Sunday, August 5, 2007- Sailing, Sailing

We cast off on the good ship Cavin Fever* today, the 32 foot sailboat that Bob and Cathy co-own with another couple. After lunch at Ruby’s, a southern California 50’s style diner, we set sail from the marina at Long Beach. We went right past the Queen Mary, the dome that once housed the Spruce Goose, and a very large cruise ship that sailed out as we were returning. We were on the water for about four hours or so. Cathy had warned us about how far the boat tips when under sail, but it’s still something to get used to when it actually happens. We enjoyed seeing many sea lions sitting on the buoys we were passing. There were sea gulls, of course, and there were also several pelicans that we saw soaring overhead. It was a gorgeous day for sailing and we got to see quite a few other boats out there, and even kite surfers. Anna got to take the wheel for a while, but both girls were probably more impressed with the cabin. We hoped that Emma would be rocked to sleep, but no such luck. We eventually sailed as far south as a large oil derrick off of Seal Beach, and circled around it. We learned a little about sailing, too, watching Bob and Cathy tacking the sails. Scott tried it once but ended up getting a brush burned hand. Still, we gained an appreciation of the difference between “boaters” and “sailors” today.

* (The name comes from the previous owner. Someday, they want to re-name it the Sea-Renity).

Saturday, August 4, 2007 - Beaches and Baseball

Low tide was at 7:15 AM today, so we rose early to drive down to Laguna Beach to visit the tidal pools. We found some nice ones at Heisler Park, where Bob recommended we look. It was a little treacherous to climb on the rocks, especially when Emma wanted to be carried, but that got us to see some nice little pools. Anna and Mommy loved seeing crabs crawling between the rocks. Bob had suggested that they stick their fingers in the sea anemone to feel them suck on it, so Julie and Anna both tried that too. Anna said it felt weird. We spent more than an hour exploring there.

We came back to Cathy and Bob’s place and went out to a second beach at Bolsa Chica. There, we spent time swimming in the ocean and feeling the waves coming in as the tide was rising. Bob showed how he surfs and let Anna use his boogie board. Once she got used to it, she loved riding it in and could go quite far on it. Emma mostly played in the sand like she usually does, but she did get into the ocean too. Bob showed her how to pour water into a hole in the sand and watch it disappear. She laughed at that.

We went to lunch with Bob and Cathy, and returned to their house to get cleaned up a little and spend the a quiet afternoon enjoying the ocean breezes.

Around 5:00 we left for Dodger Stadium to see their game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. We sat near third base, in the first row of the second level, just above the animated advertising signs that circle the stadium. (Bob and Cathy’s tickets were in a different spot.) Emma hadn’t taken her nap today and fell asleep in the car on the way there. We carried her in and she stayed asleep until the third inning. The give-away promotion tonight was a cooler bag, big enough for a lunch. We had Dodger Dogs for dinner.

The biggest name that Daddy knew that was in the game was Nomar Garciaparra, who now plays 3rd base for the Dodgers and who hit a three run homer when LA was way behind. Kirk Gibson was there, as a coach for the Diamondbacks. Julie was impressed that Harrison Ford was at the game. The organ played the theme to Indiana Jones when they showed him and Calista Flockhart on the scoreboard. The crowd booed when the scoreboard announced that Barry Bonds had tied Hank Aaron’s homerun record in San Diego.

The Dodgers got behind in the first inning, and at one point were behind 8 to 1. They started to rally in the later innings, though, and the crowd was enthusiastically supporting them. The fans around us were wearing their give-away coolers as hats to rally the team, and Emma joined in. The Dodgers came back to within one run, 8-7, and we stayed until the last out, when Nomar swung and missed. Even though the Dodgers lost it was an exciting game to watch.