Darrell and I met in Morro Bay 21 years ago, no wonder its a favorite spot of ours.
Our preferred camp site in Morro Bay State Park Campground has wide open space with a view of the estuary and bird refuge. It's a very peaceful spot for afternoon naps. Coveys of quails stroll about, seagulls squawk, the fog horn sounds, and all is well. Today is a perfect fall day, light breeze and nearly 80 degrees. Not a cloud in the sky. Last night's Harvest moon graced us in her abounding beauty filling our trailer with golden light streaming through ceiling hatch. Tonight we'll have cocktails and dinner in Cayucus at Schooners on the beach. It's a popular place to watch the sunset for a good reason. We're babysitting Jack, and he always loves their kid's menu. Papa loves the calamari. I'm having a Cosmo.
Jack always helps Papa with all things mechanical, but first he considered the technical application of the jack stands before starting the task.
Then he proceeded full-speed ahead, and got the job done, with a little help.
The Morro Bay Golf Course borders one side of the campground.
I used to live on the other side of the gold course.
The view of "the rock" from across the campground.
There's a regular routine we follow when in Morro Bay. First step up camp, next, we get Jack situated. Then it's time to visit the Morro Bay Yacht Club to check out visiting boats, and see if any old friends are about. After all that hard work, we deserve a lunch or dinner break in Cayucos overlooking the beach.
I've been a member of the Morro Bay Yacht Club since 1978.
One year later, I slipped off the mooring lines and sailed away in my 30' sailboat headed for Annapolis, Maryland. What a ride! Since then, I have owned more boats than I care to admit, but have enjoyed each one. My current boat is a Grand Banks 42' trawler.
The day was incredibly crisp, then it became incredibly warm.
Too warm for me. Ninety degrees plus, accompanied by exceptionally hot, dry wind. These fall and winter winds are referred to as Santa Ana's, and it's best to boaters to take shelter in a protected harbor. In the past, we have had to wait nearly a week before it was safe to travel south to our slip in San Diego.
In October, there is always a migration of boats heading south, usually to Mexico, for the winter. Normally, we are part of the pack, but our boat, Scrimshaw, is already in San Diego. We decided to forgo Mexico this season, and instead we will head north in March to the Pacific Northwest for a couple of years. I am not a fan of searing sun, and lately its been getting too warm for my taste. The cool, dampness of the northwest sounds inviting. I went to undergraduate school in Eugene. Go Ducks! So, I am confident that the weather will suit me just fine. Darrell's also looking forward to cooler days.
Sunsets in Morro Bay can be pretty dramatic.
This striking sunset last October, was taken from the bow of our trawler while tied up to the MBYC dock. Morro Bay, in a trawler or a travel trailer, is a dang good spot to hang out.
We had a long day and worked up a good appetite.
Jack deliberates between Grilled Cheese and Mac & Cheese.
It didn't take Jack too long to decide on Mac & Cheese for dinner.
Jack developed a taste for Mimi's Seared Tuna.
Protein is a good thing.
Papa and "mini-me-Jack" going for an after dinner beach walk.
Sunset on Cayucos Beach, a perfect way to end the day.
We got to see Jack for four straight days, while his mom worked. Very fun, but we were pooped, so on Saturday we headed back to Scrimshaw in San Diego. Nine long hours later, we arrived at Kona Kai Marina in time for another great sunset. It is usually a six hour drive, but we stopped for Chili Rellenos at our favorite little Mexican restaurant in Buellton. We paid dearly for that yumminess, because by the time we reached LA traffic, everyone was headed home from a warm day at the beach. We crawled through LA at a snails pace. When we reached San Diego, the weather was a bit cooler, but muggy. There's been a lot of humidity in San Diego this summer and fall. Strange, but the unexpected is now the new normal. I'll take high humidity over hot dry windy anytime. Known as Santa Ana's, the high winds coming over the desert reek havoc on boaters. Anyway, after LA madness, it was good to be home. Scrimshaw seems so roomy after staying in the travel trailer. Next week, we will drive up Highway 395 to our house in the Sierra. Hopefully, we are not too late to enjoy the fall colors. I'm looking forward to the increased roominess of the house after being aboard Scrimshaw. Then we will start to miss life on the water, and return to the snugness of our trawler. Our short attention spans demand variety.
The view from Scrimshaw's stern.
The view from our bow the following morning.
Point Loma is in the background.
