OUR STAY AT THE BEAUTIFUL PORT OF SAN DIEGO

We arrived at the fuel dock in Shelter Island at 4:30am, went to sleep, and got up when they opened the fuel dock. We used 95 gallons of diesel fuel from San Francisco to San Diego, motoring practically all the way, in 68 hours.

We obtained a 30-day permit to anchor in the Laurel Street Cruiser's anchorage. This anchorage is right across from the San Diego airport and the Coast Guard naval base. Between the airplanes and the helicopters, there is quite a racket there. But, we were very close to downtown, and the view of the Star of India clipper ship close by was imposing. We did have an unmanned 50-foot motorboat drag their anchor and run up to our bow. The good thing is that we called the Coast Guard, and two CG boats were on site within 5 minutes.

We since found out that there is a lovely little anchorage, called La Playa, located inside Shelter Island, and right next to the fashionable San Diego Yacht Club, that is only used on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. We moved there last weekend, and enjoyed the company of many many sailboats, including small sailing dinghies and J24's sailing all around us. There is a sailing school nearby, and the young kids were showing their skills as they set their spinnakers in these small boats again and again.

We found out that there is life beyond West Marine. There is a good West Marine store nearby, but there is also a place called Downwind Marine. Hank mentioned to be sure to visit it. How right he was. Downwind is a place like we had never seen before. It is a pretty large place, loaded with goodies for the cruising sailor. The people there are very knowledgeable and helpful. They sell all the stuff I had research and decided to buy, or bought already: Spectra watermaker, Autoprop, Lifeline batteries, Kyocera solar panels, all the right books and cruising guides, the "landing" wheels for the dinghy (more on this in a future report), Icom SSB radios and PTC II modem, and on and on and on...

Downwind will even lend you their truck to provision your boat. If you want to go to Costco, they will let you use their Costco card, if you do not have one! They run a cruiser's net in San Diego Harbor on VHF 68 every day, with a buy, sell or trade feature. They offer seminars. We are going to attend one on SSB email to hone some fine points. And we have made a great friend in Steve Ford. He and his wife Jeanne had dinner with us last Saturday, and promised to rendezvous in Mexico early next year. If you are ever in San Diego, do not fair to visit Downwind. Their prices are competitive, and their service is second to none. And I mean it!

There are no marina slips to be had in San Diego. The place is packed full. We were able to get a slip for 10 days at a very stiff price, to get some things done, and permit me to make a brief trip to Florida to see my Mom, who is very sick. Daisy is staying behind to mind our boat.

So, we are getting ready for departure to Cabo San Lucas right after an anticipated costumed Halloween Party at the Cabrillo Isle Marina, in Harbor Island, sponsored by the Latitude 38 magazine.

There is a sad note to all of this...my mother, Mercedes, at 90 years old, is very sick in Miami. We are taking a plane to be with here over the weekend. (Note: Mercedes passed away in January of 2002)