September 19th, 2013

Sunday Sept. 15th.  WNW winds 10-12 knots, seas 1-3 ft, sky clear, temp warm.  Departed Santa Criuz Harbor about 11am and arriving in Monterey Marina by 5pm made for probably the longest time logged across the Bay for me but, wow, it really felt like the shortest due to the ideal "cruising" conditions.  You'll notice our track on the chart there is a loop into the wind.  That is where we doused the mainsail.  Erika would have liked to drop the sails a bit earlier but I really was enjoying myself too much.  Just outside the jetty Erika radioed in our request for a slip and was warned we might have to standby on account the weekend guests hadn't departed but...the harbor master remembered a 60 foot charter boat was to be away for a few weeks and radioed back immediately to let us know we had a spot.  

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Upon docking, our soon to be neighbor, Marty shouted out a greeting and an offer to help us dock.  I declined but thanked him.  In no time we caught up with Marty and his little mascot Morgan (pictured) for some good ol' fashion dock chat.  

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A day or two later our neighbor Carla came by to introduce herself.  She,her husband Casey and.their three kids are cruising south from Seattle, WA aboard their sailboat Dawn Treader.  Wow, right out of the gate we find another big cruising family.  For the next few days all the kids are hitting the beach (5 minutes away), or playing games and watching videos aboard Steadfast.  They are headed out tomorrow, during the next weather window, (it was blowing 30 knots the last couple of days) but we hope to see them again.

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A trip to Monterey wouldn't be complete without stopping by to see Catalina Mary and Baja Joe, and their three kids.  Mary invited us up to their place (10 minute walk from the marinia...cool) for fish tacos (double cool). Thanks Mary, that was the best meal...Mahi Mahi and Anchor Steam!!    Later Mary and her boys walked down to Steadfast to deliver a freshly made treat. Ren had so much fun at Mary's he was hoping for an invitation to move in with her boys. Thanks for the white boards too! Today we walk to the Aquarium. Another Monterey treasure :)

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