Mexico, December 1997 (Day 2 of 20)

Day 2 Sunday, December 14, 1997

Angel Island - Pacific Ocean (San Francisco)

03:30 Seven Bells I

Uh, seven bells. Is that 3:30 or 7:30? How can I tell in the darkness? Never mind. I think I just answered that question. Zzzzz.

07:30 Seven Bells II

I wake up to the smell of freshly brewed coffee. Mmmm! Still being on UK time, Ken woke up before the rest of us and started preparing breakfast. What a great way to wake up! Thanks, Ken. It takes me a few moments to get by bearings straight, but otherwise I feel fully rested. On the menu this morning is totally British grub like eggs, beans, and Spam. Yum, eh.

After breakfast, I grind the rest of our coffee beans since we're running the engine anyway to recharge the batteries. The weather report is better, but still not good enough. The swell on the other side of Golden Gate Bridge is a bite more than we'd like and there is a small craft advisory in effect. Patience is a virtue. Yeah, right, but it's also a pain in the a**. That's OK, though. There is no real hurry -- we've got plenty of time and we'll get there eventually. Better safe than sorry is another proverb, especially on the sea.

While waiting, we get to secure all items in the cabin and finish setting up the clear plastic around the cockpit. We also get to try out our foul weather gear since it's raining now. Last night, it really came pounding down. It's still quite wet, but the downpour isn't quite as furious anymore.

Raindrops keep falling on my deck...

What Goes Down...

We finally head out in the afternoon. Going under the Golden Gate was great, and at first, the choppy seas just added to the excitement.

Ho, ho, ho...

...and under...

...we go!

Wee-haa! Ride 'em waves! Up... and down we go. Up... and here comes my lunch! I actually managed to keep it down for quite a while, but when Ashikin came up from below with that sad look on her face, I knew it would be my turn soon too. Over the railing she went and there came our lunch: fettuccini and meat sauce. Oh, why did I have to have had that extra helping? I held on to her jacket while she stabilized and then went over to the other side to paint that railing too. Then, shortly after me it was Andy's turn. Ken held out a bit longer, but the only one who managed to keep it all down all the time was skipper Ray. I eventually managed to climb down to my berth below and, with the support from a plastic bag, eventually found equilibrium in the horizontal position, eyes closed.