Weekend Work

Ah, a sunset in San Diego after a very busy weekend. This was our last whole weekend to get things done on the boat before heading to Catalina. Rich had his list ready to go and we got to it. Rich had to go up the mast to install some little spreader bracket clamps and to install the radar reflector. We filled the propane tanks, filled the water tanks, installed a new outboard motor mount, build a second motor mount for our spare engine, and made some "handline" fishing lines. Whew, that was a lot. We ended the weekend with a dinghy trip to the beach.

Just a Regular Day

Just thought I'd give everyone an update on how our everyday life is going. We're doing pretty good at sticking to a regular routine. We usually wake up around 8:00 or so, the boys do some practice in their workbooks while I cook breakfast. Then we either have swim lessons or have boat chores to do. Next thing you know it's time for lunch. After that the kids watch a few special shows they like on PBS and I do some work on the computer. Then it's time for either a quick swim or a dinghy ride to cool off. Then with a snap of the fingers Rich is home and it's time for dinner. It sure seems like the summer is flying by....

Getting Ready for Catalina Island

This is a picture of Kyle driving the dinghy on last years trip to Catalina. The picture was taken in Emerald Bay. It's sort of a famous picture. We sent it in to Latitudes and Attitudes Magazine and it was published in the underway section.... Now we're starting to get ready for this years trip. We'll start by just working our way up the coast to Dana Point, then head across to Two Harbors (Isthmus Cove) and spend a wonderful week there. Rich has his near term check-list of boat chores he wants to get accomplished and I've started thinking about the food. There are several couples and their respective boats going. With up to fifteen possible people, the logistics of having common dinners gets a little dicey - good thing for the BBQ's on shore!! The boys are getting really excited. Last year Kyle got to not only drive the dinghy, but he would jump off the side of the boat each morning for a short swim with Dad. This year, Ryan says he's going to also drive the dinghy and jump off the boat. I'm sure he'll jump off the boat, we'll have to see about his driving abilities...

Weekend Fun

Although weekends are often filled with projects and chores, the boys still need to get out and have some fun in the sun and water. Our project for this weekend was getting out the BIG awning we have and trying to figure out how it works. We knew we had to get some PVC pipe for it and that it needed some repairs. Rich got the pipe and we cut it to the correct sizes and now the awning looks like an awning instead of just a big piece of fabric thrown over the boom. As far as repairs go, I need to get some leather to reinforce some corners and I need to cut some patches for mending some torn areas. The awning is all made out of Sunbrella fabric and matches the rest of our canvas. The best place I've found for getting supplies is at U.F.O. in National City (just south of San Diego) or by ordering through Sailrite.

New Refrigerator!!!!

Yea!! Our new refrigerator came today and is plugged in and making ice cubes!!! The best part of this the separate freezer door. Our old refrigerator was not made for the marine environment, is was a regular apartment size refrigerator, and the freezer was just a small compartment within the main refrigerator. There were two problems with the old one: 1) It sucked the power. When we were unplugged from shore power it had to run through the inverter - and made it less efficient. 2) To defrost the freezer, you had to remove everything from both the freezer and the refrigerator - a real pain... The new one is a Vitrifrigo model. It is made to run on DC power, but has a built in converter that when it senses AC power it will run on AC. Our upcoming trip to Catalina Island will be a great test to see how well it works....

Dutch Shoe Marathon

I just returned home from the start of the Dutch Shoe Marathon. This one design race is sponsored by San Diego Yacht club and had 283 participants in 4 classes. The Sabot has long been the standard for young sailors and is often considered the hardest to sail. Its bathtub like shape does not lend its self towards forward movement and often is pushed sideways by the wind. This race is challenging for young and old alike.

The racers were nervous this morning. Boat parts were being repaired and new parts purchased. Race instructions into Ziplocs and taped down. The coaches were talking about tides, currents and wind directions. And moms were applying sunscreen and packing snacks. All contributed to the bustle of energy on the docks this morning. The preparations were successful and the participants crossed the start line with ambitious goals. It was quite a site; 200 little boats with white sails moving down the harbor like leaf ants in the jungle.

I’m not sure pictures can convey the energy or massiveness of the start of this race. This first picture is our usually calm open dingy dock currently filled to capacity with sabots, sails, parts, and racers.

And this is the best way I can show the race boats leaving our little harbor going out towards the main channel. With a before and after.

Gah, I must get a new camera. I know this blog is supposed to be part of Debbie’s travels and I shouldn’t have posted this, but I used the first two paragraphs to apply for a job writing about sailing and I just couldn’t go without publishing it someplace. And well, the Dutch Shoe race did go past Debbie’s boat.

What, what’s that I hear? You want to see pictures of my kids again? Well, okay.

Home Schooling Supplies Arrived

These ares picture of the supplies that arrived today for the boys school work for next year - at "Oasis Elementary." The first picture are the supplies for Kyle's 1st grade program, the second picture are the supplies for Ryan's Pre-K program. My big chore for the morning was trying the find a place to put everything..... We chose the Calvert School program. I talked to many other cruisers about which programs they used and why. In the end, we believe the Calvert School program fits best with our goals and lifestyle. "Oasis Elementary" is still closed for summer vacation, but will begin classes just after Labor Day - just like everyone else...

