*evil chuckle*

Its only a little creepy that I see faces everywhere, but I thought this looked like an appropriately spooky Halloween one.

Farewell to San Fransisco

Didn't have a chance to go through these before, but I found them and thought I'd share!

Sun, sand and boatwork

This is the Captain doing some maintenance on a light that he noticed was flickering.

Starting out I had no idea what exactly theplan was, but it went relatively well, actually without incident of any kind. Dad was secured and clipped into a harness while climbing the mast ladder, and I had the backup rope wrapped a couple turns around the winch. I didn't even take any pictures until he'd been cleated off securely.

Unfortunately for Dad, it took me a little while to find the anti-corrosion stuff, and tape it to a jack line he could haul up... so his leg fell asleep. You couldn't tell his leg was asleep climbing down, but it probably explains why he got a little tangled up at the bottom.

The rest of the day I spent walking down the beach, sketching a little and then taking more pictures along the route I ran the other day. Monterey is beautiful, and the sand is so fine that it makes that really high pitched "sleek" noise when you drag your feet through it.

This is looking back in the general direction of the marina. There's a cool walkway that has been built where the train tracks used to run along the waterfront. The water is incredibly clean and clear too, unfortunately I didn't get any decent shots of that.

Little beach on the trail side that a lot of people use for launching their kayaks and going diving.

Some neat rocks, I stood here for awhile and just listened to the surf rolling in and through. It was very relaxing.

Aquarium Awesomesaucedness

Here are the pics from the aquarium if I can get them to upload without giving me an aneurysm. If I found a genie in a bottle I'd wish for my own personal uuber high speed internet connection that just always worked.

This was the entrance to the jelly fish exhibit, those are all little fishes!

Jelly fish, super beautiful but they give me the creeps.

Anchovies, look at how big their little mouths open! Nom nom nom

Ummmm I just thought he looked super cool ;)

And more coolness...

What wow in a tank looks like,

Oooh and I was gonna leave this one zoomed out, but he's really hard to see!

Some cool spikey crabs

One of the cool little birds in the enclosed area, you can practically touch them they're so close!

The funny lookin' one is a Roseate Spoonbill *giggles* they scoop up muck and mud and filter out the little stuff they eat!

Part of the coral reef, they're so cool to watch, they sway like the wind blowing through a huge wheat field. Yep that's the little Albertan in me peaking through ;o)

The penguins, they were funny zipping all over the place leaving a trail of tiny bubbles behind them like mouse-trails.

These guys are a variety of sea-horse, they were absolutely beautiful.

Everyone checking out another sea-horse display.

The super cool Leafy Sea Dragon!

Sorry Mom, I took pictures of some of the signs that said what they were, but lots of them didn't turn out cause they had the lights low for the sea creatures, and I wasn't allowed to use flash... I'll look 'em up for you though at some point k?

So tute!

As I was walking back to the boat the other night, I heard this little guy bawling while his Mom gave him a very thorough cleaning. I'm pretty sure he was brand spankin' new, cause he seems to be just learning how to do everything, and he's been sleeping lots.

Look'it how little he is! If that doesn't just melt your cold black heart, well there's no hope for you whatsoever. I mean really... that's the best I can do. Sure gave me the warm fuzzies standing there watching them.

Snagged this one this morning *grins* I'm such a mushball for little bundles of fluffs.

Blah cleaning

If cleanliness is next to Godlieness... then we rank down somewhere among the evil minions. Its not like we haven't done any cleaning, but I can't believe how dirty *under* the floorboards has gotten. Like we're talking all male frat house dirty.

Gross. Sorry if that brings anyone else repressed nightmares...

Dad and I discovered that I do not like to clean alone. Don't worry it was a good discover, he got a chuckle out of it... and I didn't feel the urge to throw anything at him. I guess it really doesn't go any faster, but it sucks cleaning... and it really sucks cleaning by yourself.

When I am cleaning by myself, I'm prone to all kinds of dark muttering taking-peoples-names-in-vain thoughts. Like 'You think I'm the only one who makes a mess around here?' even though I know full well that the faux-grass carpet is dirty because I was carving over it... or 'Are you actually expecting me to do the cleaning?' because I know he isn't, but that just leads down a road of 'Well then you must be confusing me with the cleaning lady we *don't* have'.

I did manage to get out a 'Hey can you give me a hand? ... no not this specifically... um well with anything... yeah I know you're doing boat stuff... I just don't want to be the only one cleaning' *relieved* Thanks Dad, I'm glad you see the humor in it *half grin*.

It's much better now though, and Dad re-caulked the kitchen too... he went to scrub it and parts of the sealant came off, but it looks very nice now :)

Under the sea...

