On the road, again

So I’m in LA – along with my boat, Spot – and the regatta is in SF, so yeah, there’s a little car ride to get things started.

There are several routes, but I ultimately decided on heading up the 101 to avoid traffic and because it’s nicer than I-5, which is a straight road through the beanfields.

I made the trip in my Tesla Model S (yep, I have a third party hitch, and yep, works great) so some charging stops would be involved…

Lots of different terrain to navigate moving from SoCal to NoCal.

Not to mention construction. So be it.

Grapes in SB county … Pinot Noir basking in the sun.

First charging stop in Santa Maria. The chargers are in the parking garage of a mall, nice.

Charging at 460 mph so does *not* take long … and I’m on the road, again.

Avila Beach! Pretty … and my last view of the Pacific Ocean for quite a while, as the road curves inland.

Next charging stop was in San Arto, at the 43 Bar ranch. This is now an olive mill, and yes, the chargers are in the parking lot of the mill. Who knew?

Well as long as I’m charging, might as well go inside, right?

Meet Rian, my olive oil *tasting* host. Most excellent!

The Olive Mill equipment. I got the E-ticket tour. Yay. No matter where you find yourself, there you are. And so then, onward…

North of Salinas, and suddenly the landscape changes, and poof! we are now in Northern California. It’s cooler, woodier, and just … different. Last charging stop in Gilroy (garlic capital of the world).

Enjoying a fantastic burger at Denny’s. Believe it or not, a woman in the restaurant paid for my meal, no words spoken. I guess I owe someone else a burger!?

San Francisco at last, row houses and everything.

Golden Gate Park, in the middle of the city … at rush hour.

Yay, the ocean again! And boats sailing, and Alcatraz Island … getting excited.

First view of St Francis Yacht Club, right on the water, right inside the Golden Gate.

Lots of 505s are here …

View West, boatyard, yacht club, and … the Golden Gate in the background.

Here!

An aerial view of the boatyard, with spots mapped, I have been assigned #27.

Just in time to see the sun set!

And Spot safely snugged in her spot.

The view from the YC bar … and yes, their steaks are delicious!

Tomorrow the racing begins – Sat/Sun are the “pre-worlds”, a sort of practice regatta, Mon is a day off (for weighing boats, measuring sails, etc), and then Tue the real Worlds begin. Stay tuned!