We are still in Monterey, a little longer than expected.  In fact, we tried to leave twice already and this morning proved no different.  For some reason I do not understand, Monterey does not want us to leave.  This morning we were all set to depart.  There was a beautiful sunrise, the boat was ready, we were ready......

BUT... the engine would not start...still air in the fuel lines.   Oh no, so Dan and I walked over to the boat yard to see if another mechanic could help.  It was another beautiful morning in Monterey Harbor, but my spirit was a little down.  I really do not do well with lots of engine problems. And it seems we have our share.

At he boatyard, we met their mechanic Glen, who seemed knowledgeable about diesel engines.  It sounds like he might come over tomorrow to take a look at the engine to determine what the problem is.  We have our fingers crossed.




In the meantime we walked along a pier and came across these sea lions basking in the sun  and/or doing their protective rock barks.

 

And this one is barking to protect or claim his rock!



The bigger collection of sea lions is on the rock breakwater.  There is a gate to keep people away.  We think it maybe the younger sea lions so it might be their school.  It is certainly more crowded.



Now that I have time to do my blog, I need to back track a few days, over the weekend.  There was a Californian High School State wide sailing regatta right off our marina.  It was very exciting.  Here are some photo's from that event.



The boats are CFJ's which stand Club Flying Juniors.  The high school teams came from the entire state of California.  The boats are 12 feet long.  This event lasted for 2 days.



The weather was terrific and a pretty strong wind made for some interesting launching of the boats.
















It was fun to see all the action of the sail race.  Dan enjoyed it too, as it brought back memories of his younger years when he used to enter regattas in San Diego.






I use my bicycle to run all sorts of errands.  I am so glad that we brought the bikes as they have been invaluable for me.  I have shopped at Trader Joe's several times while here in Monterey.  It is probably a good thing, that my panniers are not too big, as it prevents me from stocking up on too many groceries.

We needed to get an additional 5 gallons of diesel fuel from the fuel dock.  I offered to go with my little red wagon.  I followed the bike path to the next marina where the fuel was.



When did we start having engine problems?  Our engine was running pretty well.  The starter went in Half Moon Bay and that held us up so we bought another one and replaced it.  Malo was happy after that and the engine worked well.

The problem all started with some preventive maintenance called...changing the fuel and oil filters and doing an oil change.  This was something Dan thought should get done, as we were approaching the 100 hours of use on the engine since we sailed her up from Alameda 18 months ago.

The picture above is Dan removing the fuel filters.   You can see how messy our salon gets when maintenance is done.  Tools, supplies and spare parts get stowed throughout the boat.  Then I have to tare things apart to find them all.



The picture below shows Dan pulling the oil out of the engine with a special oil extractor.




The marina has a locked shed where all of the used oil, filters and other hazardous materials get put.  It was a clean, organized and well labeled room.  Below Dan is dumping the used engine oil into a larger 55 gallon drum.



Once this was completed we thought we were ready for departure the next day.  But:  the engine didn't want to stay running.  Dan researched the internet, read his book on diesel mechanics and we tried to bleed the lines of air.  I worked with him as best I could.  We spent 4 hours on this and it was still not right.  It was a Friday after 5 pm, so we knew the boatyard shop would be closed.  It meant waiting until Monday to get some help.

I was walking off the dock and started to chat with Anthony who was doing outside sanding on another boat.  I asked if he knew of any mechanics around?  It turns out his boss knew a lot about diesel engines and he gave me his card.  Immediately, I shared the card with Dan who called Brick from Bricks Marine Service. They chatted about engine stuff and set up an appointment for Saturday morning.  Great I thought.

Anthony

Brick and Dan worked on the engine for some time.  Brick said once air gets in these old Universal engines, it takes a lot of bleeding to get the air out.  (great I thought, at least there is a solution).  They both worked on bleeding the fuel lines.  Eventually the engine started and stayed started.  The following day, we finished the deal and Dan and Brit shock hands.  Great I thought!  Little did I know, but the engine was still not totally right and we ended up going to see the boatyard mechanic today.



Meanwhile, we chatted with our live-aboard neighbor Jim.  He shared a lot of fishing stories as he likes to fish off his sail boat.  He also knew a lot about the various fishing boats at the marina as he has lived here for a while.  I found the information very interesting. Here is a picture of Jim and his boat below.




