to get keys for the gate and the showers.
The office was on the opposite side of the marina. I could have paddled across in two minutes, but walking I had to go about 1/8 mile to the bridge, cross the bridge, and then walk another 1/8 mile to the Harbor Master's office. Halfway there, I suddenly realized I only had 2 or 3 dollars with me, and they'd undoubtedly want a deposit for the keys.
Earlier, I had talked with Harbor Patrol on the VHF and arranged to come over and pick up the keys, even though it was after hours and the office was closed, but quite a bit of time had passed since then, what with my making all those phone calls and seeing the guys off. When I got to the office, it was locked up tight. I rang the bell and banged on the doors for 15 minutes, but no one responded. I could see a guy through the window on the second floor, but apparently he didn't hear me, so I went over to a public phone and dialed the number that was written on the office door. To my surprise, I got the Police Department! But I told the person who answered the phone what had happened, and he contacted Harbor Patrol. In almost no time, a Harbor Patrol officer drove up. He had the keys but wanted a $20 deposit.
Gulp, gulp. I asked him where the nearest ATM was. He told me, but then said he'd drive me over there, since it's a dangerous road to walk on at night. So he drove me to the ATM, waited while I extracted some money, and then drove me all the way back to A dock, where the boat is. Very nice.
I had thought of something else Roy should do while he's in Richmond, so I tried to phone him and leave a message on the answering machine. Unfortunately, he had disconnected the machine before we left. I'll try phoning him again around 7 tomorrow morning; he's likely to be in the shop then.
Friday, September 2, 2011
Monday, February 15, 1993 - Richmond, CA on way to Panama
This is it! The start of the Big Trip! We're on our way to the Panama Canal!
A lot of improvements have been made to the boat since our last trip. A roller-furling staysail has been installed. The anchor winch has been overhauled. We have a back-up GPS that's even better than the original. We have an automatic tuner for the shortwave radio, which we can now operate. (Made our first transmission last week. What a thrill!) We have one of the new 406 EPIRB's, which tie into satellites. We have a much larger and better strobe light for the man-overboard pole. Roy sealed all the leaks in the aft cabin and built a large storage area for charts, tools, and clothing. He also bought a 500,000 candle-power searchlight. Etc., etc.
Steve, Alison, and Trevor Grabenauer and Norm and Doris came down to see us off. Al Snider came down to sail with us to Santa Cruz. We left around 10 a.m. to the sound of horns and whistles. Steve, Alison, and Trevor went with us as far as Marina Bay (one mile). We dropped them off at the new Harbor Master's dock. Then we went by Rita's and Brick's boats, tooted our horns and waved.
Nearly went aground going out the channel. Roy was at the wheel, but he was busy telling Al something and not watching where he was going. Luckily, I looked around in time and yelled to him, so he was able to turn fast and get back in the channel.
Nice northwest breeze. Turned off the engine and sailed across the bay with the new staysail and the main, but we brought in the staysail and turned on the engine to go under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Big waves were slamming against us, washing over the decks and the cockpit windows, as we headed towards the separation zone, but when we turned south, the going was a lot easier. We were zooming along at 7 to 8 knots, which is too fast, so I turned off the engine and Roy reefed the main. We had the staysail out and the headsail partially out. We were sailing nicely at 5 to 6 knots, but still doing a lot of rockin' and rollin' every time the waves hit us.
To my amazement, about quarter to four, Roy got seasick, even after taking two Dramamine tablets. First time he's ever been seasick. An hour later, I followed suit, and I'd taken four Dramamine. Soon, Al got into the act. He hadn't taken any Dramamine, but he never gets seasick. Then we began thinking maybe it wasn't seasickness but the store-bought crab salad we'd eaten for lunch. We hadn't really had any symptoms of seasickness except for throwing up. When you're seasick, you usually can't function, but we'd had no problem at all functioning. We'd have probably gotten sick even if we'd been on solid ground.
