![]() We arrived in Half Moon Bay just before sunset and set anchor pretty easily, which I was rather excited about because our communication skills have lacked in this department and learning a new boat and it's particular quirks didn't help. So we are set for the night and hunker down for some food and bed as we are all totally exhausted after a twelve hour day on the water. Keith wakes me in the morning to get going early and we start up the engine and begin to pull in the anchor, at which point Keith is grossed out by how much mud the anchor and chain are pulling up. We pull out a bucket and brush and proceed to go slowly and clean. Oh and Keith asks me to turn off the engine while we go through the lengthy process. We get the anchor and chain all clean and settled and Keith asks me to start up the engine. Nut'n! No engine. So Keith goes below to tinker once again while I keep an eye on our drift (since the anchor is now up). Luckily there is no wind and no current so Steadfast just holds pretty steady but I'm a nervous wreck. Keith continues to tinker and I continue to ask if we should put the anchor back down for another 10 minutes until Keith finally agrees that whatever is going on isn't a quick fix. We set the anchor again and Keith takes a look once more. This is around 7:30am. A few hours later Keith has back tracked the electrical and "thinks" it's the solenoid so I check online and find a somewhat local Napa Auto Parts and they say they could probably match it if we bring it in. We pump up the inflatable and row to shore to catch a taxi down the Coast to the town of Half Moon Bay. $16 later we arrive at Napa Auto Parts and the very nice guy finds a close match, close in that the brackets aren't the same but Keith is willing to go for it. We decide to grab a burrito as it's now lunchtime and we decide to spend a bit less on the ride back with the local bus system which dropped us right at the harbor for $5.25. Nice! We putter back out to the boat and Keith goes to work while Loren plays on my Nook (a gadget I'd horded for such a boredom emergency) and I opt for a nap. Keith is muttering and tinkering and I remember him saying at one point "I just want you to know, you didn't marry a diesel mechanic." to which I mutter back encouraging words because he may not be a mechanic but at least he knows one end from the other which is a far cry from what I know! I'm laying there dozing when I hear the engine start to life. Yipee! We are back and going. I jump up, we pull anchor and off we head for Santa Cruz, a mere six hours later then anticipated. The seas had flattened out nicely but the wind was blowing from the South and right on our nose so we didn't get much help from it. This was apparent also by the number of boats we saw heading North, taking advantage of the nice weather. At most on this trip in the past I've seen two boats, this time we saw five, all headed up towards San Francisco. We push on past all the points we know so well and chug into Santa Cruz to the most amazingly beautiful sunset. A picture perfect ending to our first jaunt of the season!
4 Comments
Matt Kurrle
6/19/2012 06:04:43 pm
Keep em' coming Erika... I'm way digging reading about ya'lls trials and tribulations!!!
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Erika
6/20/2012 02:47:56 pm
If you want some fun reading try www.bumfuzzle.com. They have the sistership to ours and are doing some dinking in Mexico. It's fun reading as they hit the same fun boat issues we do!
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Matt Kurrle
6/21/2012 09:30:08 am
I'll totally check that out.... funny side note, I was looking at sailing videos on I think it was youtube and saw "Bumfuzzle". I then saw that they were on your sight and I thought sheesh what a small world!
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Mom
7/14/2012 03:49:39 am
I told your aunt yesterday that I know I could never do what you all are going through. Hope you have one day with clear sailing. Love reading everyday. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU
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AuthorI'm the wife of the captain, a mother of three boys and a PM in the corporate world. This blog is my view of life and activities related to our boat. Archives
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