October 7th - we're in Monterey

This is our third day in Monterey - and we already know our way around. We've not been able to get internet at the marina and have found it a little difficult to find cafes with open nets.
This is one of them.
Our trip from Moss Landing to Monterey was a brisk sail - about 4 hours, big swells on the beam again - I think we'll just have to get used to them, and look forward to the less big ones.
We anchored out the first night - the anchorage if you can call it that is pretty wide open, very rolly - we did not include flopper stoppers in our inventory of things we need - but we might make them before we spend all of our cruising budget on marinas.
We came into Monterey Harbour marina for the next night and last night. Our plan from here is to make a couple of longer harbour hops - the next being 75 miles to Morro Bay, then 100 or so to Catalina Island, then San Diego. We're keen now to get down to better weather and are told by sailors who have gone before us that conditions generally improve past Point Conception.
Monterey Bay is a beautiful town - the architecture is starting to look very Spanish, a lovely waterfront and beach and the Aquarium is worth every penny of the $25 to go in.
We spent a few hours there yesterday and took loads of pictures. I'll put them in Webshots.
We did actually attempt to leave here early evening - intending to start the next leg overnight so that we would arrive mid-dayish the next day. Naaat!!!! Our weather information for the next few days is not good, but it was supposed to be not too bad last night and today. After crashing though 8 foot seas and wind on the nose for an hour - we changed our minds and came back.
We'll be tourists for a couple of days - maybe go see Carmel by bus tomorrow, enjoy the farmers market this evening.
We've met 2 other boats from our Van Isle Fleet group who are in the marina also - Dolphin Tales with Lin and Debbie and Kalagan with Rick and Dawn. Its really neat to see them and exchange our stories for the trip down. We seem to be of the general opinion that none of us would like to repeat that exercise.
Hope to get moving on Friday - maybe sooner if weather conditions change.
See webshots for pics.

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