Ready to set anchor

I don't really know how many actually follow this. I am sure that once we are away from the docks more will be inclined to read. I am not the greatest writer and trying to keep a journal of sorts is a bit out of my league. I am sure things will be a bit more exciting once we are underway.

We are waiting on one more piece to be delivered today for the boom. Since it is all going overhead with the dodger and bimini combo we have had to re route the lines. It is actucally pretty cool in that they are all running through stop blocks and all on one side. "So easy a caveman could do it!" (if he weren't affraid of ocean monsters!!haha).

So once that is done it will be a clean up of tools and moving all gear below decks and we will set sail. We are not sure yet if we will head straight out or spend one night in Aquatic Park in San Francisco. Honestly I don't know if we will ever be back this way to see the lights of Ghiradelli Square and the city from the anchor. That is something quite nostalgic and magical for our family.

When we were here in the bay before, we would spend numerous nights anchored in the city. It was always fun to go to shore and explore the street vendors and little shops by Pier 39. We got to swim along side seals (unknown in the beginning exactly how many were actually there!). We would take our Kayak and row over to Alcatraz Island. Row up to Pier 39 and sit close to the sea lions. Neil and I even rowed out underneath the Golden Gate bridge in 5 foot waves! We would always go to fleet week and anchor up there for days. I will miss that place. I think we all will.
So if all goes well we will spend one more night there. Go to shore and get souveniers. ( This time they will be for us!).

In Half Moon Bay, the sewing projects will be finished up while on anchor. Well, actually our life will begin on anchor. (now that seems a bit profound, but true).

This is something that really excites me also. We have taken week to week and a half long trips totally away from shore. There was always something happening with our battery stores and we always made sure to conserve. When we bought a used wind generator it worked great until we were in about 30 knots coming back from Santa Cruz. It just stopped and never wanted to work again. Now we know perhaps the brake wasn't working, or it could have been a "hand full" of other reasons why it choked. Nevertheless we have a new one now, with warranty. In addition we have the solar.

Being anchored in a familiar area to "test the waters" will be nice. After a few days we will know if we need to replace the 6 volt batterys with new one..... We will see. Either way, No Worries!

Sailing with Teens

I have been trying to find info and blogs of other sailing family's with teenagers. This is a bit more hard to find but I did find a few. One thing I have found to be the biggest issue is not the "socializing" part of it. There are a ton of kids out there in every great tropical anchorage. In reading about the "cruising teens", most kids say they love the destinations but despise the passages making that the biggest issue. I think we have tried to overcome this hatred for passage by having plenty to do. Our kids are going to be part of the rotating watch. At first with one of us, than on their own. Night or Day. They will have chores and will have to help maintain the vessel. They are going to be reading and going over Spanish and French a big majority of the time. We have ample supply of books, especially geography and "sailing" as do most other vessels. I think a lot of Cruisers overlook the needs of teens. The younger kids are always given special things and accomidations are made but the tweens and teens....not so much. We have a daughter who loves art and can draw for hours. Our son can created any number of spit ball launching devises made out of rubber bands and clothes pins and other misc. items. He also has a huge lego and micro engineering toys. We have a guitar and keyboard aboard. We have plenty of movies and music, that are always good on night watch. We have gaming systems for the kids and the biggest kid, Neil! I have my paints and pencils and books....(honestly I have never been borred a day in my life). Once you get to your destination it is constant going to shore, diving, visiting markets, hiking...etc...

We have a bit of an edge too in that they have lived on a boat for some time. We are a bit cramped but not as badly as most would think. We ALL want to go explore the world and we ALL have a say in it. It IS a "Family Affair" and I think that makes a huge difference.

Time to go.

Well it has been quite the adventure being back in the bay. We are at about 90% complete on the boat. We are hoping to leave and head back to Half Moon Bay (home port) Wednesday morning. I think we may have a 2 week window to finish up whatever needs finishing and off we go! I am getting very excited just to be leaving here and heading south. (Not that I don't like being here...but I am anxious to get on with it!) It has been a lot of fun seeing and being around old and new friends. We have been fortunate enought to spend good quality time with some of our old friends while here in Point Richmond.

F Dock and Bay Area Review:

Bob, (Scorpio) who makes the best shoshimi(sp?)haha, that I have had. He has been a whirlwind of information and it has been a pleasure to get to know him. I admire his craftmanship as well as his stamina. I am jealous of his world wide collection of trinkets that I hope to be able to go and collect for myself just as he did.

James (DreamGirl) who has been our dear friend for a few years. Daisy just can't get enough of his lovin...not to mention his bbq-ing! (sorry about that cheeseburger). He has a warm heart and lots of spunk! We have shared some good times anchored and sailing together here in the bay and up the coast.

Bud's (Fandango) 70th Birhtday in which we got to meet his wonderful family. Hear his adventures of sailing and peek into his life as a wonderful father and family man, not to mention his friendship.

Barry and Joyce (Jubilee) who makes a mean chicken and the nicest couple ever! I love hearing her laugh and she has a smile as big as her heart.

Barry and his kid's(Ian and Kira) with whom our kids have had fun over the last few years playing together. Barry a good friend who can make a gourmet dinner out of nothing!

Ken and Saundra (Aquilla) who lived the dream and sailed off to the French Polynesians and off to New Zealand than back home via Hawaii..They made for some serious envy and also while following their blog learned a lot of useful information about the areas we also want to go to. Thanks to them for their detailed inspiration!

Jack ,a pirate at heart.

Ralph, who can make me laugh with his sarcastic wit.

Merle and Verna, two gems.

Marry Anne, who is as cute as cute gets and always so chipper. She can also rock a security uniform better than anyone I know..."you go girl!" :0)

Brian and Tye, a man and his loyal side kick, always happy.

Jose, a hard working family man who is most helpful at the local chandlery.

Robert, although briefly, (Pachuca) with whom we hope to catch up to in the Sea of Cortez.

Along with the above mentioned, there are so many others who have touched our lives with whom we are thankful we had the opportunity to get to know. Some we will likely run into throughout our travels(Lori and Kim).

It has been lots of fun.

But it is time to go.