We continue

I thought this was an odd speed limit
for a construction zone, It turned out
that is the max speed of the cable cars.

San Fransisco is a great city!  There is lots to see and do, with cool buildings, interesting streets and a vibrant waterfront we have really enjoyed playing tourist here.  We have ridden on the cable cars, driven down Lombard street, taken a Duck Boat tour, been to Pier 39 and Fishermans wharf, checked out the boats at the Marine Heritage museum, did wine tasting in Napa Valley, had lunch in Sausilito, drove over the Golden Gate three times, once on purpose, been to the beach at the Presidio, drove by Haight & Ashbury, went up to the Coit  tower, Scott & Scott toured the Jeremiah O’brien (the last seaworthy Liberty Ship),  checked out the shops in Chinatown, had a great time with Scotts cousins, (Cousin Bruce took me out for a drive in his 56 ford fairlane, I was wishing I had a leather jacket, chewing gum and pigtails!), had a nice visit with our friends Kim and Jan from Sidney  and managed to get a few boat chores done. 

The famous Lombard street from the Coit tower

Boys at the beach

Scott, his cousin Bruce and wife Rhonda

The Duck boat broke down when we were on the water.  Everyone
had to don life jackets, you can see they were not too impressed.

Napa Valley's version of old faithful

Scott Cindy and Bucket on the broken down Duck boat, At least
 us boaties were having fun.  I am not sure why Bucket looks so
serious, he got to drive the duckboat before it broke down.

Cute fishing boats at fishermans wharf

Scott replacing the anchor light, 

After three weeks it was time to go and we are now on our way further south.  We left the Brisbane Marina early in the morning on Oct 3^rd in company with Velvet Sky, passed under the Golden Gate at 9:30 and motored in light winds and calm seas to Halfmoon Bay.  There is a lovely well protected anchoring area inside the breakwater there and we spent a peaceful night.  The next morning was another early start again motoring in light winds and calm seas to Santa Cruz.  That was the scariest harbor entry we have come across yet!  It is narrow, almost on the beach with big swells and crowded like crazy!  As we were coming in there were two stand up paddle boards and three kayakers just inside the entrance and a fellow in a dinghy coming around the corner and three sailboats coming up behind us!  We made it with no mishaps and just a couple more gray hairs.

Early morning departure

Goodbye San Fransisco

Velvet Sky on the way out.

We arrived on the weekend of the 100^th anniversary of the wharf so it was very busy and crowded and we were treated to fireworks on Saturday night.  Santa Cruz is an interesting town, with its amusement park right on the beach it was a little too crowded and touristy for me but Cindy and I did have a great ride on the roller coaster and Scott went on the log ride with me, but he says it’s the last ride he will ever go on!

Santa Cruz Harbour, the entrance is at the far end.

Santa Cruz boardwalk, the fun roller coaster can be seen on the
left.

Boardwalk and beach.

The other Scott and Bucket on the log ride.

We left Santa Cruz 10am on Oct 6^th and headed to Monterey, a short 20 miles away.  Finally with enough wind to sail we had a lovely peaceful crossing of Monterey Bay, with the wind vane steering most of the trip  (we had to hand steer towards the end as the wind got lighter and the wind vane was having trouble holding the course).   We  saw a big pod of dolphins on the way, they were crossing our path not going with us so it was a short lived sighting.

Today we will explore Monterey and tomorrow head further south.

A humpback sighting on the way!  Always exciting!