And It was Packed!
This was an all-encompassing week on the boat. Tay’s friends visited for 3 days, and we hit all the SF requirements. We had 20-knot winds for an afternoon sail (even had to reef the main), we hiked for some excellent views, swam in the breaking waves (which made us so excited for warmer water), and hosted Scooter’s largest dinner party: 9 people! The biggest regret of the week was not getting a proper happy hour dinghy ride in. Ladies, you’ll have to schedule a second trip. (For anyone who attended Tay and my wedding, they were the maids of honor who re-wrote “huntin, fishin, lovin every day” for their speech).
Next thing we know, we got hit by a wave of generosity. One follower sponsored a dinner at his favorite restaurant in Chinatown, one found & sponsored a breakfast spot, and a fan bought a round of beers. We’ve felt so incredibly blessed to have such amazing people in our lives.
The Voodoo Child is one of the boats we met in Newport. The two brothers, Nick and Coleman, have a month-long sublet slip in SF and we spent a couple of nights at that marina. We attempted to introduce our cats which ended with Eunice running off the dock into the water out of fear. The meeting later to talk about boat life, over a drink, was much more productive. Their cat, Bigfoot, had to stay behind. We discussed boat life, night shifts, cat sea-sickness, and dreams of continued cruising (this picture is back in Newport).
We popped back over to Berkeley. My high school friend Ben was so generous to drive us to the hardware store so we can get back into boat improvement mode. He also took us to get groceries and scrounged up a used computer monitor to replace our broken one.
Seeing old friends multiple times in our 3-week stint in the city made us feel like we had community again for a brief period. Community is something Tay and I have been hungry for over the last year, but that goes with the territory, and hopefully, down the road it’ll make us appreciate it more when we have it.
Anyway, we also got put at the same slip in Berkeley as last time next to the Chileans. They gifted is a jar of Caviar, an evening of wine and cheese, and tons of fishing gear. And tons of stories, advice, and conversation. They even offered to sell us their boat in 5 years.
Here are some highlights from their retirement:
They have a few acres of sand dunes on the Chilean coast. In the summer they build a plywood hut and fish every day. For a few months, they have everything they need by trading fish for wine and beer, and a trip into town for water every 2 weeks. Then they live in their motor home on a lake in southern Chile catching salmon. Then as the weather gets colder they fly to America to their boat, and cruise the Californian coast. Spring and summer, in alternating hemispheres, on repeat for 18 years and counting. Maria Elena and Ben were the perfect neighbors and an inspiration for a life well-lived.
We anchored one night in Sausalito and grilled a whole chicken. The seagulls appreciated the scraps but were shockingly wary of our captain.
We left early Saturday morning, following the US Warship 1001 under the bridge into dense fog. No wind, but swell on our beam made for a less than comfortable motor, but we made our anchorage at half moon bay by mid-afternoon.
Now for a new home for a few nights.
