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View Full Version : Catalina / The whole story part II Sat&Sun



KACHINA KEN
07-27-2004, 06:37 PM
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are now on cruise"
So we woke up on Saturday morning only lightly bruised from friday evenings festivities, there is always one happy fuker who is bouncing off the walls and ready to go and I am not it. But I pull myself together and we shower and head downstairs for breakfast. Now I live in AZ, I like mexican food ALL the time so for me it was the chili peppers and swiss omlet with the usual sides and some coffee. The food is really good at the Catherine and you wouldn't think it by looking at it because it is just a simple beach hotel, there are no TV's no phones and no AC. You get a room with a bed and a bathroom and you know what? It's perfect :)
So on the agenda for today it's snorkling and maybe one other activity but thats not gonna happen, we take the shoreboat back to the dalmation and sorta get settled in before casting off, I forgot to mention that unless you are a mooring holder (owner) you have to go down to the harbormasters office on the main dock and pay your mooring fee. For the 30' Kachina this was only 21 bucks. So we cast off and putter out to breakwater which is really close and head South, fuel was a little bit of a concern because I had used what I thought was alot on the way over, turns out it wasn't much at all but I still was keeping an eye on it. We went South looking for Lovers Cove and passed it right out of the harbor because it is right on the corner and easy to miss but it didn't matter because I wanted to go on a run anyhow. We were able to go up to 50 because the water was good and flat and we went down the coast for about 20 minutes before we came to this rock formation that looked like it had snow on it even though we all knew it was gull shit. And on the South side there were some kelp beds and rock formations underwater, Mikey said he thought it would be good around the rocks and we dropped anchor in about 18ft of water. It's hard to tell if your anchor is holding when you have swells and the first reaction is to pull up and go further out but mikey put on his mask and fins and went down to inspaect, he said that the digger anchor was holding good and I had a good amount of chain so I was good to go.
Now I didn't mention the girls names yet, there was Kim who was with me and Kali, Kali has a fish phobia and she really wants to get over it but this wasn't the place to do it. The water was getting to murked up because of alot of underwater turbulance, I was starting to think about undertow and all that but tried to remain calm about it all, we kicked over to the rocks and kelp and had a look around for a bit but I couldn't shake this ominous feeling that we were in the wrong place and that we should probably go on to calmer clearer condidtions. So I told mikey I wanted to go back north and see if we could find something a little more ideal, we wound up getting some really crazy air on the way North and Finally saw Lovers Cove, all the semi submersible boats were there with tourists checking out the fishies.
So back to W-13 to re-moor and into the water with the snorkle gear, it was tons better and you could swim in the kelp and check out the Garabaldi and Sea Bass, I was hoping to see a ray because I saw one under my boat on thursday and it was a good size one 5'? So it was a 1/4 mil kick to to the enclosed diving area right off casino point ( the round white building) and there the water levels got deeper quick. We swam around with the diver and Mikey and I took turn free diving down 40-50' to freak out the divers to see guys down with no tanks:D
I saw what I think was a grouper but just for a minute before he lumbered into the kelp bed never to be seen again, I really wanted to see some sea-horses but I don't know if they are even around these parts, I saw some in Brazil off the coast of Paraty but thats the only place, they are amazing.So I noticed kim wasn't around and found her on the diving exit steps and she didn't look happy at all, she was cold and the girls had not wanted to wear wet suits and you gotta out there or you start getting cold after only 20min. we sat in the sunshine for some time and she was coming back a bit Kali by now is TOTALLY over her fish phobia and swimming around with a school of Sea Bass that probably numbered in 300 somewhere, she was a regular Jaquiline Cousteau!
OK, were all hungry.
Kim and I walked back to the kayak rental place and then swam accross 20 yards to the dalmation Mikey and Kali pretty much arrived at the same time then Mikey and mel swam to shore whilke the girls took the shoreboat back to the room to freshen up, the plan was Mikey and I were going to get us all a table at Desconda Beach Cabana bar while they were doing their thing and then come back and we would order. Weird thing is I didn't feel like drinking anything except iced tea, gallons of it, oh God what would my Hot Boat friends think of me!
I also forgot to mention there are fresh water showers outside at Descondo, it is a n interesting sight all these lil hotties showering out in the sun, good eye candy. So I showered off and headed back to the table, folks you never want to sit at a table with your back to the bar it's just a nightmare one of the few anagonizing moments on the trip.
