Sunny Channel Islands and Catalina

We’ve made it to Catalina Island. We entered Isthmus Cove looking for a spot to anchor and gave up once we realized that essentially every available inch had been laid with mooring buoys. The winter rate convinced us to pay up and spend a week. This would allow our mail to catch up with us and Greg to catch up on some projects like reinforcing the batten casing in our 19-year-old main sail.

The anchorage is the calmest we have been in for weeks. The days vary from sunny and warm to foggy and chilly.

We have had some exciting sailing with 35 knot winds putting us on our ear. Cinnamon was close to being scared out of his fur. But as you can see he recovered. After 2 & 1/2 years he is finally getting used to the cockpit and actually ventured up on the cabin top.

Monterey was a wonderful place to visit. It’s charming and easy for cyclists. We visited the Monterey

Aquarium (my third time). It has changed dramatically from tanks of marine organisms to sections devoted to Cannery Row history, lots of information and exhibits on global climate change and fish stock depletion. It is very much oriented to children now since they are the ones who will make the most difference. The jelly fish displays are my favorite. They helped us id the hundreds of stinging nettle jellies that had been around our boat.

  

I had so looked forward to visiting the Channel Islands which are often called the "North American Galapagos" because they are home to over 150 endemic or unique species. Island foxes are the smallest North American canidsChannel Islands. The average weight for an adult male is 5-6 pounds, about the size of a house cat. Park and sanctuary waters are home to the largest aggregation of blue whales in the world. Approximately 10% of the global blue whale population gathers in the channel during the summer.

Unfortunately our visit didn’t turn out as well as I had hoped. The islands have very steep shores and very limited access. The ones that were supposed to have docks didn’t. They might have pulled them for the winter. We tried to go ashore at Santa Cruz Island. We had planned a nice hike and a picnic. It was our very first time to go ashore thru surf and it didn’t go well at all. We capsized and dragged our soggy butts on shore having lost our prescription glasses, sunglasses, and stainless steel canteen. Our digital camera couldn’t be saved but Greg did recover the pictures. I did acquire a new broken toe having kicked an underwater rock. Greg worked on saving the outboard motor while I spread our wet hiking boots and socks out to drain. After a very short hike to an interesting 1898 homestead we ate our soggy, sandy lunch and discussed how to get back to our boat. We waded out beyond the breakers and rowed. It was far easier than the attempt to get to shore.



Channel Islands



Although we were disappointed with the lack of hiking opportunities we have been able to observe an incredible variety of birds and wildlife. We had the best wildlife viewing while visiting our friend Geoff Tobin in San Luis Obispo. There were sea otters, sea lions, porpoise and brown pelicans in abundance.

  

Steller Sea Lions under Fisherman's Wharf



We anchored off of Anacapa Island one night. This was probably the most interesting of all the Channel Islands from our perspective. The sheer cliffs were covered in cormorants, gulls and pelicans. At the end of the island there were five huge rocks and an arch which were covered in birds.

Next to our anchorage were several caves right at sea level. We watched the waves surge in and then 30 seconds later we would hear a big “whomp” followed by a BIG spray flying out of the cave. We were surrounded by fishing boats with lights glaring; we found out later that they were fishing for squid.

Arch Rock, Anacapa Island Brown Pelican Roost

 

 

We have heard from some of our old and new friends that are planning to meet up with us again in the Sea of Cortez. Greg and I are both ready for the warm water, sunny days and friendly faces.

Cinnamon (aka Cinbad) wants to improve his birdwatching.