Day 510 Oil and touristing.

This will be short as internet isn't too fast out here in the Pacific.  We left at 0610 for Point Conception and should be around it by just after 1500 if we are lucky.

Yesterday, I changed the oil again for the diesel injector pump.  At every 50 hours, I get to change it a lot.  Once that was done, we headed for shore and who did we see but Cetus, another boat we have been "talking" to since we were in the San Juan Islands but never met.  They were always ahead of us down the coast.  We finally passed them at Monterey and they came into Port San Luis so we finally got to meet.  They've been out sailing for a long time including sailing to Tahiti and back so they have a good bit of water under their keel.  It was great to finally meet them.  

We headed into town to drop off our trash(got to do it when the opportunity arises) and play tourist.  We had a great lunch at Mission Pizza  just off the main drag.  If you ever get to Port San Luis--or Avila Beach as they call it, stop in.  Great sandwiches.  We strolled along the beach and sat and watched the waves come in.  We're trying to learn wave patterns so we will be better prepared for when we have to beach our dingy without smashing into the surf and over turning it.  So far, all we've been having is the rocky coast of farther north but not the sandy beaches we are now finding.  Now we have to learn how to do it when the surf is running.  Plus, learn on how to get back off the shore once we get there.  One of the last things I want to do is over turn our dingy and motor.

I'll post the pictures when we get a better internet connection.  Hope fully later today.

A quiet evening aboard stowing what we had taken out when we came in and up by 0530 and out by 0610 for the 57 mile trip past Point Conception.  That is one of the final milestones of the trip south.  Once past it, we might actually be able to put on a swim suit and work on our tans.  The water is still too cold for swimming--56 degrees, but the tan sounds good.

We're almost to the land of "milk and honey".  Each day a little closer.  Tonight, Cojo Anchorage just around the corner from Point Conception and then on to Santa Barbara to restock on veggies.  We've just about run out and there were no grocery stores on Avila Beach.

Stay tuned.  More to come.