Christmas 2013

We had a very quiet Christmas this year.  Christmas Eve we went to Cabo Seafood & Grill with Dad & Laura:

Dad & Laura came to the boat for breakfast Christmas morning:

Bonnie & Curtis joined us for dinner:

Our menu:

Pork Crown Roast

Stuffing w/Leeks, Cranberries & Apples

Mashed Potatoes & Gravy

Sugar Snap Peas

Apple Pie w/Ice Cream & Caramel

Early Christmas

We took Marco to the Winter Wonderland at the Harbor Village:

Marco won a goldfish at the fair.  Sarah & Jeff were very ingenious in finding a way to transport "Rudy" home to Oakland:

We opened some fun gifts before they headed home to wait for Santa:

 Jeff's Laser Pizza Cutter

Once again this year Dad scores best gift award with The Clapper.

Parade of Lights

Sarah, Jeff & Marco drove down for the Parade of Lights. We had parties on both Friday & Saturday nights.  Here are some of our guests:

 Tara & Tim

 Wendy & her brother

 Peter & Jeri

 Nick, Rocco & Jennie

 Sarah & Jeff

 Marco beating Dudley in a friendly game of chess

 Dr. Speitel & Pam

 Carol & Carolyn

 Jack & Curt

Jack & Marco

Our menu:

• Olives & Mini-Peppers
• Garlic Roasted Shrimp Cocktail
• Salami, Cheese & Bread Platter
• Pate & Crackers
• Gourgeres Prosciutto Sandwiches
• Small Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
• Bacon & Cheddar Toasts
• Molasses Crinkles
• Butter Cookies w/Eggnog Cream Cheese
• Bowtie Cookies w/Raspberry Preserves

Santa to the Sea

Lynne and I entered the Santa to the Sea Race and decided to run in costume.  The weather was freezing cold though and we had to cover up:

 

September-November

After spending a week back in Ventura we headed out to Smugglers Cove at Santa Cruz Island with Bill and Tracy.  Peter & Lynne were there aboard N'Shila and Mike & Linda on Cazadores. Beautiful warm weather and more fun on the stand up board.

Later in the month we drove up to Oakland to visit Sarah, Jeff & Marco. Sarah & I went for a walk on the newly opened Bay Bridge. It wasn't completed yet, but we walked as far as we could. We earned our yummy lunch at Forge Pizza.  The fried cheese curds were amazing.

In October Keith & Shirley came to Ventura for a visit.  Had a great reunion party for them aboard Poseidon:

October is perfect dinghy cruising weather:

October also found us in Sebastopol for Mike (Jeff's brother) & Mariesa's wedding:

In November I entered Surfer's Point Marathon with Lynne.  She ran with me to encourage me on and I had my best time ever:

Back up to Oakland for Thanksgiving:

:

Laura went with us and we spent a day in San Francisco:

The newlyweds joined us for dinner one night:

August 2013-Catalina

We headed back to Catalina Island this time stopping first at Two Harbors. We anchored near the USC facility:

Mike & Linda were on a mooring at Cherry Cove and stopped by for Happy Hour.

The next morning we had a great surprise when our dear friend Suzi showed up in a Harbor Patrol boat and stayed for Bloody Marys before we headed down the coast to White's:

I had a new toy to play with, John bought me a Stand Up Paddle Board a couple of days before departing from Ventura.  As soon as we anchored at White's I was ready to give it a try:

It's not as easy as it looks!!

John took the dinghy into Avalon to pick up Sarah, Jeff & Marco:

Marco helped make the Smashed Potatoes to go with our dinner:

We spent the next day playing on the kayaks, SUP and swimming:

Brian & Elizabeth arrived the next day:

We spent another day at White's, fishing and playing in the water:

Marco protecting us from pirates:

Peter & Tom aboard N'Shila arrived in the anchorage and joined us for happy hour.  Bonnie & Curtis stopped by too:

Jeff  made pizzas and Sarah made Watermelon Gin Fizz cocktails for happy hour:

The next morning we moved the boat down to Avalon so we could drop off Brian & Elizabeth and pickup David & Jack:

Jeff gave the boys cribbage lessons and they were hooked:

He also gave pizza lessons:

The next day we went ashore for lunch and to stretch our legs:

While the boys went parasailing:

Back aboard Poseidon, we spent the afternoon playing in the water:

 

Marco kayaked solo for the first time:

After Dave spent some time reading with Marco.  Marco said - "Grandma, I'm really starting to like this Dave kid!!"

We had to say goodbye to Sarah, Jeff and Marco so they could get back to Oakland in time for Marco to start kindergarten:

Dave & Jack got navigation lessons as we headed back to White's:

Avalon is great fun but we always love getting back to White's.  More open space for water sports:

Peter & Tom stop by to say hello:

Homemade pasta for dinner and more cribbage:

We hated to see the boys leave, we really enjoyed their visit:

We took the boys back to Avalon to catch the Express boat and picked up our dear friends Bill & Tracy:

Joe & Jeri pulled into the anchorage aboard Chata:

We spent another beautiful week at White's with Bill & Tracy before heading back to Ventura:

What a great three weeks, can't wait for our next trip.