Monday August 3, 2015
After saying goodbye the day before to Lawrence/Andrew/Kathryn/Steve/Emory, Mark/Liz/Amanda spent a day relaxing in King Harbor, Redondo Beach. We did our best to clean and prep Bluewater for the next adventure and we ran a few errands. OK, we had some fun at the beach too. We took Lawrence's surf mat and Amanda's boogie board to Hermosa Beach for some fun in the waves. David/Mary/Sam totally surprised us by weaving their way through LA traffic and arriving at King Harbor Marina in Redondo Beach by 6pm AFTER a day of work!!!! Well, we were thrilled to see them (and the cousins, Sam and Amanda, were especially glad to see each other) so we celebrated by having dinner at Joe's Crab Shack.
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Amanda and Mark
Hermosa Beach, CA |
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| Amanda having fun in the sun |
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Here is the entrance to King Harbor Marina, Redondo Beach.
We sent David this photo to locate the marina entrance but told him he
couldn't miss it because it is RIGHT next to the Bluewater Grill!
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The Bluewater Grill (great name!) is a chain located in: Newport Beach, Redondo Beach,
Catalina Island and 4 other locations. Mark/Liz/Amanda enjoyed the food and the views one night. |
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| Amanda and Sam roaming the Marina |
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| Amanda and Sam mastered the dreaded magnetic key |
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Joe's Crab Shack: David, Amanda, Sam, Mark and Liz
Photo by Mary Barrish (and MANY others that I didn't label) |
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Liz thoroughly enjoyed the Bairdi Crabs which Lawrence had previously recommended!
Bairdi Crab (Chionoecetes bairdi)
General Description: Bairdi crabs (Chionoecetes bairdi) are brachyuran (meaning short-tailed) or true crab and constitute some of the most highly specialized of all crustaceans. The body is composed mainly of a chitinous shell or carapace with a small abdominal flap. They have five pairs of legs with the first pair equipped with pincers. Males of commercial size usually range from 7 to 11 years of age and vary in weight from 1 to 2 pounds for opilio and 2 to 4 pounds for bairdi crabs. Bairdi crab are often marketed under the name "snow crab."
From: "http://www.alaskaberingseacrabbers.org/crab_species_bairdi.php":
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| The rest of the food was great too! |
Tuesday August 4, 2015
We woke up to a beautiful morning and busied ourselves in a hurried relaxed manner to depart as soon as possible without rushing. We were off at 9:39am - an on-time departure.
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| A beautiful calm morning in King Harbor, Redondo Beach |
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Amanda and Sam making the most of a
squirt gun and net |
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| We're all getting ready to go! |
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| Departure time and Amanda and Sam are in their pulpits on lookout |
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| A fleet of SUPers (Stand up Paddle boarders) in the harbor |
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| Soon after departure from Redondo Beach, David is at the helm |
We had beautiful sailing conditions for our trip to Catalina. Clear skies, plenty of wind but not too much, and nice calm seas. See a video of Sam and Amanda here:
bringing in a Pacific Mackerel. See another video of our
conditions enroute.
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| Skipper Mark on duty |
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Sam and Amanda - 1st fish!
A Pacific Mackerel |
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| Amanda, Sam, Mary on the bow; Catalina in the distance |
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| Within reach of Catalina Island |
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Sam and Amanda
Approaching Catalina Island |
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| We're getting closer and closer |
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| A pirate ship? Mary's lens and eyes see all |
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| Amanda and Liz and Mark enjoying the stern seat |
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| The crew is anticipating our arrival at Avalon, Catalina Island |
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| Amanda and Sam are on duty |
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Our mooring spot in Hamilton Cove
- as close to Avalon Bay as we could get |
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View of Hamilton Cove Villas
(Condominiums) |
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| Bluewater's route from King Harbor, Redondo Beach to Avalon, Catalina Island |
Route: King Harbor, Redondo Beach to Hamilton Cove (near Avalon), Catalina Island
Crew: Mark/Liz/Amanda/David/Mary/Sam
Departure Time: 9:39am Tuesday August 4, 2015
Distance: approx 35 nm
Arrival Time: just after 4pm
Time enroute: approx 6-1/2 hours
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| The wet suit struggle |
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Happy early Birthday Sam!!!
