Newport Beach

With gale warnings predicted we left Catalina to tuck into Newport Beach Harbor.  The Coast Guard came on the vhf radio with an urgent marine weather broadcast - "All mariners are requested to find a safe haven." Yes sir, we're on our way!!   When we arrived in Newport Harbor, Bonnie & Curtis were there to give us a hand with the mooring balls. John ran a couple of extra lines and we were ready for the wind.

It blew for a couple of days.  Look at the palm trees and flags:

And finally there was calm - ahhh, what a difference a day makes:

If felt so good to be outside again.  For lunch I made this delicious Crab, Mango and Avocado Salad:

To make the salad combine lump crabmeat, a diced mango and diced avocado.  Dress the salad with citrus juices, olive oil, slivered red onion and salt & pepper. Serve on Butter Lettuce leaves.

The sea lions have been a big problem in the harbor for years.  They jump up on the boats, sometimes sinking them, but for sure always making a mess and causing damage.  Here is a picture from last year:

Well before this fatso found a spot on the dock, he and two of his buddies tried to jump aboard Poseidon's swim step.  Anyone watching me would have had quite a laugh as I was jumping up and down in the cockpit, clapping my hands and trying to scare the sea lions away.  They just gave me a "you've got to be kidding me look" and made another attempt to come aboard.  I picked up the hose and squirted the big guy in the face.  You should have heard him bark & growl - he was not happy. But the fresh water worked, he and his pals swam away - and so far have not come back