So we are still at the Monterey Marina and have not left to go sailing.  Instead I got to finish my blog and not leave it dangling.  It takes lots of patience to have a boat with an engine.  I think that is why all of my previous boats were of the self-propelled variety: kayaks, row boats, rowing shells, windsurfers, surf bikes and canoes.  Monterey is certainly a beautiful place to be for the time being.

Today, I feel like these paddlers on this outrigger canoe have the right idea.  No motors!

Exploring Monterey, California

This morning Dan and I took a walk a long Fisherman's Wharf which is the main pier from which is our boat slip  There was a lot of activity going on that I would like to share.  Monterey is historically a big fishing area and I believe Sardines were a major industry.  Today there is still a very active fishing industry.  This is a view of Fishermans Wharf from a distance.  As we walked the dock this morning, it was much busier than looks in the picture.

There was a large tractor trailer and many red boxes filled with ice. The fishing boat Mineo Bros was unloading their catch from the night.

There were many red boxes filled with ice.   I clearly had no idea about what was happening.  The seagulls where wondering what the white stuff was too. We continued walking to the Monterey Fish Company building.

We went inside and saw a display of many types of fish to buy.  People and vehicles were coming and going - there was obviously an active business going on.

We meandered around the side of the building and discovered these old style wheel barrels.

The sea gulls were on high alert!

This is the back side of this long metal, rustic building.

As we walked back to the beginning of the pier, it became obvious that the ice was being used to cover the fish that came out of the conveyor belts off this very large fishing boat.  These workers were hustling and working hard as the fish came flying out. They clearly had a system and worked together as fluidly as a well practiced basketball team.   Later I learned that the catch was anchovies.  There is currently a two year restriction for catching sardines.  Mackerel and squid are also caught with this type of fishing boat at other times of the year.

Once the buckets were filled with fish and ice the fork lifts would carry the red buckets and put them in the tractor trailer.

When more buckets are needed, the fork lift driver just knocked over a pile.  He zoomed around that place so fast.  I was sure to stand far back as I watched in amazement.

Once the fish were emptied, the boat went into the harbor and the sea gulls got their turn for some catch.

The wharf had to be sprayed down and everything cleaned up.


This is another shot of the same boat. They are winding up the nets in this picture. I have learned these boats are called "purse seiners".   They use nets called seine to catch the fish.  Just by hanging around the dock in the morning, I have learned a lot more about the fishing industry here.

So that was enough about the fishing industry for today. There was so much action watching the fish operation, that we decided to enjoy a wonderful breakfast right on the pier called Lou Lous. I had yummy french toast!

I had an exploratory job to do.  Dan's SUP board has a cover on it as it rides on the foredeck of Malo.  It is already starting to deteriorate and rip from the sun.  We wanted to find some Sunbrella fabric that Dan could sew over the top of the bag.  Because his knees are bothering him, I suggested I take my bike and try to locate an upholstery shop a couple miles away.  I had a great ride - first to the Monterey Visitor Center and then I followed the coastal bike trail.    Here are some views along that route.

This was as far as I went and it is called "Lovers Point".

I still needed to find the upholstery shop, so it meant getting off the bike trail.  Then I discovered the Seven Gables Bed and Breakfast and knew I had to take a picture.  My Mom had once lived in a building called "The Gables".  My sister Carolyn also loved the book House of Seven Gables, so she would certainly like this house.

I found the shop, bought his only piece of Sunbrella fabric and back to the boat I went.  Now Dan will have some hand sewing to do.

Dan and I took a walk onto the old Fisherman's Wharf.  It seems while at one point it was active with a fishing industry, it was obviously now filled with shops and restaurants.  We enjoyed an ice cream cone there.

The next morning, I took another walk along the pier and got to observe a repeat of the same unloading of fish.  But I also noticed a new cruise ship was anchored in the bay and passengers were being transported to the shore in their smaller red boats.

The sea gulls keep a good watch on everything here.  They do not miss a beat.



















I checked into the harbor office and had a great chat with Laura.    She is very informative and friendly.  It is so nice to have friendly marina people.  What a great view she has from her second story office.

I needed to extend our stay, as the weather was not going to calm down enough for us until Saturday.
There is no sense in leaving a safe harbor when the winds are 35 knots or so in the ocean.

Dan wanted to start sewing the sunbrella fabric onto the top side of his SUP board.  He thought it would be good to either find a shaded grassy spot, or what we actually found was a picnic table in the shade.  Together we worked on tacking the fabric to the cover.  Additional sewing would need to be done back at the boat.  Here is the project.