We heard a Coast Guard small-craft advisory on VHF, predicting 20 to 30 knot winds with gusts to 35. We didn't need that, so we headed for Pillar Point. It was pitch dark when we got there, so Al stood on the bow with the 500,000 candlepower portable searchlight and shone it on the narrow entrance so Roy could see his way in.
No sooner got the anchor dropped than a Harbor Patrol boat came zooming over to tell us to go another 200 yards; we were in the channel. So we moved.
Ate a delicious supper and relaxed.
A lot of improvements have been made to the boat since our last trip. A roller-furling staysail has been installed. The anchor winch has been overhauled. We have a back-up GPS that's even better than the original. We have an automatic tuner for the shortwave radio, which we can now operate. (Made our first transmission last week. What a thrill!) We have one of the new 406 EPIRB's, which tie into satellites. We have a much larger and better strobe light for the man-overboard pole. Roy sealed all the leaks in the aft cabin and built a large storage area for charts, tools, and clothing. He also bought a 500,000 candle-power searchlight. Etc., etc.
Steve, Alison, and Trevor Grabenauer and Norm and Doris came down to see us off. Al Snider came down to sail with us to Santa Cruz. We left around 10 a.m. to the sound of horns and whistles. Steve, Alison, and Trevor went with us as far as Marina Bay (one mile). We dropped them off at the new Harbor Master's dock. Then we went by Rita's and Brick's boats, tooted our horns and waved.
Nearly went aground going out the channel. Roy was at the wheel, but he was busy telling Al something and not watching where he was going. Luckily, I looked around in time and yelled to him, so he was able to turn fast and get back in the channel.
Nice northwest breeze. Turned off the engine and sailed across the bay with the new staysail and the main, but we brought in the staysail and turned on the engine to go under the Golden Gate Bridge.
Big waves were slamming against us, washing over the decks and the cockpit windows, as we headed towards the separation zone, but when we turned south, the going was a lot easier. We were zooming along at 7 to 8 knots, which is too fast, so I turned off the engine and Roy reefed the main. We had the staysail out and the headsail partially out. We were sailing nicely at 5 to 6 knots, but still doing a lot of rockin' and rollin' every time the waves hit us.
To my amazement, about quarter to four, Roy got seasick, even after taking two Dramamine tablets. First time he's ever been seasick. An hour later, I followed suit, and I'd taken four Dramamine. Soon, Al got into the act. He hadn't taken any Dramamine, but he never gets seasick. Then we began thinking maybe it wasn't seasickness but the store-bought crab salad we'd eaten for lunch. We hadn't really had any symptoms of seasickness except for throwing up. When you're seasick, you usually can't function, but we'd had no problem at all functioning. We'd have probably gotten sick even if we'd been on solid ground.
We heard a Coast Guard small-craft advisory on VHF, predicting 20 to 30 knot winds with gusts to 35. We didn't need that, so we headed for Pillar Point. It was pitch dark when we got there, so Al stood on the bow with the 500,000 candlepower portable searchlight and shone it on the narrow entrance so Roy could see his way in.
No sooner got the anchor dropped than a Harbor Patrol boat came zooming over to tell us to go another 200 yards; we were in the channel. So we moved.
Ate a delicious supper and relaxed.
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Thursday, September 1, 1994 - New Bedford, MA
Poor Roy! He got up at five to catch the six-o'clock bus to Boston. At 5:30, just as he was ready to leave, the rain started coming down in buckets. Of all mornings! He had to make a dash to the public phone and call a cab. Fortunately, there's an overhang there, so he was protected from the rain while he waited. By the time he gets to Boston, the rain might have quit, but if it hasn't, he only has half a block to go from the bus terminal to the subway station. After that, he'll be out of the rain all the way.
Roy will be back the end of October, so until then the log will be put on the shelf as it was last year. See you later!
(Note: While Roy is in California, I will post the log of the sail from California to the Panama Canal, the Blog started after the arrival at the Panama Canal.)
Roy will be back the end of October, so until then the log will be put on the shelf as it was last year. See you later!
(Note: While Roy is in California, I will post the log of the sail from California to the Panama Canal, the Blog started after the arrival at the Panama Canal.)
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