Monterey, CA

Friday September 16, 2005
Time keeps flying by us. It is amazing how quickly your day can fill up with the usual stuff whether you are on land or on sea. Tuesday after Labor Day weekend we had another wonderful send off from friends out of the Bay Area. We went straight to the Santa Cruz Harbor and tied up to their docks for a few days. We found great kindness from a gal in the Harbor Masters office as we realized we needed a few small parts to fix a leaky sink. She kindly drove Bruce around town and even lent him some money when he came up a little short. We celebrated Matthews 7th birthday on the Santa Cruz Boardwalk. We filled ourselves with cotton candy, roller coaster rides and arcade games. Again the Elste family was able to come and visit us. We took them on the boat and moved it down a little further south to Capitola and enjoy some fun in the sun and surf. Monday the 12th we set out for Monterey. The weather reports had said a potential of thunder storms were coming so we made haste. We have been so blessed with support from family and friends and Monterey was no different. Bruce's parents were here to visit us (and shuttle us around :)). Monterey is home to their famed aquarium and I have to say it was absolutely amazing. The boys brought their cameras and we spent hours oohing and aaahing over the creatures. They have these amazing volunteers that are just a wealth of fascinating information. The sea life to be found in the ocean and around the shore here is amazing as well. We have never seen so many sea lions, otters or dolphins in our life. While I am writing to you a pod of dolphins swam through the bay here to feed, and a sea lion popped up maybe 10 feet from the boat to talk to Bruce. The sea lions are huge and quite noisy as they bark 24 hours a day. They can also be quite a nuisance if they decide to take up residence on your dock or boat. Aside from the smell, they are big enough that a few can sink a small boat.
The marina here is quite full as it is a popular vacation spot and you can start to see cruisers that are preparing to go south like we are. We are anchored out and have been rocking and rolling alone out here for a few days and bring the dingy (newly named Dingy-Ma-Bob, nick named Bob) back and forth to their docks. A few new boats have anchored out with us last night. One of the new neighbors on the boat Salacia' just visited us in their dinghy and we realized they are a couple from Victoria, B.C. They will be following the same route with us all the way through the Pacific. I am sure we will all know each other well at the end of this trip. This weekend in Monterey is their annual Jazz Festival and a Cherry Jubilee (classic cars) Show at the Laguna Seca raceway where Bruce's parents are staying in the motor home. We have decided to wait out the weekend here as the weather service has reported a southern hemisphere storm that is going to bring some rough seas and long swells this way. Any beaches or anchorages that are facing south will feel it the most. Unfortunately, that is most of the stops for us for a while.
We are happy to rest here for a while and continue to get used to our routine. We are successfully completing our first full week of school. As with any other routine, this one will take a little time to get smooth but we are off to a good start. We are deciphering what each others needs are going to be in this process. Matthew, having never really sat in a classroom yet is learning the ropes of first grade and how to focus. Tristan on the other hand, a big fourth grader, is very used to a detailed curriculum and an amazingly designed classroom setting. He is working on learning how to be a little more flexible. I have to commend the boys on getting their morning routine down well as they make their beds and keep their room clean. It is essential when you have such small space. Our days are so much like yours at home. Morning routines, breakfast, school work and cleaning, off to town to run errands or see the sights, cook dinner, clean again, maybe watch a movie or read a book and off to bed. The schedules are much alike but the challenges and changes come from having to use a dingy to get to where you need to go or keeping your living space workable. How much stuff can you carry in the dinghy? Groceries, garbage, laundry? Everything has a place to be stored in the boat but the system always needs improvement. The challenge in the system is that you need to move something to get to something every time. It is just a new way of life and I have to say I am loving it. So far so good!
After this weekend, we will be spending more time on the boat as we have less company along the way south. We will miss the company but it will mean a bit more regular routine for us and hopefully more frequent, smaller email updates from me.

South Colby Bobcat's, the boys say Hi and hope that the school year is starting off well for you, Mr. Pickard and all the teachers. Feel free to send us an email at TheMartins@ohanakai.net or reply to this blog.
all our love,
Lisa, Bruce, Tristan & Matthew