After a few hours of sewing, I left for a bike ride along the bike trail.  It was a beautiful day and a nice ride to Seaside Beach which lies north of Monterey.

more to come later....

Half Moon Bay to Monterey, California

We got up at 5 am to get ready for our departure from Half Moon Bay, California.  I went out on the dock, looked up and saw this unusual cloud.  I got Dan outside to also take a peak and he got very excited.  It was a "Noctilucent Cloud".  Wikipedia states:  "Night clouds or noctilucent clouds are tenuous cloud-like phenomena in the upper atmosphere. They are made of ice crystals and are only visible in a deep twilight."  In any case,  it felt like a good omen to be leaving the harbor by.

We departed Half Moon Bay about 6:45 am just as the sun was rising and the morning light was breaking through.




























Once we were safely out of the harbor and we were ready to hoist up the sails, I looked up and saw another incredible sunrise over the mountain peaks.   We were both looking forward to a pleasant day on the water and to be sailing again.

I learned a valuable lesson today.  I decided to take my scopolamine patch for sea sickness when I got up - at 5 am.  But we left 1:45 minutes later and the directions said to take at least 4 hours prior.  So while I didn't get sick, I found it difficult and uncomfortable for the sail until at least mid-afternoon.  This felt pretty discouraging for me, as I really do want to cruise, but not if I am always feeling sick.  Then it is no fun.  I will put the patch on the night before we depart next time.

We had a pleasant sail and Dan helped to explain some techniques for trimming the sails.  Plus, I got to do some tacks all by myself with using the auto-helm.   I have so much to learn.   With a southerly wind, we had to tack a lot and as we got into the afternoon, Dan and I both decided we should not try for Santa Cruz as we do not like to enter harbors in the dark.  Instead we would go for Monterey an additional 40 miles.  The wind diminished and the fog rolled in about 2:30 pm which slowed down our progress even further.  Here Dan is taking a little nap in the cockpit amongst the fog.

For some reason, this night watch was difficult for me.  It felt very tiring.  The fog had made everything damp and cold.  The wind died down so much that we had to motor the rest of the way.  I am happy to have a motor, but I really do not like to use it.  It is a waste of diesel and it is noisy.  I much prefer to be sailing, but then we do need wind and there was none.

Part way through the evening watch, I noticed a bright light on the horizon - which turned out to be the moon rising!  It was no longer full moon, but it was orange and then white and sparkled on the water and waves.  I tried singing, did my arm exercises and moved around a lot stay awake so that Dan could have a good 4 hour sleep.  Then it was my turn to sleep.

He woke me up just prior to getting into Monterey Bay.  I felt rested enough to face the day.  I put out the fenders and dock lines on both starboard and port sides.  We never really know what side the tie up would be, so we cover it all.  We were also aware of a very large passenger vessel that was totally lite up approaching us from the rear.  Once it passed us, I was in total amazement as to how large this ship was.

Then we got to see them start to unload smaller boats that they transported the passengers in to spend the day in town.  The cruise ships are so big, they could not possibly make it into the marina.  Below you can see the smaller boats waiting to pick up the passengers.

This is the harbor we are in now.  They certainly pack them in very tightly.  It is still a pretty marina and there is lots to do and see in Monterey, California.  Because of a weather system that is coming in, we will probably be here until Saturday - 3 more full days.























After taking naps to catch up on some needed rest from the night passage, we decided to walk about a mile to visit the Monterey Aquarium that is so famous.  It was without a doubt the best marine aquarium I have ever seen.  It was amazing!   Here are just a few of the pictures I took of the tanks that held the sea life.

Intersting Jellyfish!

Sea Otters

More fish...

On the way back, we saw the outside of the Pacific Biological Laboratories where Edward Ricketts did much of his work to study the interdependencies of tide pools to marine life and more.

As we got closer to our dock, there was a couple putting their double into the water.  Of course I had to take a picture of this interesting way to launch a boat off the Fisherman's Wharf.  I also felt a longing to row myself.

I enjoy reading the names of all the boats on the various piers.  Today I noticed one which was sort of named after my sister Carolyn, yet it was modified a bit to Caroline.   (I've not seen one to honor my other sister Marjorie, but I will keep my eyes open.)

Here is a fixer up boat, rather interesting the way they use all the tires as fenders.  It needs some TLC is anyone interested?



This is an interesting marina because all of the boats have their own slips.  You can see where Malo is   happily docked: second boat on the left.

That is all for now, stay tuned for more....
Bev