July 19 - 28, 2010

It's been over a month since we left Emeryville marina. Lenard & I are having so much fun. We can hardly believe that July is coming to an end. Time really do fly when you're having a good time. We haven't had much luck with free internet access while at anchor in Santa Barbara. Our friend Jack on s/v Sea Spray is very kind to lend us his T-mobile card so that we can update our blog and make a few Skype calls to family & friends.

We came back from Santa Cruz Island after a week of fog, sun, diving (mostly Lenard), snorkeling (once, had to make sure my (Wilma) wetsuit fits), and fishing.

Pelican Bay, Santa Cruz Island 

Pelican Bay Anchorage

We spent a couple of nights here. We went ashore to take photos and did some exploring of this area but not like we did in San Miguel island. Our new friends, Josh and Kristian in s/v Loose Cannon a trimaran did an overnight. We had dinner on their boat. Their trimaran is on the upper left of the photo above.

Lenard walking down the old steps that once was a resort in the late 1920s where I stood to take this photo.

Shore landing is gravelly.

Midnight Sun anchored near the point Pelican bay anchorage

 Lenard dove for scallops just around the point where we were anchored in Pelican bay. We found only 2 scallops, speared a couple of perch fish and one opaleye.


We motored to another anchorage west of Pelican Bay in hopes to find more scallops. Frys harbor was our next anchorage which was a mile west of Pelican bay. There was a sailboat already anchored when we arrived. It so happens that the owner of this sailboat, Larry Thompson has recently retired from the City of Oxnard as a landscape architect.

s/v Lotta Zuma

Frys harbor, s/v Lotta Zuma on the right, J 35 (I think)

This was the anchorage we wanted to stay at initially but a couple of boats were already anchored here when we arrived beginning of the week. According to Larry, the rocks to build the Santa Barbara breakwater came from Frys harbor. When we explored the shore we found a cave and Larry told us it was used to store the dynamite that was used to blow up the rocks. We found rusted cables and rods, rusted railway and old boiler tanks that previous visitors have used for firepits.

Cave used for storing dynamite

We stayed at Frys harbor until Thursday long enough to find more scallops and go fishing.

California sheephead, opaleye, striped perch and Cabezon which we had to release.

and of course...

Rock scallops - yummy!!

From Frys harbor to Yellowbanks...

Yellowbanks anchorage, July 23

Day before July full moon

Captain Lenard

Wilma, first mate

From Yellowbanks anchorage to Little Scorpion...

s/v Midnight Sun at anchor in Little Scorpion

We headed back to Santa Barbara to meet get more provisions. The day after we arrived our friends, Sean and Karen of Emeryville marina came to visit. They brought along their niece and nephew, Madison and Sam. We spent the day on the beach.

Madison sorting through her shells

Sam and Karen

Madison, Sam, Karen & Sean beach between Santa Barbara harbor & Stearns Wharf

It was a wonderful day at the beach. Although we didn't dare swim in the cold water. Thank you Sean & Karen for all the goodies you brought and left with us. You both welcome anytime to visit.