Here you will find tales of voyages past and present on our trusty Pacific Seacraft Dana 24, "Sockdolager," and our Bigfoot29 powerboat, "Raven," from Port Townsend, Washington, USA. In 2009 we sailed north from Puget Sound up the west coast of Vancouver Island to the Queen Charlotte Islands (now called Haida Gwaii.) In 2010 we went back to the west coast of Vancouver Island. In July 2011 we left the Northwest, sailed to Mexico, and in March 2012 we crossed the Pacific to French Polynesia, then on to the Cooks, Niue and Tonga. We spent several months in New Zealand, and in May 2013 loaded Sockdolager (and ourselves) on a container ship for San Francisco. In June and July 2013 we sailed north along the California, Oregon and Washington coasts, and in August we arrived home. In October 2016, Sockdolager found new owners, and we began cruising on Raven, a unique wooden 29' powerboat. In 2018 we cruised up to Glacier Bay, Alaska, and back. But in 2024 we had the chance to buy Sockdolager back (we missed her), so we sold Raven. We hope you enjoy reading about our adventures as much as we enjoy having them. (And there will be more.)



Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Wa-HOO! We're in San Diego!


Last stop in the US!  We're berthed at the Southwestern Yacht Club, at the gracious invitation of John and Whitney Pinto, owners of Aurelia, a 2001 Dana 24 and their second Dana.  John'll be sailing it to Hawaii next May.  Ensenada is 60 miles south and will be our Port of Entry into Mexico.  Right now we are a couple of walking lists, similar to just before leaving Port Townsend.  Don't forget this... gotta get that...  But we could not have landed in a better place, because everything a cruising boat could need is within a 5-10 block area of the docks here at Shelter Island, and the people here could not be friendlier or more helpful.  Downwind Marine, for example, does a fantastic job of answering questions about entering Mexico, hosting frequent seminars on a variety of topics, holding mail for cruising boats who arrange it in advance, and in general being a hub for cruisers to meet over coffee and doughnuts and talk about plans and experiences.

We'll write more a bit later when we have the chance to catch up.

Oh yeah... the pelican photo was taken in Avalon Harbor (more on that soon), but expresses our sentiments perfectly.
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6 comments:

  1. lizardkingNovember 2, 2011 at 7:10 PM

    Wow you guys moved fast. I was out sailing in my Dana yesterday and was thinking of you. Have a blast in San Diego. One of my favorite spots on the planet. The Best.

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  2. AnonymousNovember 3, 2011 at 9:33 AM

    Jim/Karen,
    Congradulations on a safe, fun sail down the California coast. I hope Mexico proves to be every bit as enjoyable. I have really enjoyed your "peppy periodical on a peripatetic perambulations". Keep them coming.
    Fair Winds,
    Jay Bowden
    Little Lara
    Dana 306

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  3. Craig McPheetersNovember 3, 2011 at 4:34 PM

    What an awesome photo! I have a lot of hiking photos now but nothing like that. I won't leave Avalon until I can see that!

    Cheers,
    Craig.
    (preparing to winter over in Avalon)

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  4. Karen Sullivan and Jim HeumannNovember 3, 2011 at 5:15 PM

    Dude! They have pelicans in Mexico, too! The Santa Anas are starting, time to migrate south.

    Thanks Jay, the perambulations have only just begun! And Lizard, we are racking our brains to remember which Dana you have.

    We've set a departure date of early next week for Mexico, but with all there is to do here we will probably blow right past it. More soon, when we get a break in chores...

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  5. lizardkingNovember 8, 2011 at 12:26 PM

    Karen and Jim...Lizardking has the "Lauren E. from Charlevoix. I purchased her a few years back. Moved her to Tampa and then trucked her to Long Beach. Sail her often too. She is an 87 model. I renamed her Laur E pronounced lau-e (rhymes with wowie) because the windvane got in the way of the letters. One knows the taboo of changing a boat's name without the ceremony. Best of luck to you both, I too am so envious.

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  6. KarenNovember 13, 2011 at 8:18 PM

    I do believe I'm reading a "peppy periodical on a peripatetic perambulation" with a pulitzer prize-worthy pelican picture! Hot diggity dawg Sistah!

    ReplyDelete

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