7:46 PM - Saturday, November 26, 2011

Got into Monterey Bay last night and celebrated a late Thanksgiving with a nice feast of yams, pork, broccoli (courtesy of the Captain), and persimmon pudding from the Greens cookbook. Not the greatest idea to make a persimmon pudding in a hot water bath in a rockin and rollin anchorage! After a sleepless night we opted for splurging and paying $20 for a slip here in Monterey.  What a relief to step onto shore and take a nice hot shower.  We spent the day using our legs (also really nice), treating ourselves to breakfast at a cute little organic café downtown called the Plum Bakery & Café, and walking along the coastal recreational trail through Monterey and Pacific Grove.

It was a beautiful day and really nice to get off the boat and walk for a change.

Saw sealions, dolphins, pelicans, egrets, and cute little sea otters too!

Stopped at a great used bookstore on the way back…I bought a conversational Spanish book, and Andy picked up a couple books on fishing and a seafood cookbook.  I have high hopes for conversing in Spanish, and Andy – hopes to catch some fish and eat it too.  Splurged again and opted for dining out at a burger joint downtown. Gotta get the burgers, fries, & milkshakes in while we can! Picked up some fresh veggies & meat at the grocery store, and threw in a load of laundry. Tomorrow morning we leave early…destination undetermined…Morro Bay if we’re ambitious. We shall see.

8:30 AM - Friday, November 25, 2011

Day 4 of our fantastic voyage, and day 3 without showering.  Opted for leaving Half Moon Bay yesterday morning when the forecast anticipated rain didn’t happen, and the winds did!

Sailed for 12 hours and arrived late last night in Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk harbor.

Passed out after my second dose of Dramamine. Thank goodness for Captains.

Thanksgiving dinner consisted for Campbell’s chicken noodle soup. Hot soup from a can never tasted so good! Woke up to barking seals. Today we will make a quick trip to Monterey where we will celebrate a late Thanksgiving with a feast on the Red Star. Coffee supply = going quickly! The Captain goes through coffee like there is no tomorrow. At this rate we’ll be out of coffee and out of almond milk by San Diego. I must admit, a cup of hot coffee/tea/chocolate/soup sure is nice when it’s freezing outside.

11:31 AM - Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Day 2 of our voyage to Mexico. Got a later start than expected yesterday due to last minute preparations/returns to Best Buy/filling up of water bottles/rig inspections/ etc.

After turning in our key cards, we said goodbye to Richardson Bay Marina, Sausalito – my home for the last three months. I will certainly miss that shower, but the best thing about living and cruising on the Red Star is that your home is always with you!

Departed around noon…and even got an official send off wave from Jean who raced over to Clipper Harbor and waved to us as we motored out of the channel.

Sailed for a few hours, but ended up motoring over to Half Moon Bay where we are currently anchored in a snug little protected harbor.  First breakfast at sea – cornmeal cakes (i.e. hoe cakes) from the Greens cookbook.

Got a mini lesson in navigation and chart reading from Andy this morning.  Planning on hanging out here until the rain passes and the wind becomes more favorable.