Photo Journal: LACMA
Photo journal from the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA) with Ian, Polly, and Rick.
January 2020.
Santa Monica, January 2020
Went to Santa Monica with Rick and Polly for our last weekend in California. The waves were mostly closing out, but Ian got in the water anyway for a bit, and then we went to Urth Caffe for a super good brunch.
Sailing again and getting seasick
Round 2 of sailing adventures in California thanks to Rick!
A sunny Tuesday in Los Angeles. Drove out to Redondo Beach King Harbor Marina and boarded the SV Gitana where Ian and Rick moved quickly – and before I knew it, we were past the breakwater with Rick at the helm and Ian on the lines. He unfurled the sail and then the jib, and we went flying. The wind was pleasantly strong for the first hour.
It was so fun to get behind the wheel with the wind in the sail; I was laughing hysterical and nervous because I was holding myself up sideways and kept thinking I was going to heel us over and tip. Ian and Rick assured me that was hard to do.
From 15 knots down to 2 knots, the wind died in the second hour and we ate lunch. I downed 3 cans of ginger ale because I get seasick and was hoping it would help. I just looked it up and it looks like ginger itself helps with nausea but but ginger ale has too much sugar to have the same effect. Yup, learned that the hard way because I did eventually end up getting seasick and it wasn’t pretty. Although I think it was really because I had to go below to pee (from drinking 3 cans of ginger ale), and being in that tight little bathroom oh man my head felt like it was a lava lamp.
Ian and Rick tacked several more times within the hour to find the wind but it was a bust and they took us back to the Marina where I immediately felt better.
It was still so much fun, and I will definitely be taking a whole ginger with me the next time!
Visiting friends in Oceanside
Quick weekend trip to Oceanside.
Drove in to Oside in the late afternoon and reunited with our previous AmSam neighbors Carolyn and Jameson, and their little coconut guy Kainoa. We caught up on our lives since they left the island 2 years ago. We devoured some of the most amazing food at Local Tap House, did some mini bowling at Fat Joe’s, and briefly hung out at Pour House for live music. The next morning was spent on the beach. The guys surfed and Carolyn and I played with Kai. And then Jameson saved a girl who got caught in the riptide! The lifeguard on patrol showed up so late, it was a good thing Jamo got to her in time. Afternoon naps followed, then we headed over to their friends Gina and Anthony’s house for a sweet backyard BBQ. Got froyo and drove through the beach strand before we called it a night.
Also, did you know that Oceanside is our sister city? I just found out on this trip, and I don’t really know what exactly that means – but it seems appropriate since our little AmSam gang got together for a good lil time in Oceanside.
Sailing in Oxnard, California
Last week was some of my most relaxed days over the last year. We were in the cozy town of Oxnard, California for Ian’s family reunion. We would sleep in, walk barefoot to Silver Strand beach barely a block away, and lounged all day until the big family dinner every night, followed by game night. Such bliss.
This particular day strayed just a bit from the routine though.
Rick chartered a 34-foot Hunter style sailboat called the SV Emmanuel. We were all so pumped! We started at the Channel Islands Harbor marina and took two trips – a short one for the kids just to the breakwater, and another longer trip with the adults for several hours. Rick and Ian took the helms and Chris helped open the sail and jib as we sailed out of the marina. Then I got to steer us into deeper waters for the next few hours! Uncle Bob and Ian helped me learn how to recognize the wind and then use the compass to keep a specific direction. Once I got the hang of it, it made so much sense. We sailed pretty far but had to head back by evening for dinner and I tried to park the boat in the marina but let Rick take over after my first failed attempt. Looks like I’ll need some extra practice… so we’re going sailing again tomorrow! This time in Redondo Beach!
Until next time
xo, Relly
Sails