Had good wind at the beginning of the 10hr passage but the 10 hours started looking like 16 hours and arriving after dark so we motored most of the day. Pretty relaxing passage playing gin rummy and playing with the dolphins again. Not sure what it is that they love about the bow wake of our boat, but fun to watch.
TJ hooked us up with a Mooring at Two Harbors since he knows the crew there. We didn’t realize we were heading in to the wildest weekend of the the year. The annual Buccaneer Days. A debaucherous 21( or maybe more like 50) and over get together for that demographic that refuses to allow themselves to be considered over the hill. Looked like a good time. Had to watch from the periphery since we were the only parents stupid enough to bring a 10 year old to a swashbuckler soirée.
Avalon
We left for the short jaunt with the party still ragin’ stopping only for a recommended snorkle or two.
Avalon was hoppin’ too since it was the weekend and is such a great escape from the concrete jungle of LA. Just a short ferry ride from San Pedro. Great for people watching. It’s Sunday evening as I write this and the last ferry has left and half the boats in the harbor have gone back to the mainland. Transforming the harbor to a quiet village.
We had a great snorkel today at lovers point. The water here is so clear at 40-60’ visablity. Videos really don’t capture it(At least my videos don’t).
Since we had a week here and Syd had always complained about having to snorkel above while mom and dad were diving (not to mention we were heading to some of the best diving in the world) she decided to get certified while we were in town. We went over to the dive shop, Catalina Divers Supply, to see if it was possible. They told us that while 10 is the minimum age and Syd would be the youngest they’d ever certified, the Instructer would have to interview her to see if she was up to the task of 8-10 hours of book work and 9 dives in 3 days in cold water. Apparently she sold them and we went home to cram which meant keeping her focused on her favorite subject, homework. The crew at the dive shop fell for Syd right away and really complemented and encouraged her after every dive. She loved the crew and especially her instructor Christian, running off to the dive shop with barely a “see ya later”to mom and dad. The instructor let us tag along on her last dive (which she had to lead) and gave us all a free tank fill for her 10th dive in three days and first dive and as a certified diver.
The rest of Avalon
Avalons got a great beach town vibe. You get the weekend ferry/cruiseship atmosphere which keeps the town funded so they can survive the laidback days in between. We heleped out a locals block party by removing a wayward swarm of bees which helped ingratiate ourselves with the locals.
HOMEPAGE Adventures with Dr. John 