Sunday, July 5, 1992 - Crescent City, CA

Remarkably smooth sea. Zoomed along at six knots.
Interesting episode around midnight. I had just come on for my 11:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. watch. Saw a lot of bright lights to port. Saw on radar that they were on a towboat and barge. Watched them getting closer and closer, and I was busy figuring out the best way to avoid them. When they were about 1 1/2 miles away, I heard a voice on the radio. It was hard to make out over the engine noise what he was saying, but I picked up "sailboat 1 1/2 miles off my starboard bow," and the position he gave sounded very similar to ours. (I had just checked our position a few minutes before, so I knew where we were.) When he said something about being ten miles from Punta Gorda, that cinched it. I turned up the volume on the VHF, grabbed the mike, and responded. He was very nice. After talking a few minutes, I said I'd cut down my speed and let him go ahead, which is what I did. He thanked me and went on by.
Cape Mendocino is supposed to be a bear to go by, but we went past it as if we were in a swimming pool. It's hard to believe the ocean can be this calm.
We had planned on going to Eureka, but the weather was so nice when we were just outside the harbor and it was so early in the day that we decided to continue north to Trinidad Head. Reached Trinidad Head around 10:30 a.m. and decided to continue north to Crescent City.
Perfect day! Glorious scenery! Endless miles of tree-covered hills and mountains. Glassy sea, blue sky, warm sun, nice little sailing breeze. And we don't have to do anything but kick back and enjoy, while Charlie steers the boat. This is the life!
Reached Crescent City around 6 p.m. and tied to an end tie. Fuel dock was closed (and nearly inaccessible anyway.) Harbor Master's office also closed, but a security guard came around to collect later in the evening. $14 for one night and no showers or decent restroom!
Twice what we paid at Bodega Bay for a much nicer place.
Walked uptown. Ate supper at Kentucky Fried and bought a few groceries at Safeway.
Roy has a miserable cold. Other than that, everything's rosy.
We went 278 miles in 2 days! Wow! Nearly 6 miles an hour on average.