Hey,
It's good to hear form everyone.
We made it under the GG at 4:30 on Thursday. It was NIPPY as soon as the sun set. We hit a couple of storms and the sea was bumpy and slipery.

Ronzinante sailed under the Golden Gate at 4:30 Thursday afternoon. As we passed under we threw the flowers from Nick and Delle's wedding and some stolen Jasmine from the back patio of The Baltic in Pt Richmond.
There was a bit of rough water and some rain Thursday evening and we have a whole new meaning for the word COLD!
On Friday we discovered that the autopilot was neither auto nor piloting so after much discussion about how the ancient mariners sailed the uncharted seas with nothing, we bucked up and took our turns at watch and made it through the night and the sun looked better than it ever has when it dawned this morning. Captain, Oh My Captain, made the decission to put in at Santa Barbara today and send the *(%$)#@ part back to the factory to be repaired. Oh woe is me, now we will have to spend a few days in sunny Santa Barbara.

Thanks for your messages. We really love hearing from everyone.
Look for some pictures on the photo album and keep those cards and letters coming in.

Hey guys,

I was in a Manager's Retreat when you called on Thursday. I just wanted to wish you a good journey and to ask that you keep in touch just to let me know where you are. Today is Saturday and J.D. and Ella are coming to spend the night tonight after attending a birthday party for a little tyke up in Placerville. Don't know what time they are arriving as yet but I'm thinking macaroni and cheese might be on the dinner menu for my vegetarians. I'll probably make up a pot of bean soup for them to take home since Mommy is with child and unable to lift any more than 10 lbs or be on her feet for any length of time. My new carpet was supposed to be put in today but the weather "soothsayers" kept predicting rain for today and as I type this to you the sun is shining in my dining room window. I hope you learn to predict the weather with more accuracy than the "three doppler radars" channel 3 has here in Sacramento. Orphan Annie is doing just fine. She's back in her "Princess" mode of living and has her "nests" all over the house. One for every two hours of the day and, of course, hogging my bed as soon as I'm in it at night. I'd like to tell you she misses you badly but she is eating everything I put in her dish. So far, she hasn't turned up her nose at any of the canned food you brought. I couldn't remember the ones you told me she didn't like and I think she has had all the flavors by now. She is also being a very good girl and going "poo poo and pee pee" in her littler box if she can't get outside. Well, I'd better get out a cookbook to see what ingredients I need for mac and cheese. Don't think I've made it since J.D. left the house. I'll be looking for your update on this website so give us all something to read. We need to know what is off the coast and if you've seen anything wonderful swimming by your vessel. Love to all of you! Judy P.S. When do you think you will be in San Diego? I might be able to fly down for a week end depending on the cost, of course. I haven't been in San Diego for 30 years and I'd love to go to the zoo again and see the monkeys with the red peckers and the baboons with the blue butts. Very patriotic primates we have in San Diego!

Dear Intrepid Adventurers -
Talked to D'Elle this a.m. and understand you sailed yesterday. Hope all is going well and that you will have time to post photos and info on the trip. We are expecting snow today/tomorrow as low as 1500 feet and it is definitely looking like a cuddle-up-with-popcorn weekend.

Love & clear sailing,
Anne & Dorothy

Robeert and I had a wonderful time at the dock party and dinner afterward. We enjoyed meeting you and Tony. We are waiting for your journey to begin. Bon Voyage! God 's Speed. Judy & Robert Aka Bob

The time grows near. We have spent many hours working on Ronzinante and she is nearly ready to make the journey, however there still is much to do. The lockers must be loaded with food and all the things needed to spend 8 months on the water. Emotions run high at this time. Everything on television seems to be a story of near death experiences at sea and the reality of leaving friends and family behind is begining to be felt in the throat and behind the eyes. We would love to see everyone before so go so....................

THIS IS AN INVITATION TO OUR DOCK PARTY.
FEBRUARY 4TH
KKMI BOAT YARD
1:00 TP 7:00
KKMI is located in Point Richmond at 530 West Cutting Blvd.
You will have a chance to tour Ronzinante, have some wine and snacks and tell stories that will scare the pants off us.
We are hoping to see you there.
Contact us here if you are in need of lodging.

We're here in the beautiful foothills of the Sierras in Oakhurst. We will be here for 90 days and then off to the seas,

Tony and Sharon,

Before you sail off from San Francisco....I'd be more than happy to accomodate a gathering for you at our restaurant. We can even provide live music for the occassion.

Give me a shout if you fancy!

Otherwise I wish you both well and envy the hell out of you!

ToeKnee

The Time Has Come. Today we gave notice to our employer and November 4th will be our last day at Madera Valley. This time the sea is calling. First we will go to Oakhurst Ca. to work for a few months with our sailing partners. There are things to do to ready the 47 foot Ketch which we will be sailing. In February we will leave San Francisco and sail south along the coast. Our first port will be San Diego where we will fuel and do some more provisioning. Then our next stop should be Cabo San Lucas to stretch our legs and what ever else. The next leg of the trip will take us to the Panama Canal. The plan from there is to sail up to the Florida Keys and then to Fort Lauderdale to hook up with some other sailors for the trans Atlantic crossing. Destination... Lagos Portugal.

We made it back to San Francisco and were greeted at the airport by family. It is good to go away, but it's good to come home as well...........for a little while!!!!
The next trip is in the planning stages. We would love to hear from anyone with tales of thier travels. Four and a half months seemed like pleanty of time to see everything, but we found that all it does is titillate. The world is such a playground and there are so many places to see and pleople to meet. GOTTA GO!!!
So Tony and Sharon singing off until the next time we are OFF AGAIN.

It's time for my last message. We are in Tenerife in the Canary Islands. The weather has been great and we were able to get some more beach days. Tenerife is a volcano with the most incredible landscape we have ever seen. Tomorrow we will fly to London and the Wednesday, back to sunny California. Thanks to everyone who stayed with us on this adventure via the web site. We will always cherish the memories. Until next time.....Tony and Sharon are Off Again....over and out.

THE LAST MESSAGE...WOW DID THAT TIME FLY

Wanted to let you jnow that the party for Christmas is still on at Scott and Cheryle's I talked to Scott and Cheryle about it. The invitations are in the mail.. supposed to be, anyway. They also invited Carl and Sherry.