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We're planning to leave before then, unfortunately. I was here in 2005 for Fleet Week when I was in the Navy and it was a blast!

We are now in Alameda, CA! I want to thank CeeBee for hooking us up with some excellent moorage for an amazing price. It's a very comfortable marina and only a 10 minute walk to the largest Target I've ever seen!! So, how did things play out? The original plan was Fort Bragg -> Bodega Bay ->...

I just want to thank everyone for posting the horror stories!

Thanks for the link! Very informative. How did you find commuting to downtown SF from there?

Cool! They left Fort Bragg today in 30kts of wind and will be in San Fran tomorrow I believe. We're waiting for something a little more benign.

Thanks for the tips. I'm thinking main channel as I have experience operating in traffic lanes. Looks like we're going to have to go Bodega Bay then Drakes Bay so we can time the bar and currents properly. If I go straight from Bodega Bay we'll get to the SF bar too late in the day. Looking...

Sent you a PM about the slip! Regarding Bonita channel, can it get sloppy in there?

Update time! After 38 days on the Oregon and Washington coasts, we finally had our weather window to push for California. It was going to be a very long day to get to Crescent City, but we studied the entrance carefully and were confident we could do it at night. We left Coos Bay, OR at 0500...

We've been waiting out a gale in Coos Bay. We depart for Crescent City tomorrow at 5am. ETA 11pm. California here we come!

Thanks for the tip about the art museum! No table games at the casino??? I'm out!

So, the diesel mechanic that said he could pull off the rear main seal job decided to back away and not take it on. No one in Newport was willing to do it. At least they got a hold of a place in Oakland for me that will be happy to replace the seal once I get there. After 13 days, we finally...

I think it's best to assume rear main and go for the repair. Last thing I want is to put it all back together and be no further ahead!

Transmission is now off. Flywheel's sitting on the deck in the engine room. Unfortunately the easy-fix parts all appear to be intact. At this point I have three different mechanics all engaged and working to resolve the issue. Will have more details as to the way ahead, later today. Weather...

If I was really going offshore (i.e. more than 5 or 6 miles), I would get the EPIRB. Between the SPOT, VHF, and spotty cell phone coverage, I'm satisfied that I won't be lost at sea. There is already a lot of debate on this topic which can be found with a quick Google search. I'd rather not get...

The thought crossed my mind. He is only an hour away if it comes to that!

Carrying a SPOT Tracker, no EPIRB. It serves the same purpose but it's a subscription service through a private company.

I'll know on Monday. Finally got someone to commit to at least investigate the problem, but they won't do the repair work if it's the rear main. I think I have another mechanic that would... I have money to spend but nobody wants it!

All sailboats but ours. Smallest is 33', of which there are a couple. There are a couple of 40 footers as well. One couple got away three days ago and made it to Crescent City. They're currently en route around Cape Mendicino. Engine problems notwithstanding, looks like we're all stuck in...

Still in Newport. Had to call five different shops before I could get someone to come down to the boat. He says he can do the job but needs the approval of his boss. Hoping to hear tomorrow morning. We're proceeding under the assumption of rear main seal. Huge job. We're stuck here until...

Fingers crossed we'll find the leak today.

In Newport now. Wasn't the fuel lift pump as there wasn't a single drop of oil on the pad I wrapped around it. Spoke with a diesel mechanic in Newport and he suggested that maybe the valve cover breather was blocked, causing a buildup of crankcase pressure and blow-by of the rear seal. I took...

Unfortunately I don't have the speed to make slack to slack. Will do what I did today and assess if it's safe to cross on the flood, which it was today at Tilamook. If not, I'll loop around and wait. With first light around 0620 and bar reports every three hours, I'll get a report just before I...

We did! Ate at the Ghost Hole Pub. Good burger!

After nine days we finally left Astoria at 0520 this morning. There was a mad rush of boats all heading for the bar at the same time. The sun rose and we celebrated when the "no restrictions" announcement came across VHF 22a. Had a southerly wind on us for most of the trip to Garibaldi so it...

I guess what's going through my mind is that we've had a week of unseasonable weather and I'm worried that if we don't book it south we'll lose our window of opportunity. I complete realize, however, that I'm being irrational.