Here is the kids video Part 4 – first overnight passage
https://youtu.be/prd_CQsZ0M4?si=PyIyQGXNn4y0T7hl
We have covered another chunk of distance down the California coast from Sausalito to San Diego and as I post this, we are poised to depart for Mexico!
The month included stops in Half Moon Bay, Monterrey Bay, Santa Barbara, Channel Islands, Catalina, Long Beach, Dana Point and San Diego. We had some amazing land trips to Disneyland and Legoland. While entering San Diego harbor, we passed an outgoing submarine and it’s escorts and they all smiled and waved back.
We made some mistakes, like overflowing the diesel tanks into the bilge. That was bad. And Mikes vision got blurry from a scopolamine patch. And I got over-confident after having no kids throw up, ever, in 10 years. So I fed spicy curry one afternoon last week as we were entering San Diego and then oops, poor Forrest. On Santa Cruz in the Channel Islands, we surfed ashore to a sand beach on the paddle boards. Mike, Sierra and Coral got dumped in the surf but they were ok. It led to a 30 minute parental crash course/ practice session on how to time entry and departure from a beach. We are experts now, of course!
I’m realizing that my role as a deck hand is limited. Teaching 4 kids school, maintaining overall kid happiness, feeding 6-10 humans, cleaning, provisioning. These things are hard to transition in and out of when Mike cheerily says “let’s put up the main” or “I need your eyes” or “time to anchor” or “take the helm while I make water.” When another adult is with us to be dedicated crew, my anxiety almost disappears and this becomes fun. But when it’s just the 6 of us, I’m nervous. There isn’t a backup if Mike or I get sick or hurt or overtired. This boat needs a rested and alert captain at the helm.
Then there were the two hurricanes that hit Mexico in the last two weeks, Norma and Otis. Ocean temps of 90 degrees? We are hesitant to rush into Mexico with warm air and oceans so recently causing these disturbances. There was a lot of damage to La Paz and we could be there in 2 weeks.
I continue to be grateful for the support of our friends, family, visiting crew, weather models, chart plotters, and starlink. My heart is mourning for my Maine friends and family, stunned from the Lewiston shooting. We will push forward, remembering that our time on this earth is limited and to be grateful for the moments and opportunities that we have now.
Meet the Millers 