Newport to San Diego

Left the slip at the crack of dawn. No wind so we’ll be motoring most of the 10 hours to San Diego. Loved our visit to Newport. The great facilities at Maria Park. A block from the beach and just a few blocks to the pier and all that’s happening there.

Sorry, more dolphin videos. This one off Dana Point.

We arrived in San Diego with a plan to alternate a fun day with a boat project day. Fun days ended up taking up the majority of our time. We got a slip at the police docks on Shelter island. Quite a bit more rustic than our previous accommodations. After the 4 star facilities in Newport, a public restroom with an out of order shower and no laundry was just what we needed to get us ready for our adventure south of the border. Showering in the boats telephone booth sized head would be the go to for the majority of the adventure from now on.

We did a couple dawn to midnight work days to knock out the list and get to exploring the San Diego area. Some of the projects knocked out were replacing the alternator, transmission cooler, engine oil cooler, shower faucet, engine and transmission oil change mounting the Starlink and some new wiring for the charging system. It all went better than expected considering all the fittings were 30-40+ years old.

Got a rental car for $7 a day at u-save for our adventures and the 3 trips a day to Home Depot and O’Reilly’s. Good car and nice staff right outside the airport which is a bike ride away from the boat.

Adventures

Mission Beach/Belmont Park

Home of the Giant Dipper South

USS Midway museum

This self guided audio tour was really well done. There had to be 30 different aircraft on the flight deck and the hanger deck. They had docents that were former crew members

Kansas City BBQ

Just up the street is the restaurant where Top Gun was filmed. Nostalgia and good BBQ.

Windansea beach, La Jolla

This beach was beautiful. It seems to be a magnet for engagement/family photos. At least 10 photographers had their clients posing around every corner.

Breakfast Republic/Liberty Station

Liberty Station is a repurposed naval base. It is now an arts district, with niche eateries around every corner. One building is set up like Grand Central in LA. 20 little takeout places in one spot. Our favorite was Breakfast Republic. Try one of the Bennie’s.

Lincoln visits us.

Sydney’s good friend Lincoln flew down all by herself, so the girls could get wild for a few days before we sail to Mexico.

Sea World

The girls seemed to have the place to themselves. No lines anywhere.

Kayaking LaJolla

caves

Couldn’t make it inside the caves because of the swell, but it made surfing the kayaks that much more fun.

Ocean Beach

Sunset Cliffs

Splatter Room

Kenny’s visit

Our good friends (and Forman)Kenny and Michelle flew down to see us off, do a little site seeing(aka eat a lot) and go for a sail.

Back at the Kansas City Barbeque/Top Gun bar feeding our alter egos.

Statue of the famous Times Square VJ Day photo in Bayshore Park next to the Midway museum.

Sydney offering Michelle the opportunity to quess what gross flavor Jelly Belly she’s been given. Michelle won’t fall for that again.

Kenny helping Cliff with a last minute boat project.

Boat Outing

Kenny, Michelle and our old friend Patrick, girlfriend Angel and son Leo, who drove down from Carlsbad, to join us for an afternoon sail. It was a beautiful day out on the ocean. Leo brought some of his fishing gear and the kids were able to fish on the sail and back at the dock where they caught a dogfish. Looks like leftovers for dinner. Everyone had a good time together on our last day in the US for a while.