Ahoy Mates:
 
The day we last e-mailed you all, Sun. Oct. 8, was from the Reef Café at Isthmus Harbor, Catalina Island.  The joint was pretty much back to “normal” after the big Buccaneer Days event.  The couple as pirate and wench in the photo we attached with our last e-mail was one of the best of those we saw. As he made the rounds, this pirate periodically muttered, “Kill the captain; take the wench”.  We didn’t go to the late night festivities Saturday, but imagine you needed to have an open mind.  Sunday there were still a few “pirates” wandering here and there—some of whom were probably still loaded on one thing or another.  One guy was floating off the beach and looked like a whale—yes, he was alive.  Included with this e-mail is a photo of the cruiser group at the wine and hors-d’ouvres social hosted by Bill and Mary of Raptor Dance last Sat. evening at Catalina Harbor.

Monday, Oct. 9, we left our mooring in Catalina Harbor about mid-day and almost immediately Paul set up both fishing poles with salted bait.  For those who haven’t seen Renegade, included is a photo of her (dark blue hull) moored near Robyn’s Nest at Catalina Harbor.  Within a short distance he had caught four fish—two Pacific mackerel and two Pacific bonito (real fighters and quite a set of choppers).  There wasn’t much breeze as we headed NW trolling all the way to West End and around to Emerald Bay, our destination for the next day or two.  Before we arrived, what little wind we had dissipated and we motored into Emerald to drop anchor in 35 feet of clear emerald colored water.  Pretty spot.  Our friends and fellow cruisers on Robyn’s Nest were already moored for the evening.  

Last night was a little bit rolly on the anchor due to swells.  Today, Tues., Oct. 10, was a day of work projects with Paul making additional storage under the forward cabin’s V-berth—you can always use more storage space for extra chocolates or California wines.  I sent Paul up the mast twice in the afternoon.  I can always get what I want out of him when I send him up the mast—since I’m pulling the strings, without me, he’s toast.   A three-masted yacht sailed by us at one point.

There are so many important decisions that the captain must make – Should I fish or should I fly the Kite (spinnaker for non-sailors).  Marilyn said don’t catch any more fish she’d had enough – SOooooo!

Tomorrow, Wed., Oct. 11 we plan to head out just a hop, skip and jump away to Isthmus Harbor to see if we can check our e-mail and then we’ll head toward Avalon Harbor for a day or two before heading to either Oceanside or San Diego.   
 
Next morning --  Boy, talk about rolly!  Didn’t sleep well last night.  Needed flopper stoppers to stabilize us.  Just one more thing to stow on Renegade.  We briefly anchored in Isthmus Harbor to pick up the WiFi signal and check e-mail.  Now we’re on our way to Avalon.

Wed., Oct. 11 Around Noon --  We’re moored in Avalon Harbor and after lunch we dinghied in for a walkabout, planning to meet Chris & Robyn from Robyn’s Nest later for dinner.  Dinner was at the Ristorante Villa  Portofino, an attractive eatery on the bay.   Tomorrow we’ll go to the Casino Museum and stop at a shop where I saw tiki barware.  ——Later.  Paul & Marilyn