(Photos can be viewed here)
The next morning, on the 24th, we arrived in the real otter-tropolis: Morro Bay. I swear, we saw probably about 60 of them altogether. That may not seem like a high number, but otters were severely hunted and culled throughout the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, dropping their numbers to around 200. Their numbers were revived, but for something once known as Furry Gold, I doubt they’ll ever make a full recovery.
We spent a lot of time otter-watching since there wasn’t much else to do there. We explored the Main Street town, conversing with locals and eating ice cream.
Santa Barbara
Ah. If I could live anywhere, Santa Barbara is high on the list. The town was adorable and the perfect size with lovely people. We all had lots of fun in SB, going to the beach, shopping, boat repairs (ugh) and school work.
We visited the adorable and very informative Santa Barbara Maritime Museum. It was small but was actually two stories and really big inside, with a surfboard you stand on, and an exhibit where you can drive a boat. I felt like I’d had enough real experience with that, but it was still very fun and cute. It was a lot easier, because you can’t hit anyone’s boat!
We also did mundane things such as getting cat litter and boat parts. We even went to the most sublime place in existence: Office Depot. I love stationary and journals, so Office Depot is my personal heaven. I will often say “Don’t get me a present, just a gift card for Office Depot.” And I mean it! We were in Santa Barbara from the 28th until the 4th of October. It still wasn’t long enough for us.
Channel Islands and Ventura
We also dawdled for a night in the Channel Islands…not fun. We tried to anchor in the west anchorage, but there was another boat in there – who we became good friends with! It was a rough and heinous and bumpy and just a rotten night.
After the dismal night in the Channel Islands, we decided to dock Agatha in Channel Island Harbour, snug and safe near the back. Oxnard is a peculiar town with a stunning beach. We went and kufutzed about in the sand for a bit, only for me to stands in a clump of tar. Smooth, Rose.
As I sat on the dock with a Stephen King audiobook playing, I scrubbed my feet with a a bottle of Barkeepers Friend, I’ll say it sure did get the stubborn gunk stuff off my feet. I chimed into my parents conversation with a “Where Next?” And the choices looked like Los Angeles or Avalon. It was my birthday in two days, so I was given the decision.