from Sausalito, Monday October 12

"Columbus Day?!" For us and Akimbo, is there something ironic about that?

What fun to wake up and read Tyler's postings here. I can't describe how rich it feels to be sharing this with him, how "bustin' at the seams" glad i am for his company here.

We sailed under the Golden Gate Bridge yesterday morning at 0900. Woo hoo! And then sailed around the Bay to see what our options might be for places to tie up. About noonish, i tho't of a yacht broker i know here that would be able to suggest something. Even better, he offered us space at his sales dock! We topped off our fuel, tied up, washed and cleaned the boat, and took showers. Elena reserved a flight out that evening, so she packed up and the three of us went out for a late lunch/early dinner before saying our goodbyes.

We know Elena from Tyler's year's at Seattle Waldorf School, where she and Dave sent their kids too. Elena and Dave discovered their enthusiasm for sailing in only the last few years. She has jumped into it whole hearted, sails at every opportunity (as crew from Alaska to Seattle, in French Polynesia...) and is now a Coast Guard licensed captain and teaches sailing at Wind Works Sailing School (where i was their first full time, licensed skipper in 1980-84). I mention all this only because her crewing is too good to not mention. She's the kind of crew that makes a skipper a better skipper. And she obviously enjoys being "out here" which helps the rest of us appreciate our own enjoyment too. Thank you Elena. Thanks to you this was a better start than it otherwise would have been.

Ty and i spent a quiet evening aboard. Him writing here, me re-stringing our new prayer flags (now flying along side the old string) - by the way, who's idea was all the glitter in/on the fabric paint? I think Akimbo will (unavoidably) sport glitter somewhere in her decor from here on out.

Pulling away from the fuel dock yesterday, i think i heard a new sound in the transmission. Hmmm. I doubt that could be good. So checking that out is on my list while we're here. Along with finding out how the air keeps getting into the fuel supply to the furnace - i keep having to bleed that and then the furnace runs only briefly. The rest of "the list" is minor. And part of it is writing to you about what it is like out there - what a key challenge sleep is, where we sleep, how we keep a watch schedule... And then there is listening to our Spanish lessons (thank you Wanda)...

Luego.

Love and hope,

jon