Sailing along the US coast is easy despite the fog n the lack of wind...we just follow the highway one as many tourists... Central California show us how the landscape change from the "canadian style"forest of the north to the "californian desert "of the south; we skip San Fransisco...no time to get lost in this huge cruising ground...

Fort Bragg, Bodega bay, Drakes bay, Halfmoonbay, Punto Ano Nuevo, Santa Cruz, Monterey, Moro Bay, St Luis Obispo offer stops with very contrasted feelings but have in common the chilly morning, bell ringing beacons, barking sea lions (with a special mention to the citizens of MONTEREY, using the metalic inside of the pier for a special louder effect), and the kindness of the local harbour authorities...always playing the "off season game"with us each time we visit them with the dinghy... Fresh food everyday,  quiet weather...real tourism with the bonus of the marine wild life...Respect to the americans: Still a lot of wild life along this coast !

Same swell than in the north, but the forest begin to give some space for light green

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Further south FORT BRAGG, a very protected and strange place, also dominated by fishing activity all year round

up river; perfect for summerfishers; 1 camping space + 1 boat space...

With the dinghy up the NOYO river:  shy harbour seals...smaller n less noisy than the permanent barking sea lions...

Shot from the bridge: we have to climb again on the HIGHWAY 1 to find a grocery store in "standard "US landscape

as the stores down the harbour are not the same type...

Evening ride back  to ALCYONE, carefully anchored outside of the inlet.

To much engine hours lead us to BODEGA BAY: The first Eucalyptus trees give a so pleasant warm feeling !

fishing of course, but the bay offer also wine tasting: Famous SONOMA vineyards are not far...

...the landscape shows definitly a dryer and warmer climate...

...The Highway 1 get some colors to stop the drivers...

...but closer to water, there is still a lot of wild life...

BODEGA bay is lively...the situation less than 30 miles away from the north shores of SAN FRANSISCO is a reason.

Leaving BODEGA; No wind and fog: tricky conditions as in 15mn you can be in less than 25m of visibility...

...today this situation remain until 15h00 when we got a nice surprise,,,

...this humbackwhale decide to make a show for us...

and she was not alone in the area with 8 whales to watch at the same time

It seems they love the navy test area in the vicinity of point REYES

...this save our motoring day before  the huge and desert anchorage of DRAKES BAY behind this busy rock.

Another 75% motoring day later, we arrive on the other side of SF bay

in very convenient HALFMOON BAY: a huge and perfectly protected space behind a long breakwater...

Anchorage is far from full, harbour authorities are friendly, place is also good to buy food n test various restaurants

Big mistake next day...at 8k under sail, we want to shortcut the access to ANO NUEVO anchorage through the kelp....

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..ALCYONE is trapped... n escape at 2k, with help of wind both engines

...but the place is magical: the swell protection is good, the barking seals are far enough, the birds are numerous...

Impossible to land, but let's enjoy a morning dinghy ride in this natural spot...

The debonair Pelicans...

...sorry his majesty Pelican...

...sharing the rocks, apparently without problem  with the cormorans...

...No fear: all these guys know we cannot reach them and they ll not move one piece of wing...

...and this light n gracious egret has less problem than ALCYONE to move in the kelp field

Next day: SANTA CRUZ, another world...no wind... we anchor out.

No doubt, the place is off season !

Waves breaking on a very wide stripe of sand...

...cannot create other things than a strong beach culture...

...even off season, surf is also active...

American love the success story as the one of O NEIL in the surf buisness, SANTA CRUZ is his still his kingdom...

But from 1907, SANTA CRUZ  is also the place of...

...the famous beach bordwalk, a huge amusment park...

And his promoter is also a kind of hero here...

Offensive of UBER on electrical bicycle is impressive in Santa Cruz...

We are now in Historic MONTEREY; a nice welcome even a bit bumpy for ALCYONE anchored east of the marina

Monterey was the capital of mexican california. the city is not escaping  to the fishing activity, but ...

...a whole part of the harbour district is rebuilt as in the "Zorro"time...

...the result is outstanding, but need time to be visited...

...but many people enjoy only one of the seafood restaurants of the pier

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Next stage south is MORRO BAY...with a lot of swell outside, we decide to enter the harbour...

The glamour view on the former central is free...

...but the place is extremly friendly n food refill at walking distance

Today, we play it better with a bit of breeze pushing south...

SAINT LUIS OBISPO is the next anchorage: A wide bay with a lot of space...

This place is full in summer

The pier is very long and as often along the coast gives access to cars...

...but the dinghy access through a stainless ladder required a bit of more physical action...

SAINT LUIS OBISPO unexpected night visitor...very soon SOUTH CALIFORNIA !