Ever feel like each time you turn around, you’ve changed your mind… again… and have to start making plans all over… again…?
So, here we are… in the process of packing up poor old Chuck (the truck) again… We’ve had a great visit in Yuma.. with friends Susan & George, Lane & Kathy, MJ & Leona, Alison & Craig, Ron & Joyce, and John & Eileen… phew…. and then there’s the new folks we’ve met too… It’s all good fun. But it’s time to move on.. time to jump-start our search for a new boat.. and, to be honest, we’re really missing the smell and tang of salt water air… Pacific coast here we come.
Over these past few months we’ve changed our minds plenty. We’ve considered and reconsidered the type of boat we’re looking for.. the keel, the rudder, the engine, the electronics, the blue-water gear… all those things that are important.. and then there’s the absolutely ‘most’ important… the ‘feel’ of it. We both love the look and ‘feel’ of the traditional boats… the cutter-rigged ketch and the cutter-rigged sloop, the bowsprit, all that fine teak inside and out.. all those wonderful bits and pieces that make a fine yacht…. And then, there’s the maintenance and upkeep, the repairs and upgrading, and all that other stuff that the more traditional yachts demand… “So too do the newer boats” I hear you cry. Yes, that’s true… but a little less varnishing and a little more sailing, coupled with some pleasantries in the ‘domestic’ realms are also important. As we move through the years, and look ahead at the next decade, they’re inching their way up the priorities list. So, with all that being said, we’ve changed (a bit) the vision of what we’re looking for. You’ll know what we decide moments after we do… You can bet we’ll let you know. For now, we’re full of research, experience, advice and all other kinds of information that we’ve collected. We’ll know our next boat when we meet her.
Monday we head out of Yuma and turn our noses west.. er… north-west to be precise. Whereas we thought we’d head first to San Diego we’ve changed our minds, again. There just aren’t very many boats of the type we seek available in San Diego. Now, our destination is Carson, CA just outside Marina del Rey and we hope to be in Oceanside by mid-day for a quick stop at the Oceanside Yacht Club. We had fun there on our way down and believe they may have some info about suitable moorage in the area, should we need it. Gotta stop for lunch somewhere… :-) There are at least three boats in Marina del Rey and another in Santa Barbara that have caught our eye. Hopefully one of them will stand up to our scrutiny.
Kathy’s found a Motel 6 in Carson that has just completed a total renovation and sounds very good… and, they don’t even charge for pets (a first for us). Not that we mind having the Princess along but some hotels charge as much as $75… most average out about $25… and it really adds up.
Tomorrow (Sunday) we have our last day here, visiting with folks and having dinner with friends. We’ll be on the road early Monday so will write when we can – either that night or the next. Until then… hope all is well with all of you… keep those parkas handy.. sounds like winter’s not over yet. xo CJ
