Touring Santa Barbara after Cindy joins the boat, October 4th 2011

After enduring many hardships and dangers (not really) the fearless crew of S/V Cool Breez’n finally reached the exotic shores of La-La Land (Southern California) where many distractions now compete for our time and attention: time seem to fall through our fingers like sand through a sieve. I imagine our friends and family who have been enjoying our blog must be wondering, what's happened to the fearless crew? Well I’m happy to report that we’ve just been having so much fun sight-seeing that we haven’t taken the time to update our blog. Sorry!

A forecast of heavy winds and rain kept us from venturing beyond the harbor for several days, after Cindy joined the boat in Santa Barbara. So we spent the days walking around town, visiting the Mariner’s Museum and old Spanish historical sites like the Presidio, De La Guerra’s family house, Santa Barbara’s Museum of History and the Zoo. Alex did some fishing too and cooked a fish dinner one evening.

A large part of the Mariner’s Museum is devoted to commercial diving which is not surprising since offshore oil development and commercial diving are so interdependent. If I grew up here I’m sure I would have been a commercial diver.

For those of you who are not Dana fans, Jose De La Guerra was a wealthy officer in the garrison at Santa Barbara when Richard Dana visited the area in the 1830’s. He invited Dana to his home for many evenings of food, drink and conversation, which gave Dana an opportunity to meet and talk with other educated guests. (Richard Dana wrote Two Years Before the Mast).  It was cool seeing the old Spanish mission and garrison that stood here when Richard Dana traveled to California but it is difficult to comprehend the changes that have taken place in a few short centuries that have since passed. Santa Barbara’s architecture still reflects its Spanish heritage. Tile roofs, stucco walls, arched doorways, verandas accented with colorful flowers. The tall shade trees that line Santa Barbara’s main street keep the temperature very comfortable during mid-day.