Chapter 7 - Busy Days at Shelter Island

We arrived at Shelter Island a couple days ago and took a slip at the San Diego Harbor Police Dock.  This is a really nice facility, even if it is somewhat spartin compared to other "marinas".  Regardless, having been offshore and anchored out since October 12, it is nice to have unlimited power and fresh water at our disposal.

When we got here, we made arrangements to rent a car for a few days as there are a few last minute privisioning items to take care of.  For instance, we were running low on beer and flat out ran out of wine.  No seriously, we needed to stock up on snacks, cat food, a back up cat water bowl, some chandlery items (a pole holder for the BBQ mount, and a variety of other things.  We have been to the Home Depot, Petco, Staples, Vons, Ralphs, a jaccuzzi store, and a couple other places not worth mentioning.  The car has been great.  Enterprise Rental Car picked us up and will drop us off when we return the car later today.

FYI this is the back (rear) part of a "range marker".

The Ballast Point Range Lights. A range marker, also known as a range light or range beacon, is a navigational aid used to help vessels maintain the correct course through a channel or safe passage. It consists of two fixed markers: a lower front marker and a higher rear marker. When viewed from the water, the two markers line up vertically when the vessel is on the correct course. If they are not aligned, the vessel must steer toward the higher marker to return to the proper range line.

Range markers may use lights for nighttime navigation, with the same alignment principle. They are often used in harbor entrances and narrow channels to guide ships safely and accurately.

Entering San Diego Bay, the Ballast Point Range Lights guide vessels through the entrance channel.

When a mariner keeps the front and rear lights perfectly aligned, they are safely in the dredged channel.

In between shopping trips, we have had some nice walks aroung the end of Shelter Island, not to mention a couple of really nice meals in a couple of the very nice resort hotel restaurants and bars in the area.  

The Yokohama Friendship Bell

The Yokohama Friendship Bell was gifted to the City of San Diego by the citizens of Yokohama, Japan, in May 1958 to commemorate the centennial of U.S.-Japan relations and to celebrate their new sister-city partnership—the first on the U.S. West Coast.

The Girl In Red Shoes

Adjacent to the Yokohama Friendship Bell stands the small bronze statue titled “The Girl in Red Shoes.” It was also a gift from the city of Yokohama. The figure represents a young girl named Kimi, inspired by a famous Japanese song that tells of a little girl taken abroad by a foreigner.  It symbolizes departure, innocence, and cultural connection across oceans. The statue faces across the Pacific  at Japan reinforcing the shared themes of peace, remembrance, and enduring friendship between Japan and the United States.

The Tunamen Memorial on Shelter Island

The Tunaman’s Memorial was dedicated in 1988, and honors generations of San Diego tuna fishermen. The memorial serves as a tribute to the many who were lost at sea and to the immigrants (particularly Portuguese, Italian, and Japanese) that built San Diego’s once-thriving tuna industry.  There are plaques on the monument listing the names of fallen fishermen. 

I couldn’t verify the name of the sculpture, the name of the artist, the date of installation, or a formal dedication story.  Nevermind.  It's just a really pretty statue.

Now just another couple of ship photos I found interesting.

So, today is October 31 - Halloween.  It is ironic that on this day, exactly 15 years ago, we were in Rockport, Texas preparing to leave on the first turn around America's Great Loop.  Thus, it is appropriate that we dressed ship in similar fashion.

October 30, 2010

October 30, 2025

Notice the pumpkin hanging in the front window in both photos.  Alas, it's not the same pumpkin, but it was fun to do all the same.  It is ironic that we were preparing on both occasions to sail off to an adventure of a lifetime.  We are so lucky as this is the second adventure of a lifetime we are preparing to sail off to.

We have more shopping to do today and then we return the car.  Tomorrow is food prep day.  Busy, busy.  The check in, the skipper's meeting, and the Cheese Burgers In Paradise Party are on Sunday. Departure on Monday.

Chat soon.

This is what happens when boredom sets in.

Monday November 3, 2025

Today is the start of the 31'st Baja HaHa.  We will leave at around 1100 on a "rolling start".  This means we will simply start heading south without any time taking or a start sequence.  There will be no wind at all; likely none until Wednesday.  So, a-motoring we will go.  Fortunately, there will be plenty of fuel available to purchase in Turtle Bay (Bajia Tortugas).

Yesterdays activities were interesting and fun.  We started off with the checkin where we got our meal tickets for the Last Cheeseburger in Paradise Party and our swag bag ticket.  Then we had the Mandatory Skipper's Meeting where the Rally Instructions were covered in detail and lots and lots of questions were asked and answered.

The Grand Poobah of the Baja HaHa.

Patsy, the Vice-Poobah (she answered more questions than the Poobah)

There had to be 500 people at the party.  The food was good and the costumes were very good.  The music was a bit too loud, but it had to be heard across the entire WestMarine Parking Lot.  WestMarine has been hosting the kickoff party for at least the last 20 years.

Well, that's it for now.  We will write again when our hook is firmly ensconced in the sandy bottom at Turtle Bay - likely arrival on Thursday morning.

Adios for now.