Paul at play in the Walker Bay

Well, things are moving along. I've now renovated the everything down below - just about - got the floor to strip back and varnish, but apart from that every little bit of wood or paint down below has now been scraped, sanded and either varnished or painted - a huge job and not one I anticipated doing but am now very glad that I have. The work was hard and exhausting but down below looks so different. The photographs don't actually do it justice, but I'm happy so that's fine!

In the meantime we have decided to replace all of our standing rigging (the metal bits that hold up the masts) and in order to keep the costs down, Paul is removing all of the old rigging (not all at once) and replacing it with the new. Once he has been up and down the mast(s x 2!!) approximately 20 times our rigger will come along and 'tune-up' the rigging. By Paul's efforts (and they are great) we are saving around 50% of the cost - bless him!



We are very fortunate in this exercise that one of the friend's we have made here is Sam, and Sam has gone sailing for 4 weeks and left us his car - we shall be forever indebted. This is going to make the daily trips into the rigger in San Diego much easier.

We have also been out sailing a few times in the last couple of weeks and are very pleased with the boat. It's been nice to take our Chula Vista friends out with us on these trips. We've been made to feel so welcome, it's nice to give something back. In the meantime, while the rig is in bits Paul will have to make do with sailing our new 'dinghy' at the end of each working day. We replaced the inflatable with a little sail boat that fits perfectly on our foredeck and while we have both been working seemingly unendingly, it has been very pleasant to be able to at least take to the water at the end of the day in our walker bay boat. And, as usual, this blogspot doesn't seem to want to allow me any more photographs with this posting. If anyone knows any way around this, or what I may be doing wrong, I'd be grateful for the advice!

So, to finally try and finish this first dreadful blog - spelling mistakes and all - I will file the last few photographs and endeavour to 'do better' in my next issue! Suffice to say that we had a lovely two weeks with Mum. Following her departure on 26 June, we have been so busy on the boat I have not actually stopped to take photographs - this will be remedied. We have however met lots of really nice people and been invited to more parties in 7 weeks than in the last 5 years at home! Needless to say, we are having a great time, and apart from missing close friends and family, miss absolutely nothing else.

Travelling up Highway 1 we passed through Big Sur and Carmel. As can be seen from the pictures, the 'June Gloom' was well established - when the cold Pacific Ocean waters meet the warm landmass of the west coast of the USA, a sea fog forms all along the coast. This meteorological anomoly occurs only in June, and although the view was somewhat obscured by the 'gloom' the scenery was still breathtaking.

We finally arrived in San Francisco and proceeded to undertake all the 'touristy' tours - China Town, Trolley bus, Golden Gate - over and under - Alcatraz

So, as I said in my previous blog, we then travelled back south to Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo Drive and finally returning to San Diego.

Well, we finally made it, along with Mum and a very anxious dog. Having got over her jetlag. We spent the first two weeks touring California. Starting in San Diego - the city and bay. Then moving on down across the border to Tijuana where we saw more police activity in one day than I have seen in the last year at home - result, a nervous Mum. Wouldn't rush back and wouldn't recommend it either.













Anyway, moving on we took a drive from San Diego up the coast to San Francisco, calling at Ventura, Pismo Beach where the elephant seal colony had just finished breeding - the females had left but quite a number of males were still to be seen. Then on up to Big Sur, Carmel, Santa Cruz, and San Francisco. Did all the tourist things in SF - China Town, Golden Gates bridge - over and under -, Alcatraz, trolley buses - usual tourist attractions. Returning south through the Sierra Madres (fantastic and not a single photograph!) then Los Angeles, Hollywood, Beverly Hills, Rodeo (that's Row-day-yo) Drive to y'all. Finally arriving back in San Diego for a rest. And as I don't seem to be able to add any more photographs to this page I am going to post it and try another one for further photographs!!!