Sailing on our own

Well, we finally had a sail all on our own!
Long Beach harbour has one of the longest breakwaters in the Northern hemisphere, so it takes a couple of nautical miles to get outside it.  No problem there, a bit of container ship traffic, couple of other yachts but generally easier than crossing the shipping lanes in Freo!
Then we were out in the Pacific Ocean proper, wow what a feeling.  No significant waves, just a moderate swell, very comfortable.  In an average of 8 knots of breeze, we sailed along nicely at about 3.5-4 knots with full main, stay and head sails.  After awhile of having a play around with all the systems, the wind got up to about 15 knots gusting 18 so we reduced sail and started back for the slip as this was only a brief exercise in self confidence for us.  Mike did a splendid job getting back into the pen, whilst I leaped on shore to secure the lines (we are on a floating jetty and the rule is here to take all your lines with you, hence the need for someone to jump ashore to secure), and we both agreed a bow thruster is a wonderful thing to have.
We have been very busy making Fully Involved ours, little personal touches and furnishings etc.
We have found everyone to be so very friendly and helpful here, not a bit as the tv shows back in Oz would have it.  Oh and by the way, ever watched CSI Miami? It's filmed right here where we are in Shoreline Village, Long Beach! Our good friends Lloyd and Ruth bought us a pair of folding bicycles and we have been cycling everywhere we can (as we do not have a car)....those of you who know us will think nothing of Mike cycling but probably  have a hard time believing that I do to...! But it's true and I am enjoying it.
Meanwhile, we have become addicted to shopping - there is just so much 'stuff' here to choose from, simple things like for example chicken stock.....not only are there 25 different brands to choose from, you have a choice of salt free gluten free freeze dried sun dried liquid cubes powdered shaved granules kosher half a pint half a gallon aaaaaaggggghhhhh it takes forever to decide and thats just one item, we always end up with loads of stuff at checkout that we didn't even realise we needed....I love it! God Bless America,  and Happy Thanksgiving for tomorrow.