A new boogie board from Amanda |
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The Barrish family is cracking up putting on wetsuits: David, Sam, Amanda, Mary
Hamilton Cove Villas in the distance |
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| Ready for snorkeling! Sam and his Mom |
The two Moms (Mary and Liz) took the two kids (Sam and Amanda) on a snorkeling adventure toward the beach from the boat. We saw some fish and other snorkelers but the kids were drawn to the beach to try out their boogie boards. The conditions were not exactly ideal for boogie boarding but it mattered not to 2 kids having fun on a beach! We let them play for a bit but we had to save some energy to swim back to the boat. Mark snorkeled over to meet us and we all snorkeled back to Bluewater together.
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Liz on fish cleaning duty with a beauty!
THANKS for all the fun photos, Mary! |
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| Mark grilling the Pacific Mackerel |
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| A splash of lemon juice |
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We were on a mooring ball close to shore but not as close to Avalon
as we had hoped. It all worked out fine in the end, though. |
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| Chef David in the galley preparing dinner |
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| Mary and David with an elaborate dinner: Salad, Marinated Hearts of Palm and other veggies, Pasta with sauce, parmesan cheese, Grapes, Sausages, Bell Peppers, Wine, etc. |
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| Hamilton Cove Villas at night with a sunset |
Though we were close to shore, we were not as close to Avalon Bay and the town of Avalon as we had hoped. As our snorkeling adventure and meal brought us to the close of day, we put the kids to bed and the Dads did an evening reconnaissance mission in the dinghy to the town of Avalon. They said the town was hopping with plenty of kids out and about at night. The dinghy worked (hallelujah) and they were able to get a drink and return from a fun excursion. All in all it worked out great.
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| Avalon dinghy dock |
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| Mark and David arrive at Avalon |
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Mark and David enjoyed an evening on the town
Avalon, Santa Catalina Island |
Wednesday August 5, 2015
We woke up and immediately put plans in motion to find breakfast and souvenirs in Avalon. Mark delivered 2 groups of us to Avalon and we explored individually and together and separately and together again. We paid for our mooring ball only through noon so we made it snappy.
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| Sam and Amanda brushing teeth in the galley |
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| Mark, David, Mary ready for a morning excursion to Avalon |
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| Mark dinghy'd Amanda, Sam and Mary to Avalon first and returned for Liz & David |
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They're off to Avalon, approx 1/2 mile away
(about 15-20 minute dinghy ride) |
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There they go! Dinghy is on the left,
Avalon Casino is on the right |
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| Here we are scouting around for a good breakfast spot |
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We got two separate recommendations for
The Pancake Cottage. Sam and Amanda are in
some serious need of pancakes. |
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Cousins Amanda and Sam with
better dispositions AFTER pancakes |
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| Amanda, Mark and Liz exploring Avalon, Santa Catalina Island |
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| Sam, Amanda and Mark searching for souvenirs |
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| Mary and David taking in the sights of Avalon |
After spending a brief but fulfilling morning in Avalon, we planned our next journey from Avalon to Emerald Bay. Again, we had marvelous sailing weather and even enjoyed practicing a successful "Hat Overboard" drill.
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| Shortly after departure, our small people rested |
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| We are underway around noon |
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| Lounging underway |
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| We had beautiful weather to scoot along the coast of Santa Catalina Island |
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| Relaxing time underway |
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| Brothers David and Mark |
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| Amanda and Liz |
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| Sam pulling in the boatlines (fishing) with his Dad |
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| Destination made! Here we are at Emerald Bay, Santa Catalina Island |
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| Bluewater's route (from right to left) along the coast of Santa Catalina Island from Avalon to Emerald Bay |
Route: Hamilton Cove (near Avalon) to Emerald Bay, Santa Catalina Island
Crew: Mark/Liz/Amanda/David/Mary/Sam
Departure Time: Around Noon Wednesday August 5, 2014
Distance: approx 18 nm
Arrival Time: approx 3:15pm
Time enroute: approx 3-1/4 hours
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| Time for snorkeling |
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| David is already out there, heading toward Indian Rocks |
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| David and Sam |
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| Sam, David, Amanda, Liz |
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| Mark |
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| Garibaldi - official marine state fish of California |
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| David, Sam, Mark, Amanda |
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| Bluewater and Mary |
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| More Garibaldi |
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| Sam |
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| Liz and Amanda |
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| Amanda |
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| Mary |
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| Another Garibaldi |
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| Mary, David, Sam |
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| Another fantastic dinner! |
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| Sam, David, Mary |
Here's what happens when you put rice water overboard:
Here come the fish!
