San Luis Obispo - Leg 6

The off day in San Simeon was a bit of a disappointment.
The fog continued most of the day, but we did get a few glimpses of Hearst Castle on the nearby hilltop. (Jill’s note: with binoculars ;-)
However, we were second guessing our decision to stay for the extra day since the weather service was calling for a gale warning for the next day, between Piedras Blancas and Pt. Arguello—right where we were located.
Fortunately, the winds were not expected to increase until the afternoon.
Our options were to remain in a foggy San Simeon for three more days, dash to an equally foggy Morro Bay and wait out the two days of gale winds, or proceed to Port San Luis and wait out the gale.

We chose the latter since we could always divert into Morro Bay if the winds (and seas) built earlier than forecast.

I think we made a good decision as we got to Port San Luis (PSL) about 4pm on August 30th, just as the winds were starting to build.

PSL is a large, open harbor with a long seawall that blocks the predominant West and Northwest winds and seas. However, PSL is a working harbor and we got our first taste of refueling from a pier with nothing but the pier pilings to use for tieing-off. I had been telling Jill we needed fender boards for Mexico and had planned to make them in San Diego. We must have generated “Tourist” comments from the local fishermen as we tried to hold our precious painted and waxed surfaces away from the barnacle encrusted telephone poles that hold up the pier. The fuel “dock” operator lowered the hose to us from ten feet above our heads, complaining all the while that it was time to “close up shop,” “I’m not supposed to be working this late” (it was 4pm), “why was our fuel tank so far forward?” etc.,etc.

After we finished fueling, he kindly pointed out a couple of rocks that lie awash near the fuel “dock.” If you don’t really need fuel and visit PSL, you may want to skip this experience.

We anchored in the East end of the harbor, in 30 feet of relatively flat water with good holding, while watching the effects of gale winds outside the harbor. A good way to experience gale winds, in my opinion.

A peaceful night of good sleep ensued and today we will get some boat chores accomplished. (Jill’s note: which means Steve is changing fuel filters and diving the boat in 58 degree water while I’m reading a book and playing the mandolin ;-)

The gale conditions have potentially been extended another day. We will likely leave on this upcoming Tuesday or Wednesday once we know the worst of the wind and 13’ seas is over. The next leg is the rounding of Pt. Conception (sometimes called the “Cape Horn of the Pacific”) after which we plan (there’s that word again) to anchor in Cojo to savor our re-entry into Southern California. We have stayed in Cojo several times and never cease to be amazed at the difference in weather in this anchorage, located just a mile East of Pt. Conception.