Kidz Kruise Raft up

Debbie organized the Kidz Kruise raft up last weekend for our yacht club. It was a very fun and successful event. We had 12 boats linked together in La Playa cove and many other families joined us for the games and kids events. The kids played bingo and king of the inflatable mountain. We watched Night at the Museum and enjoyed a BBQ on Saturday night. Sunday morning was the Amazing Race Kidz Kruise style.

Here's a picture of some of the boats in the raft up (the weather looks cold, but it wasn't). Oh, and my boat is the little one waaaay off on the right with the blue hull. Doesn't the Oasis look great there. And what a mish mosh of different types of boats.

Here are some pictures of the friends that were rafted up with us for the weekend. First is Greg and Sarah enjoying the morning air. Then Adrienne and Nancy soaking up rays and watching the kids swim. And last, Victoria and Ella, being silly on the lawn before the movie on Saturday night.

Next Stop - Catalina Island

This is a picture we took last year from the Banning House in Two Harbors on Catalina Island. We're heading back there again in a few weeks. This time we have some of our great friends come along with us in their boats... This past weekend was spent anchored in La Playa here in San Diego. We put out our solar panels, watched our power consumption and monitored how well the panels did. They did great!!! After being unplugged for over 48 hours, we had only used about 25% of our battery amp hours. That's really good when you take into account that after we got back, we realized we'd left the engine room light on all weekend - and that one really sucks the batteries....

Update on Baja Ha-Ha 2007

This is a picture of the start of last years Baja Ha-Ha. There were 164 boats that started the trip from San Diego last year. This year for the first time ever they are limiting the number of entries to 200. We are entry #17... One of the "perks" for being an early entry is the increased possibility of getting a slip in Cabo. The marina there reserves all their open slips for Ha-Ha entrants. You get the chance for a slip based on your entry number - so I think we're in pretty good shape. Everything we hear is that the marina there is very nice, but very expensive. We hope to get a slip for just a couple of days. A slip will make it easier to re-provision, etc... before we head of to our next stop. At this time, we're thinking we'll make the 45 mile trek up to Las Frailes and just hang out there for a few days or a few weeks after we leave Cabo.....

Yee Haa

This is Kyle's favorite way to keep cool in the desert heat! He would stay here all day if we let him... Our routine for the trip is breakfast, pool (a beer or two), lunch, pool, dinner - crash!! One thing we're learning while the kids are resting is how to play poker... We're thinking maybe it would be fun to learn and play with other cruisers while we're in various ports....

Fun At The Pool

Next week is our 10th wedding anniversary. We decided to take a long weekend and get away. So in training for the hot/humid cruising grounds of Central America - we headed to sunny Palm Springs. It's a balmy 114 today - but the pool is great. There's a water slide that Kyle loves, and a splash/squirt area that Ryan loves. He can't quite reach the trigger of the cannon, so Dad sat him on top of it for better access!! I'd say, so far the boys are having a great summer!!!

July 4th

The boys were excited about the 4th of July. We decorated the dinghy and went in a dinghy parade at Southwestern Yacht Club (our club). The parade started at Southwestern, wandered thru the La Playa anchorage, over to San Diego Yacht Club, across t0 Silver Gate Yacht Club, then back to Southwestern. I'd guess there were about 50 dinghy's in the parade - it was quite a site to see indeed. We also had some friends over for a BBQ, drinks and to watch the fireworks on the bay.

A Test of Wills

This is Ryan, our youngest child. He looks very sweet here, and he is - for the most part. He is extremely strong willed. This morning was a big test of wills between Ryan and Mom - and Mom finally one. As I said, we are going to do some work in our workbooks every morning. Kyle just sits down and does his work without being asked twice. Ryan on the other hand, spent about 45 minutes in our back room this morning until he finally decided to at least TRY his workbook. Now it's not rocket science I'm asking him to do. I'm just asking him to trace lines in different directions (in a really brightly colored book) so that he can begin to learn how to trace letters and then write them himself. Well eventually he gave in. I think he finally figured out that if he just took two minutes to trace a few lines that he get to go to the beach. Well not only did he trace a few lines, he did several pages!! Kyle was great with him - cheering him on. So in the end, I won today's battle. Tomorrow is a new day....

Kids Are Out of School

Now that Kyle's officially a first grader, my real work begins. Both boys are home with me full-time now. The "official" home/boat schooling will begin after Labor Day, but they need to start getting used to me being the teacher now. My plan is that every morning, we'll get up and do a page or two in the workbooks I have. Not too much, but hopefully just enough to keep their little brains sharp..... while I learn how to be a teacher.

Who am I now

I'm getting confused with who I am. What does this look like

Don't mind me

I've change the blog address. I've changed the layout. But I haven't gotten rid of the embarrassing photos. So sorry (not).