We left Channel Islands Harbor, basically for good, on July 2 of this year. We wpent two weeks cruising around Santa Cruz Island, Santa Barbara Island, Catalina Island, and Newport Beach.
We visited a couple anchorages at Santa Cruz Island we have not been to in a long time. Our first stop was Platt's Harbor. This place is sort of an open roadstead, and would not be a good anchorage in anything but the most settled weather during the summer. The weather was overcast and cool, but the water was flat. We had the opportunity to explore the beach and the riverbed leading back into a gorgeous canyon. The wild flowers were in bloom. We collected shells and rocks. It was very relaxing.
We left Platts and headed west to Painted Cave. If you have never been there, it is quite a place. We took the dinghy all the way back into the cave where sunlight simply does not penetrate. It is dark and wet. However, with a flashlight, you can see the colors on the walls and ceiling that give this cave its name. At the back of the main cave, there is a right hand turn that leads into total darkness. We would have gone further, but the surge was getting pretty strong back there and we did not have the best lights. As we got to that back corner, it seemed our presence in there disturbed a bunch of sea lions laying on unseen rocks and shelves. They really made quite a racket; their loud barks and shouts echoing from seemingly every direction. The smell was quite impressive as well. So, we turned around and started heading back out of the cave. The opening to the cave is over 100 feet high.
It was way too deep and rolly to anchor comfortably in front of the cave, so we went back to Cueva Valdez anchorage. Cueva is only a couple miles by dinghy from Painted Cave. When we got there, there were only two other boats in the anchorage. We lined up a good spot and skillfully placed two anchors. Then, it was time to explore. Cueva Valdez has a beautiful white sandy beach in the back. The best access to this beach is through a cave. The cave has three openings - one on the ocean side, one on the bay side, and one on the beach side. The cavern is very large. The floor of the cavern is covered with sand and rock. You have to pull the dinghy all the way back up to the back wall of the cavern so it doesn't leave without you at a tide change. From there, the beach is wide open and there is access to the valley and riverbeds that makes for a nice hike. Again, we spent time on the beach exploring, hiking and climbing.
From Cueva Valdez, we went to Little Scorpions, also on the north side of Santa Cruz Island. There was a big south swell going off at the time so we stayed on the north side of the island. The idea at this point was staging for the long run out to Santa Barbara Island. The east end was essentially closed out due to the high surf, but Little Scorpions was as gentle as could be. We anchored towards the east side of the bay and had an unobstructed view of so many birds and other wild life. It was very quiet. We took the dinghy ashore to visit the island natural history center. We had a nice stroll and enjoyed learning about the history of the island. While there, many tourists were clearing out. I guess it was Sunday (I have lost track of time). So, once they all loaded onto the last Island Packers Boat of the day, we had the place all to ourselves. We were sitting on a park bench and noticed two Island Foxes running through the grass. In all the years I have been visiting Santa Cruz Island, I had never seen one before. After a gentle evening on the hook, it was time to depart for Santa Barbara Island.
Santa Barbara Island is a small rock that sticks up out of the ocean about 48 miles out to sea off the coast of Southern California. The waters there are normally very clear. The diving opportunities out there are not to be missed. The last time we visited this island, we were able to get on the rock and hiked the southern trail that takes you to the south west side of the island overlooking Sutil Island. We had hoped to hike the northern trail this time. Unfortunately, when we arrived, the south swell had not diminished much and the landing was lierally washed out. There was a National Park Service boat anchored there and all the folks aboard were standing around scratching their heads trying to figure out how they were going to get all that stuff they had aboard onto the island. We decided we did not want to risk smashing the dinghy or ourselves on the pier, and after very little debate, we decided to simply turn left and head for Cat Harbor on the back side of Catalina Island.
Cat Harbor is always a wonderful place to visit. We have been going there a couple times a year for the last 9 years. So, it was like coming home. We enjoyed the pleasures of Cat Harbor for the next five days before deciding to leave for the coast; this time heading for Newport Beach. Newport Beach Harbor is the most cruiser friendly harbor on the coast. Everything a boater might need is available at a short walk. I'll write more about this later. We stayed for the first few days at the Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club. They are a great bunch of folks and met a couple nice people there as well.
We returned to Channel Islands Harbor for a week in August to attend the Donovan Family Reunion at Carpinteria State Beach. Then we left again. We travelled back down south where the weather has been spectacular all summer. We visited San Diego and spent a couple days at Southwestern Yacht Club at Point Loma. We had a nice time visiting friends and family there. Especially cool was the evening out we had with our nephew Landon and his girlfriend, Amanda. They took us downtown for dinner and drinks. It was a lot of fun. Then, we visited Oceanside Harbor and the folks at Oceanside Yacht Club. They were a really friendly bunch. OYC is small, but they make up for it with enthusiasm and a real love for the ocean. Then, we went to Dana Point for a couple days in the anchorage. Nice spot, let me tell you. Dana Point Harbor, not unlike just about every place in Orange County, is an amazing amalgamation of rules and signs. It is a nice place to spend a couple days. Then back to Newport. Then, back to Catalina. Then back to Newport. Then up to King Harbor.
As I am writing this, we are docked at the King Harbor Yacht Club. I believe this is the friendliest club around. Folks here are very cordial and relaxed. There is a small outrigger kayak on the other side of the dock. The woman who owns it is apparently on a quest to kayak from Seattle Washington to San Diego. This thing is small. We have been around the "corner" and I can tell you that the water can get quite rough. I have no idea how this woman stays warm and dry. She wears a wetsuit, but still, it must be tough. I cannot imagine what it must be like. I can only appreciate her tenacity. Good luck.
In the next couple of days, we will be making our way back to Channel Islands Harbor for some "slip time" as we prepare to have the boat put on a large truck and shipped to Corpus Christi, Texas where we will really start the adventure of a lifetime. I plan to make more entires between now and then further describing this summer's cruising. Cruising is always good even when the weather is bad. Why? Because we are all in this together. Boat people are the best people. We always keep an eye out for each other. While boat folks are different from port to port, one thing is always the same: boaters always wave to each other. Can you imagine waiving to folks on the freeways of Southern California? It just doesn't happen. On the water, however, we all share a common love and respect for the ocean, whether in a high speed cigarette boat or on a slow trawler or sail boat. It's always the same - good cheers. Good health and wealth to you all.
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