I am not always able to be on the boat and Covid left me land-locked. I decided to bring the mindful sailing environment home. So I decided to convert my courtyard into a Tiki inspired space.

I started with adding some depth to my patio storage.

We wanted to have storage and a dry bar area. Here I am laying out the bar area.

I only made drawings for the primary structure. My vision for the TIKI finish was vague and needed an organic inspiration. I found some inspiration from forever bamboo in San Diego California. I first used their Lauhala Matting as wall coverings. I then used redwood as the boarder and the handrail.

The next quest was securing the storage areas. I used solid core door blanks and thought dock cleats would make nice door handles.

Now what to cover the door with. Again went to forever bamboo for some bamboo slating, I covered the doors with the slating and used brass screw to fasten them.

It was a slow process, However being mindful is about enjoying the process while moving to a goal.

The last big push was to cover the block wall , roofing and add a sun cover . here are all of the supplies

Doing the final layout for the bamboo and roof thatch

Her is the finished layout

We hade the most fabulous room at the SeaVenture in Pismo Beach. The Room had a hot tub overlooking the Beach.

We had some black forest cake from the Madonna Inn and chocolate covered strawberries from the Hotel while sitting on the Balcony watching the beach goers and surfers.

We ended the day with dinner at F.McLintocks we shared the best 22oz bone in ribeye that we have ever had.

Where is Conni

We explored the Central coast and some of the winery’s the next day. Conni kept hiding in the pictures

We where the only people at Kynsi Winery while we where tasting their excellent wines we got serenaded by a young Italian that was just hanging around the hedges.

Conni’s enjoying the gardens and wine at Wolf Vineyards. Can you find her?

The Gardens at Wolff Vineyards where so beautiful

Life goals are like a windward mark, your course is not direct.  Life’s reward is not the goal, It is the actions and interactions on the journey.  The journey is the makeup of who and what you are.

Getting ready to go to our first waypoint, Catalina Island. Initially we had not planned on stopping, just sailing on past. Due to the health of the crew, it was deemed prudent that an overnight stay on a mooring ball or anchor was needed (the crew was feeling the beginnings of sea sickness much to our disbelief). A word of advice for those following: coming in to Two Harbors for the first time, in the dark, with 15 year old guides and no spot light is not fun. Thankfully we had a very good chart plotter that got us right in to the entrance path, and we were able to follow a fishing boat in, whom I suspect was as lost as we were judging by their lack of gusto once inside the harbor, before reaching the mooring field.

Once we figured out the correct channel to hail the harbor master, and a little bit of searching to find him, everything was very smooth. He directed us towards him in the dark with his spotlight right to an open mooring ball, than worked with us on properly tying our boat to it. he was very patient and helpful throughout the entire process. unfortunately before he was able to check us in, he had to go and help the flood of other boats that were also trying to get moorings for the night. About half an hour later he returned, just to be immediately pulled away again. The night was calm, being on the leeward and coastal side of the island.