Log Book
February 2007
February 2007
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We moved down the coast of California during February. On the way to San Diego, we stopped at
Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Oxnard/Channel Islands Harbor, Marina Del Rey, Newport Beach and Dana
Point.
We were able to visit with Sam’s daughter Mickey in Santa Barbara; friends Roger and Nancy Marshutz
and their granddaughter Sydney Jones, and friends Vic and Diane Santoro in Marina Del Rey; and
friends Chan and Marie-France Lefebvre, Sam’s cousin Bobby and his friend Robert Greenberg, cruising
friends Lloyd and Colleen Clausen (Tranquilo), and new friends Bob Physioc (Kris Houck’s uncle) and
Monica Salucco in Newport Beach. Robert Greenberg was kind enough to drive us to John Wayne
Airport to pick up our friend John Paul Watts who is joining us for the trip down to Mexico.
While in San Diego, we provisioned at the new Trader Joe’s, Costco, Henry’s and Vons, thanks very
much to Roger Fitzwilson, former commodore at Southwestern Yacht Club, who loaned us his extra
car. We picked up our mail and some parts and our new boat awning (read “shade” for the cockpit)
at Downwind Marine. We visited with friends and family – Susie’s nephew Sean, friends Charlene and
Rod Fink from Temecula, new friends Tom and Pam Little (cousins of Kris Houck), and Jamie and
Dawn White and their 2 children from Sun Harbor Marina. We shared sourdough pancakes again with
Roger when he got back into town. John Paul got to go on a day sail with Frank, another friend from
Southwestern Yacht Club. We drove to Dana Point and got our relatively new boat cushions re-sewn
(they had stretched) and they look much better. We made ready to leave after a storm passed
through on February 21 and much to our surprise, the engine would not start the afternoon before
our planned departure date.
After testing and poking and prodding and troubleshooting, and getting advice from mechanics and
electronics people, we determined that the starter motor had gone out. We hired a young mechanic
– recommended by fellow cruisers next to us on the Harbor Police Docks – and he was able to
remove the nearly inaccessible starter motor (after Sam removed the oil filter and bracket). The
solenoid incorporated into the starter motor came apart when it was removed, apparently it has been
damaged for a while. We were able to get the starter motor re-built here in San Diego. We decided
to have the young and agile mechanic come back to resolve some messy oil leaks in the engine, and
then re-install the starter motor. We are glad this problem occurred BEFORE we left for Mexico - it is
much easier to make repairs like this here in San Diego than Ensenada.
Since we were afforded extra time here in San Diego while awaiting engine repairs, we took
advantage and visited Balboa Park and many of its museum; spent a day in Old Town Historic Park
where we found stores with root beer barrels and rolls of chocolate flavor only Necco wafers; looked
around Mission Bay; ate dinner at a Thai restaurant in the Gas Lamp District; and checked out that
funny building on Pacific Highway with the large neon sign reading “China Camp” which contains 3
restaurants: Denny’s, Fat City Steak House and China Camp (a Chinese restaurant) but we decided to
eat elsewhere.
We will celebrate Sam’s 72nd birthday – in some manner – on March 1 and hopefully leave San Diego
for Mexico and warmer weather on March 2.
Until next time,
Sam and Susie
S/V Catch The Wind
Morro Bay, Santa Barbara, Oxnard/Channel Islands Harbor, Marina Del Rey, Newport Beach and Dana
Point.
We were able to visit with Sam’s daughter Mickey in Santa Barbara; friends Roger and Nancy Marshutz
and their granddaughter Sydney Jones, and friends Vic and Diane Santoro in Marina Del Rey; and
friends Chan and Marie-France Lefebvre, Sam’s cousin Bobby and his friend Robert Greenberg, cruising
friends Lloyd and Colleen Clausen (Tranquilo), and new friends Bob Physioc (Kris Houck’s uncle) and
Monica Salucco in Newport Beach. Robert Greenberg was kind enough to drive us to John Wayne
Airport to pick up our friend John Paul Watts who is joining us for the trip down to Mexico.
While in San Diego, we provisioned at the new Trader Joe’s, Costco, Henry’s and Vons, thanks very
much to Roger Fitzwilson, former commodore at Southwestern Yacht Club, who loaned us his extra
car. We picked up our mail and some parts and our new boat awning (read “shade” for the cockpit)
at Downwind Marine. We visited with friends and family – Susie’s nephew Sean, friends Charlene and
Rod Fink from Temecula, new friends Tom and Pam Little (cousins of Kris Houck), and Jamie and
Dawn White and their 2 children from Sun Harbor Marina. We shared sourdough pancakes again with
Roger when he got back into town. John Paul got to go on a day sail with Frank, another friend from
Southwestern Yacht Club. We drove to Dana Point and got our relatively new boat cushions re-sewn
(they had stretched) and they look much better. We made ready to leave after a storm passed
through on February 21 and much to our surprise, the engine would not start the afternoon before
our planned departure date.
After testing and poking and prodding and troubleshooting, and getting advice from mechanics and
electronics people, we determined that the starter motor had gone out. We hired a young mechanic
– recommended by fellow cruisers next to us on the Harbor Police Docks – and he was able to
remove the nearly inaccessible starter motor (after Sam removed the oil filter and bracket). The
solenoid incorporated into the starter motor came apart when it was removed, apparently it has been
damaged for a while. We were able to get the starter motor re-built here in San Diego. We decided
to have the young and agile mechanic come back to resolve some messy oil leaks in the engine, and
then re-install the starter motor. We are glad this problem occurred BEFORE we left for Mexico - it is
much easier to make repairs like this here in San Diego than Ensenada.
Since we were afforded extra time here in San Diego while awaiting engine repairs, we took
advantage and visited Balboa Park and many of its museum; spent a day in Old Town Historic Park
where we found stores with root beer barrels and rolls of chocolate flavor only Necco wafers; looked
around Mission Bay; ate dinner at a Thai restaurant in the Gas Lamp District; and checked out that
funny building on Pacific Highway with the large neon sign reading “China Camp” which contains 3
restaurants: Denny’s, Fat City Steak House and China Camp (a Chinese restaurant) but we decided to
eat elsewhere.
We will celebrate Sam’s 72nd birthday – in some manner – on March 1 and hopefully leave San Diego
for Mexico and warmer weather on March 2.
Until next time,
Sam and Susie
S/V Catch The Wind
| February 2007 |