Welcome to Southern California!

Almost a week ago we left Port San Luis to make the long trip around Point Conception, and thus into Southern California. We've since spent several days in the Channel Islands and completely out of cell or internet range. We were able to sent GPS position updates to our farkwar page from our satellite phone, hopefully you were able to follow along.

We are currently tied up tied up to the dock in Santa Barbara and are really looking forward to laundry and showers!

The trip from Port San Luis around Point Conception (the so called Cape Horn of the Pacific...hyperbolic? maybe) is a long one, about 50 miles, and given our weather conditions, it was a long motor. It was totally amazing, once we rounded the Point, it was clear we were in Southern California, the wind let up, it got much warmer, and we saw tar balls floating in the water.

What truly tripped me out though was that I could see the bottom even though the depth sounder said 30 feet. It was completely disorienting. Up in Puget Sound, if you see the bottom, it is likely that you've gotten yourself too shallow and you better get out or risk going aground. It made me really anxious while we were circling the anchorage (Cojo anchorage right around the corner from apt. Conception) to find the right place to drop the hook. Then I saw a ray swimming clear as day near the bottom...like at an aquarium. Fantastic! Guess I better get used to seeing the bottom...

Sunrise. We left Port San Luis at 5:45 am. I love mornings in the cockpit with a cup of coffee!

Filling out the log

Sunrise in the cockpit, plus knitting while kids are still asleep? Heaven!

Sight of the first oil drilling platform

Sewing project down below. The beautiful thing about sending the boys to a Waldorf preschool? They already know how to sew! Lars kept saying "it's really great to get back to sewing!"

Thanks for the art and sewing kits Nana and Grandpa!

Can you see the anchor chain underwater?! Crazy!!