After spending nearly three weeks in the Sydney area dealing with insurance, haul-out, administrative and family affairs we left for Port Angelese.

 Karen McLeod and Tom from  Neron II and Theresa and Clarence Unger on "Gentle Wind"  gave us our own "Farewell to the Fleet" when we set off for Port Angelese on September 4th. We spent one night at Port Angelese before motor sailing to Neah Bay on a westerly 20 knot wind which was quite a beat for 10 hours. 

We sailed down on  southerly winds of up to 25 knots tacking close to the shore and made Newport  in 2 and half days. We stayed in the marina at Newport for about a week as Peter was helping Boja on "Soewlu" ( a friend from our Marina in Vancouver) to repair his snapped headstay and roller furling gear.  And what a job that was!

After Newport Beach we had a rough sail to Crescent City 30 knots gusting 35 to 40 knots and we were down to the Storm Jib for a time. The waves were quite big and breaking. We spent 4 days in Crescent City and rented a car with 2 more cruising couples and headed out for the Redwoods State and National Parks for a day trip! What a fantastic day that was.

After Crescent City we motored (very boring) to Eureka.  We stayed there for a few days exploring the old town and its magnificent buildings from the Goldrush era.  

Sailing into San Francisco was quite an experience, it felt that we had actually achieved one of our dreams sailing under the Golden Gate Bridge. We anchored in San Francisco Bay for about 2 weeks and Peter notched off another of his dreams sailing around the Bay and at times sailing close to Fishermans Wharf.

In Santa Barbara after an easy  rounding of the notorious Point Conception.which was a big turning point in the passage south, the weather changed from cold, foggy and windy to warm and sunny.  We discarded our fleece jackets and are in shorts and t.shirts. We anchored off a beach fringed with Palm Trees.  Not bad Hey!

After Santa Barbara we went to the Channel Islands and then onto San Diego where we have been for the last 10 days. We have been to Tijuana and reprovisioned as well as dealing with all the Mexican visa and permits.  San Diego is our last stop in Phase 2.  We are about to start our next phase "The Baja" Mexico!!!!! Our intention is to leave on November 11th.or thereabouts.

                                        San Francisco Dowtown                                                     Redwood Trees, Crescent City

                                                                              Channel Island, California anchorage

Rolling downwind                                                                                                                  Rounding Point Conception

Our first look at Mexico from the border at San Diego