It was incredible! Today we went to the Monterey Aquarium, the largest of it's kind in the world. I felt like a little kid at the Science Center in Vancouver again... okay I felt like that when I went there last year too ;o) It was super wicked, they have so many incredible displays of all different kinds of fish, and tanks with ones full of stuff you can touch!

They've even got live displays of penguins, flamingos, murres (birds that kind of look like penguins), sea otters and other sea birds and the cool thing is that they are all rescues which they were unable to return to the wild, so now people get to see them up close! There are tonnes of cool fish and sea horses and sharks - hopefully the closest I will *ever* be to a shark.

I took a bzillion pictures, and even some video but I haven't had a chance to go through it all yet. I will post some if they turned out alright ;o) Wow! If you ever get the chance, definitely check it out. It took us most of the day, and I could see staying longer... it's too bad they don't do sleepovers *grins*

One of the cool things about the aquarium was that it was started by David Packard, the co-founder of Hewlett-Packard. There was also a large investment made into continuing ocean research. While the research uncovers more of the world under the sea, the aquarium makes those discoveries available to everyone.

The aquarium introduces you to the wonders under the sea, and how and why they should be protected, but it also places a large emphasis on what each individual person can do to reduce their carbon foot print.

I wasn't expecting to see anything about climate change, which is usually viewed as a sticky topic... and internationally seems to hold such controversy in the states. It has all been very well presented, and really makes you think about what impact you are having on the world around you, just by the choices you make every single day.

I walked all over town *again*... So what did you do to reduce your carbon foot print today?

Really, really yummy

I had this for lunch when we were back in Sausalito, but I couldn't remember what the little green things were called... so I couldn't tell you about it. I almost had to phone a friend, but Dad figured it out, so here yah go:

Sesame seed bagel, with plain cream cheese, topped with smoked salmon. Then on the side slices of purple onion and tomato... and CAPERS! I pretty much sliced up bits of everything and ate it all together *drools*

Nawwww

Okay so, this little guy is super cute, but kinda looks little like a fish that had it's head bitten off, spat out and somehow it has managed to survive using it's top and bottom fins as a tail. And he's swimming in circles... Because? Actually I have no idea, he does look a little pathetic waving that teeney weeney flipper out of the water though.

"'Scuse me! Do you know how I'm supposed to sink?"

Apparently though it's an Opah fish, and they can get up to be a couple thousand pounds. *yikes* I want to take him home and keep him, but I don't think bambi-eyes will work.

Here comes the sun

I am one of the luckiest people in the entire world, as I was nearing the end of my second shift the sun was just starting to gently paint the sky over Monterey in water colours.

I stood mesmerized for over an hour, just watching the colours change... and then practically ran in circles like an excited puppy and peed when a pod of porpoises came and played in the bow waves! *squeee*

The porpoises playing in the sunrise was breathtaking, their charcoal greys coloured and silouetted by the reflection and background of brighter pinks, oranges and purples... Then without even a whisper a tiny little sliver of really for real sunlight sliced itself neatly into the picture. And without further ado, another day had begun.

Little did I know that the bay would be FULL of porpoises, and sea lions, and sea otters and fishermen... all kinds of cool wildlife. *mutters* stupid taking my camera off to eat breakfast, and a damn otter floated right past the boat, and didn't do the duck for cover as soon as I looked at him...Grrr.

I would also like to take a moment to um formally apologize to the dude we almost ran over though. I went to go take pictures *hold me back* and then um, well yeah... lets just say if we had coffee on I would've passed him a cup.

Back to the distraction that started it all... *grins* Yes Mom, I got some pictures this time!

And no, I'm not telling *how many* pictures I had to choose these ones from. We'll just say that you're lucky Dad's been teaching me to only show the good ones. *scuffs floor* These haven't been officially approved yet, but I guess I can tell you there were a few. *ahem* hundred *whistling innocently*.

*wavies* :)

Hmmm so despite our map position not updating, in a fashion that suits me... (practically instantaneously would be just fine) you may have, okay... probably guessed by now that we're not going to make it to Hawaii. You would be correct, 10pts for you if you had this thought more than a week ago.

We have officially? I *think* I can say that now, decided to tuck our tails between our legs and port hop down the coast of the US of A to Mexico!

As you can tell I'm devastated by the change in plans. We pulled in to Monterey Bay California while the dawn was breaking, and I do believe we've found the sunny that this state is known for! *happy dance* It feels like summer and the leaves are changing... which is a little weird, *shrugs* but its summer warm where I come from ;)

Um *closes one eye* I know I had other stuff to tell you, but I think being on watch for two seven hour shifts with a four hour nap in between... and then going for an hour long run just caught up with me. *blinks*

*Report Spam* button... I love you gmail

I just got an invitation to an interview... in Hyde Park Johannesburg, for yesterday.

