We arrived at Santa Barbara and toured town for a whopping 25 cents. It is a very unique city with Spanish Colonial architecture. In addition to being a popular tourist and resort destination, the city has a robust economy which includes a large service sector, education, technology, health care, finance, agriculture, manufacturing, and local government. In 2004, the service sector accounted for fully 35% of local employment. Education in particular is well-represented, with five institutions of higher learning on the south coast . The University of California, being their main campass. The football field was across from the marina and it is larger than any CFL football stadium. They take their college football seriously.We loved it. We spent 2 days here then carried on to Oxnard , California.

We stayed at the Pacific Corinthian Yacht Club for 3 days. This to date had been the best facility we had stayed at. Swimming pool, hot tub, restaurant and pub. All for the whopping price of free!. It was such a treat to spend time in the hot tub soaking.

South of the Santa Barbara Channel where Oxnard is located is some of the most crowded cruising grounds on earth. The marine environment on the mainland is now largely artificial. Oxnard is a very pretty and the outside ocean weather does not effect the water inside the harbour. The people at the yacht club could not have been more hospitable.

Onwards we went to Marina del Rey. Approximately one hour into our journey we received a radio call.

"The pleasure boat west of the P&G power plant please respond on channel 16"

This is RGenesis.

"This is the US Navy Dispatch. "Go to channel 09. What is your intentions?"

"We are traveling south to Marina del Rey"

"What is your course and speed?"

We answered only to be told we had to come to a stop and standby.

They were launching a ten foot remote control guided missile with a live warhead. These are used to target moving vessels up to a distance of 25 miles off shore. We could hear the launch. The reason for stopping us was that if the rocket is a dud it falls to the ocean in the first 5 miles and still has a live warhead. To the best of our knowledge it didn't hit the target or us. A helicopter then picks it up and returns it to the launch site. Its attended target is a 24' power boat also remote control. This information was gained from the navy patrol officer whom stopped us. Never a dull moment.

Marina del Rey is a seaside unincorporated area of Los Angeles County. Its Fisherman village offers a view of Marina del Rey's feature as one of the largest man made harbour in the US. It contains 19 marinas with a capacity for 5300 boats. We stayed at the California Yacht Club again free as a reciprocal. The next stop for 2 days Redondo Beach.

The beaches here are white and dotted with lifeguards and persons playing beach volleyball. The boardwalk follows the beaches with restaurants, homes, and businesses. It is a wonderful walk to watch people out exercising in the sun. We are staying at the King Harbor Yacht Club. Again at a great price. Free.

The water has seemed to have changed colors again. It is clearer and blue tourquois in color. I am not sure what the temperatures of the water are but much warmer than Canada.

Our clothing now consists of shorts and t-shirts no more long pants and turtlenecks.

Long Beach is our next destination and again we will be staying at a reciprocal yacht club.