SVSoulsticeAdventures: Lovely Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara is truly a lovely town. Stephen and I arrived here on 10/19 and we are leaving today 10/24 to Catalina Island. Santa Barbara was an unintended stop but Santa Ana conditions had us leave Santa Cruz island and make a break for the mainland. We both had been here before visiting Dave when he was on his previous boat to Arctos called SV Oso, a 33ft Wauqiez Gladiateur. We sailed with him on Oso to Santa Cruz in 2012ish. I thought the area was fabulous then and still think it is fabulous now! I was happy to enjoy this tranquil place again with its lovely weather, gorgeous scenery with the Santa Ynez mountains in the background and really down to earth folks. The local people are so laid back, kind and generous. It does make you wonder about living here full time down the road. Skiing is not close by so that would have to be re-evaluated for sure!

After being on the hook for almost 2 weeks it was difficult to enter a busy marina but soon enough after we tied up in the slip the great neighbors in Marina 4 made it hard to leave. We first met Mark who lives on a powerboat on our starboard side. He gifted us a lovely dinner of yellowfin tuna the night before we left and there were daily dock conversations between him and Stephen. He is fully recovered from a cervical spine injury in 2012 that left him wheelchair bound for a year. He, unfortunately, sustained his injury on the beach just right next to the marina body surfing a wave. He was crushed by a wave that caused him immediate paralysis and he almost drowned. Two Aussies saw him floating face down in the water and brought him ashore. It has been a long recovery and despite my words of full recovery, anyone who has gone through such a large trauma recognizes this is a loose phrase. He was very entrepreneurial prior to this event and afterward this inspired him to create a flotation device called the Mantra to aid with pool rehabilitation for others with spinal cord injuries. We wish him the best success and as medical providers can attest that patients do feel more inclined to trust others who have been in "their shoes" so to speak. Check it out at MantaTherapy.com!

Julie and Ross were on the port side of us and have been sailboat liveaboards in the slip for 18 years now. She used to be a park ranger in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon region in a previous life. We had a lot to talk about regarding our love of the Eastern Sierras and the outdoor adventures that can be had. We also met a Jeff Baldwin, who just published Diving the Devil's Crown: Extreme Encounters with Great White Sharks at the Farallon Islands, and has sailed internationally and was a commercial abalone diver in the past. Then there was Bill who has an eye patch and plays his guitar as he strolls down the dock... it was a warm-hearted group of folks on this dock.

Better yet, this dock, Marina 4 is right next to the laundry, the hotdog stand that has ice, snacks, and booze as well as restrooms past the gate on exit. Oh yeah and the gorgeous beach just adjacent to us with a fabulous walk/run path. Last time when visiting Dave he was on the other side of the marina, closer to the restaurants, harbor office, West Marine and Maritime Museum. He and Kelly were placed on this dock again for this visit. Both are win-wins but laundry being soo close after being out for almost 2 weeks on the hook was a Bonus! The simplicity of both lives makes you appreciate this stuff.

Kelly and Dave did take off to back to Santa Cruz after a few days and Stephen and I took this time to accomplish some more projects that we were putting off for San Diego. This included engine and transmission oil and fuel filter changes, a new circuit breaker, a deep clean of the fridge and a good boat wash, additional buff/wax on the gel coat on the deck to prevent oxidation and some errands in town. Being in a slip is a blessing and a curse I feel. It affords easy access to the shore and makes boat projects and daily chores easier but also can inhibit fun time because you want to utilize this precious time on the dock. I had some errands in town like mailing back some clothes (brought too many- ugh) and returning amazon purchases like our VHF 7 pin ICOM radio that does not send or receive and going to West Marine of course. I also wanted to take advantage of finding a copy place instead of running out of ink and paper on my little printer on the boat to make copies of boat documentation for getting ready to enter Mexico and other countries. Our visit to Ensenada last year inspired me; I wanted to ensure we had a canceled temporary import permit on our boat and remembered that there was only one copier, you need cash and line of people needing to use it. I wanted to more prepared this time.

It wasn't all boat business, we did enjoy the Farmer's Market Saturday am and bought lots of fresh goodies. I was grateful to buy the most flavorful organic greens I have ever eaten, tons of guava including a small bin of strawberry guava that didn't even make it back to boat yet alone the exit of the market either. There was pineapple guava as well which makes for a great appetizer dish with crackers and brie cheese... new hot fruit pepper jellies which can spice up a sandwich nicely, tons of other citruses, and some hardy Hass avocados.

We will rendezvous with Dave and Kelly in Catalina tomorrow and also we were contacted by SV Calyspo, Robert and Karen, who are in Avalon now and will be there when we arrive.

'Til next time....

Sailing to Santa Barbar from Santa Cruz!

Saturday's Farmers Market in SB - they have a market EVERY day of the week in different locations!!! Yummy!

I forgot to add this sad and bad share - my paddle board sustained a tear on the seam from being over pressurized and left on the deck of the sailboat. Stephen and I never usually leave them out but we had been using them so often and our sail from Santa Cruz to SB was rather unexpected. Anyway I should have taken some air out or put her away. Hoping to get a repair vs buy a new paddle board -I love having a paddle board! Keep ya posted on this one. ULI does repairs and they are located in Carlsbad CA only 30 min outside SD....

West Beach as it is called next to the Marina and a 5 min walk from us and Stearns Wharf in the distance. The Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History Sea Center is there - we missed this and the Maritime Museum - shame on us and I would have liked to have visited these - next time... We are in a bit of hurry now as Stephen's Mom flies to San Diego Nov 1 and we want to sneak in a visit to Catalina as well. When you only go 5-7 (mph for land folks) traveling takes some time:)