*deleted*

Sorry I don't think I'm going to make it to Africa yesterday.

Look before you park

Last night we decided to anchor, and I got to put the hook down *smiles*

The depth sounder read "half a foot" of water... maybe we should calibrate that sometime... The anchor though, did a *sploosh* and then went slack as it hit bottom. We still let out the rest of the chain, and quite a bit of rope though.

Dad talked to some guy nearby who was rowing out to his boat, and he informed us that he was on the bottom, and his boat drew 6 feet. Well we draw 5. As the wind picked up a we had ourselves a little giggle.

We were fairly confident that between the angle we had, along with enough anchor rode out that it wouldn't pull free or drift... and that the boat had just hunkered down in the mud bottom more or less on top of the anchor we weren't going anywhere. Heck, there could be a hurricane that sucked all the water out of the bay, and we'd still be sitting suctioned into the mud on our bilge keels with Marimba 2 "I ain't going nowhere!"

We learned this morning, why it isn't such a good idea to let out that much anchor rode. I *think* we semi wrapped it around one of the bilge keels... Dad had just about convinced himself he was going to have to dive for it to unwind it, when I loosened it off and shook it out. He walked it back the length of the deck and between that and some reversing we managed to get it undone!

Tepid... luke warm... blah

A questionably warmer than room temperature shower does absolutely nothing to improve my outlook on the day. On the other hand, everything should get better from here on right?

I'll even spell it out for yah

Um... I believe your presence is disturbing the rocks. They're sensitive like that y'know.

Avoidance Reasoning

"There's no point in my getting my rain gear wet since yours is already wet... Sooo why don't you go tie down the sail cover? Oh, and while you're out there check that the anchor line isn't chaffing".

*Mmmmhhmmmmm* I damn near blew away! My hood blew off on my way to check the anchor line... and this is about 30 seconds of wet. It was so crazy, like standing at the front of the ferry in a storm crazy!

If in doubt... sleep with your boots on

Twas a dark and stormy night, the wind howling through the shrouds. All around the distant sound of clanking, not quite in time with the swell or the wind... but with a rhythm all its own. The screaming creak of mooring lines straining to maintain their hold, and a full body boat shudder as though every muscle is tensed and shaking... trying to stay in position.

Gradually I awake to the full body vibration of the diesel engine. Somethings not right, the pitching and rolling has changed, and I can hear the Captain scurrying around on deck... the clank followed by the thud of the mooring shackle. With my body in the waking world, and my mind still deeply in the dream realm I stagger out of bed.

I find the Captain at the tiller, peering intently into the night wind and rain... in his skivvy's and a t-shirt. I know better than to ask any questions at this point. Waiting to be told what to do, I put on a jacket and stand there... half ready to do anything. Switching on the depth sounder, and gathering a headlamp and a jacket, my presence is welcomed and I take over steering while the Captain lays the anchor down.

Anchoring in the middle of the night, me in my jammies and Dad in his... is but a fuzzy dream like memory. Almost as if it never happened. But our relocation, along with the leftover wind and chop from the storm, and the Coast Guard warnings on the radio say otherwise. Even the seagulls are not impressed.

I trust this boat, if not yet fully our skill as sailors. Its cozy and safe inside, despite the relentless wind and incessant rain. She rides the waves with an easy gait, as if walking an old well worn path with comforting familiarity... She after all, has been here before and brings with her a quiet confidence that this storm too shall pass.

La la la la la laaaa....

Just a couple of the cool little houses over in San Fransisco. This one reminded me of the smurfs *hehe*

And this one of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.

And these two were just plain cool... sorry I think I'm all out of Disney references, but I really like the wispy tree. They have them all over the place and they always look twisty and windswept, and super cool.

If it had cheeks I'd pinch them

The Sausalito Fire Department mailbox. Isn't it just the cutest thing ever? I just want to stuff it in my purse and tell Dad it followed me home!

Little grrrrr

Dad was irritated that we didn't *both* have cell phones to communicate instantaneously, apparently having one working cell phone isn't good enough *rolls eyes* I of course with my usual lack of concern pointed out that we would just have to set a time and place to meet up. Like people used to. Before cell phones.

Unfortunately we had a distinct lack of following the directions. Apparently "Meet me on the beach around 2, and look for the dinghy" actually meant "Wave when you see me looking for you with the binoculars, because I couldn't tell if it was you or not"

I'd just like to say that I was on the beach... sitting in the pathetic excuse for rain, and that I did not have binoculars. I also looked for, and found the dinghy but at the specified meeting time it was still attached to the boat...

I was not particularly impressed, but after putting on dry pants and having a nap Dad took me out for a fabulous Thai dinner and then a beer while we listed to a live jazz band, with a wicked awesome drummer. Which more than made up for the hour+ of contemplating my navel.