San Simeon to Port San Luis ( Avila Beach) Nov 12th, 2008

We had a short ride of 4-5 hours to the Port of San Luis so we did not need to get up before day break. However, we wanted to get to Port San Luis before the afternoon winds kicked up. We awoke to another nice clear day and were heading out at 7am.

As we started out, Alexus noticed we could not get the starboard engine up to the rpm equivalent to the port engine and the synchronizer would not engage. We turned back around and dropped anchor again so we could figure out what was happening. In San Simeon there are no facilities, so whatever was happening, we needed to fix ourselves or determine if we could get to San Luis. Alexus went into the engine room as I moved the throttle for the starboard engine. She was following the linkage and the synchronizer seemed to be ok. So we continued and Alexus found that one of the bolts from the engine throttle linkage was missing. Given all the work we had done on the engines it could have been left loose or just with the constant vibration of the boat worked itself loose. At least it was an easy fix. We have a number of spare parts, hoses, clamps, tape, screws, nuts, bolts, you name it, just in case things like this happen, as they do of course. I am thankful that Alexus is mechanical and knows engines. I would not be as confident about traveling the ocean without her skills.

After our short delay, we headed out into 8 foot seas at 11 seconds and winds 5 to 10 knots out of the northwest. There was no fog again so at least it would be a nice day. Along the way we saw hundreds of seals and dolphins. This time they actually came to play and 4 to 5 of them were riding the bow wake. I tried to get pictures, but it was impossible with their movement and the boats rolling. As we proceeded we got a great look at Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant. The water is actually two to three degrees warmer in front of the plant. Alexus commented that it probably changes the entire ecosystem near the plant.

We pulled into the Port of San Luis around 1:15pm and decided to fuel. Diesel was $3.04 a gallon. Our friend Rick had told us the fuel dock was overhead on the pier and that the surge at the fuel dock was pretty nasty, he was right. We had all our fenders on the starboard side and were tied at the bow, mid and stern cleats and the boat was still moving and straining in the surge. We decide instead of filling up we would get 200 gallons and check out the mooring balls and anchorage. The mooring balls are out further near the jetty and the anchorage is in closer, between the Cal Poly Pier and the Avila Beach Pier.We chose to anchor, as it seemed more protected and we trust our anchor. We have also moved to all chain for our anchor rode. ( Another of those items we did while in Alameda) We anchored at 35.10.448 N by 120.44.293 W, in sand with good to fair holding. We put out 180 feet of chain as the wind would be coming up with gusts to 20 knots out of the north. With the new rode, anchor snubber and chain lock around our Samson post, we set our anchor alarm and were in for the day.