Dana Point to Oceanside

Friday 21, 2005 LOCATION: Oceanside Harbor GOOGLE EARTH COORDINATES: 33 12.580N,117 23.694W

Dana Point. After a maneuvering from dock to dock we found our slip and got to work on projects and school. Again for a brief moment we prided ourselves on having everything in working order and not needing to run to a hardware store or West Marine. Silly us. As we finished up replacing the water pump that burned itself up in the middle of the night and found the leak in the water tank and repaired it, we were over come with this terrible smell of gasoline. This was odd since the boat uses diesel. Upon further investigation we realized that somehow the little line that feeds gas into the dinghy motor had split open and thus was the source of the stench. Off we went for a family walk to West Marine.
Dana Point is a beautiful little town. We visited the local surf shops for fun and enjoyed some delicious Thai cuisine. Friday we took another P.E. day and drove the dinghy to Doheny Beach to surf. This one was a particularly fun adventure because there was no where to dock the dinghy. We had to let down the anchor way off shore and everyone grabbed a boogie or surf board and swam to shore. We ended up spending the whole day there practicing and playing. Matthew was teaching me the art of diving into, under and over waves. I am sure I have said it before but I am in awe of how comfortable he is just hanging out in the waves. I don't know if I will ever be a comfortable with it as him.
I did have yet a second encounter with the Harbor Patrol. I failed to mention the first one when we got pulled over in Newport for not having registration on the dinghy (not required in WA) and we didn't have a legitimate life jacket for both adults. The throwable cushions apparently wouldn't do. In Dana Point I took the dinghy, by myself (a brave undertaking) along with the surfboard, back to the marina to sign up for another night when that Harbor Patrol pulled me over again. Being pulled over entails the big official red and white boat flash their blue lights at you and throw you a line while you ever so submissively float below them. This time the offense was anchoring the dinghy inside a swim zone. Mind you it was a good 300 yards from shore and it took me forever and all the energy I could muster to paddle on my board to this dingy it was that far off shore. Point being I don't really think I was in any swimmers way. But rules are rules. You have to give them the usual information of name, number and address, get a warning and are on our way. Truly, they are always very nice and respectful but you still come away feeling so guilty.
Next we were on our way to Oceanside. With binoculars in hand Bruce checked out all the beaches along the way and doing some work on the phone with people at home. Rough life. The boys worked hard on their studies though you can always tell when that energy level starts to brew. Its always good to get to shore for another long walk. When the energy levels exceed the ability to exercise at the moment the boys have devised a way of their own to solve the problem. They clear off Bruce's and my bed of everything and have an all out wrestling match. Belly laughing, head bonking, rip roaring good time. The only rule is clean up when your done. So far so good. That would be recess on the boat when you can't find a jungle gym.
Once docked the boys and I finished up some school work and Bruce was off to the jetty for another day of surfing. The boys and I took a quick walk in the afternoon to find Bruce and found a great surprise. An old schooner called the Privateer Lynx ablaze in full canvas came sailing into the marina. The whole town knew it was coming apparently and turned out for some great photos. It was fun to see the crew in full costume and cannons roaring. Always a surprise around every corner.
The last couple of days have been cool and overcast, so we hunkered down for a snug weekend. The boys enjoyed a PJ day and Bruce got in a little surfing. I got things a little more organized so we are prepared when we hit Mission Bay and San Diego this week. We will have quite a bit of running around to do as we prepare to head into Mexico. Yeah!!!
talk to you soon,
Lisa and the boys