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| After dinner fishing |
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| Sam and Amanda and more fishing |
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| Sam still fishing |
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| The sun is setting |
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| Beautiful, relaxing spot |
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| Mark, Amanda, Sam |
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| Sunset in Emerald Bay |
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| It keeps getting better and better |
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| A truly awesome sunset! Great photo Mary! |
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David, Sam, Amanda, Liz
Movie night! (for the kids maybe) |
Thursday August 6, 2015
(Happy 21st anniversary Liz & Mark!)
A new day has dawned and its another beauty! Let's go snorkeling again!
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| A necessary evil: the wetsuit struggle |
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| Mary and David gearing up |
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| The kids are ready for the day |
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| We are still moored near Indian Rocks in Emerald Bay but we're heading to the beach |
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| Mark is transporting Amanda, David and Sam to the Beach for phenomenal snorkeling along the shore |
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| Mary does not need a dinghy ride |
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| Amanda, David, Sam, and Mary at the beach |
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| David and Mary enjoying the underwater world |
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| Another Garibaldi |
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| Unidentified fish |
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| Amanda heading back to Bluewater |
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| Sam heading back to Bluewater |
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| Sam and Mary enjoying the paddle back to Bluewater |
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| Amanda and Sam on opposite swim steps - We are all back onboard by mid-morning |
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| Sam enjoying the location |
It was brief but we packed in some fun! Now it's time for the journey back to the mainland from Emerald Bay to King Harbor, Redondo Beach. We departed Emerald Bay around 11am.
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| SUPers (Stand Up Paddle boarders) in Emerald Bay |
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| Skipper Mark is preparing to depart from Emerald Bay, Catalina Island |
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| We departed from our mooring ball around 11am |
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| David is at the ready to assist with departure |
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| Sam and Amanda are enjoying lunch at departure time, about 11am |
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| David is raising the mainsail |
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| David is tidying up the main halyard |
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| Our view toward the Avalon side of the island as we departed Emerald Bay |
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Mark, Liz and David - We are underway!
Mary captured this fun panorama looking back at Catalina Island. |
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| Blue water from Mary's point of view |
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| Amanda at the helm |
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Sam at the helm
Hey Uncle Mark, are those dolphins ahead? |
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| Yes! Dolphins ahead! |
We continued to enjoy perfect sailing conditions with light winds, warm but overcast skies, calm seas and a great crew. Some dolphins came to swim with us as we approached Palos Verdes. And the kids caught a final Mackerel on the way in. See a view here of our
Fun Leg 11 Conditions.
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| Bluewater's route from Emerald Bay, Catalina Island to King Harbor, Redondo Beach |
Route: Emerald Bay, Santa Catalina Island to King Harbor, Redondo Beach
Crew: Mark/Liz/Amanda/David/Mary/Sam
Departure Time: Around 11am Thursday August 6, 2014
Distance: approx 25 nm
Arrival Time: approx 3:30pm
Time enroute: approx 4-1/2 hours
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| Cousins Amanda & Sam, Redondo Beach |
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| Sam and his Mackerel, Redondo Beach |
And here is a short clip of
Fun in the Waves!
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| As long as Mary and David are packing up, how about some more fun in the waves with the boogie boards? |
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| Perfect conditions for fun at the beach! |
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| Too much fun! |
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| Departure Time! Sad but we had a blast!! |
A HUGE thanks to David and Mary for bringing LOTS of supplies including many great meals, cleaning supplies, snorkeling gear, wetsuits, beverages, etc. etc. You name it, they brought it! As always, another HUGE thanks to Mary for all the great photos!!! Thanks for joining Bluewater's Journey to the Channel Islands - you guys are seasoned sailors, always ready for adventure.
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