Brown Pelican, Richardson Bay 19 Sept
It seems hard to believe that we’ve been in California for two weeks. After a stay in San Fransisco we’ve been hopping down the coast, living comfortably at anchor every night. Except last night when we did an overnight voyage south from Monterey Bay. It was meant to be a lovely sail with a NW breeze forecast. Instead we motored into a bare breath of southerly and nearly lost all faith in the weather forecasters. Today we were lucky however, no wind but the first day since San Fran hat we’ve been at sea with enough visibility to see much beyond our bow. No kidding, we have had enough fog thanks! The clear weather meant that we could see humpback whales beaching and tail slapping and dolphins and shearwaters. Perhaps we will have more of this clear weather when we get around Point Conception – a major stepping stone on the California coast. This point juts out into the Pacific and turns the cold southerly current away from the coast. We have made the other side of Point Conception into a fairytale in our minds, where the weather is hot and we can put away our winter clothes.
Red-tailed Hawk, Half Moon Bay 21 Sept
Long-billed Curlew, Elkhorn Slough Moss Landing 23 Sept
Jellies from Monterey Bay Aquarium, 25 Sept
Looking back through my journal of the last two months I feel incredibly fortunate. For the friends that joined us, for the wildlife we’ve encountered and for the friends that we’ve made along the way. Even with all this richness I am drawn to the far south. And so I’m leaving Stephen in charge of Narama while I fly to Ushuaia, Tierra del Fuego to board a ship and sail to Antarctica. I’ll be working as a wildlife guide, giving lectures on seabird ecology and spending every moment I can on deck, looking at the all rich wildlife and ice-filled scenery! Stephen will be enjoying the warmth and hospitality of Mexico and sharing it with his parents who are coming to visit. I’ll join them all again in a few weeks, but first to the penguins and ice!