So the girls show up and we order nice light stuff with the exception of Mikey who gets this gigantic burger, we eat and hang out a bit before we go back to the boat to chill out for awhile, well we chill all right we slip into the best food comas I think we ever had and it would have gone on forever if it weren't for some lil booger eater screaming right next to us "were sinking! were sinking!" geeezzzsshhh put that kid on a leash!
So we decide to go back and have a leisurly get ready for the evening I shower and kick back while the girls do their thing, they wanted me to go over to Mikeys room and I was like uhhhh, no. I am fine here thanks.
Pauls assistant manager (I think) is tending bar downstairs I dont know where Paul is, but his buddy has made us reservation for 9pm at Ville Portofino, It's coastal Italian and supposed to be really good. The girls come down at 8:45 to the bar where me and Mikey are having a beer with some really cute girls from SD, Paul is back now and I can tell the girls walked in before I even saw them cuz Paul is yeallin HOLY SHIT YOU GIRLS ARE GORGEOUS! I think Paul is probably the horniest late 40's guy I know, he's got that back east swagger and I think he really fashions himself to be a ladies man beer gut and all and you know what he is.
So we take a couple of pics and then it's a quick 5-8 min walk to the end of the drag to Portofino, along the way I was kinda bummed to see that even out in the middle of the ocean some pseudo-gangbanger type douchebags had made their way to this island paradise and had taken up perches along the promenade presumeably doing nothing but looking for trouble. They just sit there in packs and stare at people, I stare back long enough to let them know I'm not afraid of their stupid asses but not long enough to start shit y'know?
Anyhow, we get to dinner and the hostess seats us at a nice table, nothing caught on fire during dinner yachts or otherwise so we just had a nice meal without incident. Saying that there was one exception to the something burning and that was me! If you look at the pics from the first post on this subject I am a crispy critter and very tired/ buzzed from all the pinot grigio we had with dinner.
Well no rest for the wicked, on to Club Chi Chi. This is like the only dance club around from what I am told and it was pretty jumpin, about 130 people inside and the music sorta swayed from hip hop to techno with some rock thrown in for good measure, fair enough so everyone has fun right? Drinks were flowing and we all were dancing and having fun, the lipstick lezbos were all up on the girls in the cage dancing which made for some good visuals ( chub city;) ) and so the night continued.
About 12 we left the club and were heading back to the hotel when we passed the karaoke bar, now I love to party but I have limits, I wanted to go back to the hotel and the girls wanted to keep at it, OK 1 drink. Went in and I swear to God I have never heard such bad singing in my life, it was a cross between a diesel engine and a cat getting an enema it was that bad. I told Mikey to look after the girls and I bailed back to the hotel. Turns out they only stayed another couple minutes anyhow before showing up and that kinda wrapped up the night.
Sunday morning marked the end of our weekend, I had to get back so I could do my 7 hour drive back to PHX and the girls had stuff to do as well, we had breakfast down in the lobby restaurant and it was good as always. After that the girls wanted to get some last minute shopping in so we took our gear back to the shore boat and headed back to the dalmation. Upon getting there the harbormaster boat rolled up and informed us that we needed to pay again or leave the mooring, he wasn't especially polite about it either, I informed him I had already cleared an 11am departure extension with Harbormaster Bray (who is a real nice guy btw) the guy sorta hrrrmmpphhed, and scooted off, during this time a 36' Spectre cat rolled up with none other than 3 days only at the wheel, he introduced himself and his wife and I did the same, they were over for lunch and only staying a couple hours before heading back he told me that a couple other people were over and I said that I had seen Beetlejuice also but he was on shore already.
We exchanged good byes and about that time the shoreboat brought the girls on board with shopping bags in hand of course LOL, they did bring us boys something though, caramel covered apple wedges YUMMMMM! We made ready and casted off puttering out to breakwater, I wasn't even out to the breakwater yet when I looked over my shoulder and already missed this place, leaving here means the ending of a few things for me, the end of my vacation before hitting the road again and the end of summer in a way. When I get back from tour it will be mid September and I don't know what it will be like out there hopefully not too mild that you cant really get in the water or anything but I will come back all the same.
So we had a very uneventful very brief run home to Newport, we did see some dolphins and had to haul ass to beat a tankers wake but for the most part it was smooth sailing, funny how that works in boating. You gotta work like hell just to get out of your house and just to get through the traffic and deal with the assholes all along the way to the lake but then you launch, and you get out there. And you remember instantly why you came and all the work and effort that went into it and all the planning and patience that you mustered to get out there pays off in the single moment you get past the buoy and hit it.............
My sincerest of thanks to Greg (Steamin Rice) and Bob (Nordic Bob) for all the info that made this a very trouble free weekend, you saved me so much time by sharing your experience. I owe ya guys.

Havasu Hangin'
07-27-2004, 06:58 PM
Man...that's a weekend (and I thought 45 minutes was too far to launch).
Sounds like you'll be back. Let me know if you guys put something together...maybe I'll drag my pig back from Havasu and try to keep up.

KACHINA KEN
07-27-2004, 07:07 PM
Originally posted by Havasu Hangin'
Man...that's a weekend (and I thought 45 minutes was too far to launch).
Sounds like you'll be back. Let me know if you guys put something together...maybe I'll drag my pig back from Havasu and try to keep up.
I am now looking for a lil piggie like yours, but I need to find an all white one. 91-95 with or without power.

Havasu Hangin'
07-27-2004, 07:10 PM
Originally posted by KACHINA KEN
I am now looking for a lil piggie like yours, but I need to find an all white one. 91-95 with or without power.
They are out there (http://www.bullockmarine.com/boat_listing/1990_cigarette_35_cafe_racer/index.html)...once in awhile.
Good luck.

KACHINA KEN
07-27-2004, 07:14 PM
Originally posted by Havasu Hangin'
They are out there (http://www.bullockmarine.com/boat_listing/1990_cigarette_35_cafe_racer/index.html)...once in awhile.
Good luck.
will that ride as well as the top gun? is the free board the same or close?

Havasu Hangin'
07-27-2004, 07:54 PM
Originally posted by KACHINA KEN
will that ride as well as the top gun? is the free board the same or close?
The extra length of a Gun will be noticable in BIG water. My Cafe weighs about the same as a newer glass Gun, but the Cafe has a full cabin. Freeboard is the same.
My boat is 45' end to end on the trailer (and 12,000+ lbs). A Gun will be a little more...

Jordy
07-27-2004, 08:03 PM
That's a nice looking boat. Best offer? $100. :D

SHAKE-YO-AZZ
07-27-2004, 08:17 PM
I just checked the heading to Catalina is 223 from Newport the GPS is 33.20.870 N & 118.19.272 W

KACHINA KEN
07-27-2004, 08:47 PM
Originally posted by SHAKE-YO-AZZ
I just checked the heading to Catalina is 223 from Newport the GPS is 33.20.870 N & 118.19.272 W
Yeah I popped in a way point while i was there, I'm un screwable now. thanks though.....

Steamin' Rice
07-28-2004, 07:24 AM
Good story....
You can go out in Lake Pacific year round.. We have made Catalina trips in January for the past two years. It's nice because you don't need to worry about getting moorings after the summer is over.
HH - Bring that pig out here.. :D You in for the SCOPE poker run??

Three Days Only
07-28-2004, 08:55 AM
I actually prefer the winter season to the summer months. The winds do not pick up as much in the afternoon, and I have had many good full days out on the water from November Thru March. Lake Pacifica (glassed off) when you get it is absouletly the best.
Glad to hear you made it back with no problems, thats along run into Newport when the waters rough. Let us know when your heading out next, and maybe we can make a large group run out of it. Club Chi Chi - I got to go there next time im there for an overnighter, never even heard of the place.
Jeff

KACHINA KEN
07-28-2004, 10:01 AM
Originally posted by Three Days Only
I actually prefer the winter season to the summer months. The winds do not pick up as much in the afternoon, and I have had many good full days out on the water from November Thru March. Lake Pacifica (glassed off) when you get it is absouletly the best.
Glad to hear you made it back with no problems, thats along run into Newport when the waters rough. Let us know when your heading out next, and maybe we can make a large group run out of it. Club Chi Chi - I got to go there next time im there for an overnighter, never even heard of the place.
Jeff
I think I will like it too because the masses won't be there, but I do love to get in the water and swim with the fish n stuff.
Club Chi is like a "dive' club cheesy lighting, interior design and music but the booze is the same and the girls like to shake it there so it'll do right?
Kenny
Hey Jeff I forgot your wifes name, was it Crystal?