Marina Del Rey - The Chitlins

Ever since Izzy was in college at Loyola Marymount Jeff has wanted to bring the boat to Marina Del Rey. Finally that day came. Monday morning June 24th we released ourselves from our mooring ball in Long Beach and made the 36 mile ride up the coast to Marina Del Rey. We hadn't secured a place to stay because there was a big sailboat race and festival in the harbor and the park/marina we wanted to stay at couldn't tell us if they would have a space or not. While underway I called and they told me that they were full and to try back around 2p.m. That wasn't going to work for us because we were arriving at noon. I called another marina and fortunately they had space. We found our slip and got tied up. Neither of us were happy because our stern was facing this loud gross construction site. All we could hear was jack hammers and pounding and faced a giant pile of dirt. Not good. When we connected the boat to the power source it kept tripping the breaker and not allowing power to come to the boat. We tried the slip next to us and again the same thing happened. I thought maybe the office had to manually release the power so we walked up to check in and find out what was going on. The office said there shouldn't be a problem and offered to move us to another slip. We were both really happy about that. No more construction site view and loud noises. I got us untied and we headed back out to the fairway to our new slip which faced all the boats coming in and out of the harbor. Already we were much happier. Again I tied us up and when we connected the power the exact same thing happened. Jeff called the office who said they would send the dock worker down to check it out. He had Jeff try several things like disconnecting and reconnecting and turning things off and on and nothing worked. He told us he needed to get the marina electrician down to take a look at things. By this time we were thoroughly frustrated. Jeff went for the proseco and  I followed right along.

Leaving Long Beach Harbor

Seals Hanging Out

Entering Marina Del Rey Harbor

Jeff Pouring Proseco 

Finally after about 20 minutes of waiting on the electrician he finally showed up. He took one look at our system and how it was wired and told us because they had a new electrical system there it wouldn't work with the way our boat was wired and that if we wanted to stay we wouldn't have power and would have to run the generator. This wasn't an option. It wasn't as if we were at anchor and that was our only choice we were at a place that offered (and we paid for) power. We had no other choice but to move again. When we entered the harbor I noticed that there were slips available at the park marina we wanted to stay at despite what the kid in the office said. I called them back and asked about moving into one of the empty slips. We were told it was no problem and to head over. So for the third time I untied the boat and we headed over. Thank god their power worked with our system (as most all do) and we got retied and settled in. Before checking in we decided to finish our proseco and take a breath. What an ordeal it was just to get a slip. Little did we know where we were and the kind of people who are regulars at this marina. After checking in with he sleeping office worker and girl who pretend to work on a computer that was turned off we went back to the boat to relax and unwind from all the trauma of the day. That's when the real show began. Our marina was full of derelict boats and people who were trying to scam the marina by staying on the temporary dock for free. There was sailboat girl - a rough and manly girl who pretended to work on her sailboat for about 5-6 hours while a guy paddling a dingy standing up and anther guy who showed up on a bike ran around the marina back and forth to and from her boat. Later on there were two more guys who showed up yelling and screaming at her calling her a "whore" and a "bitch" and made a very loud scene. Where the hell were we? Oh and then there was sideways boat driving guy. A guy who sat sideways in his boat driving with earbuds on ignoring all boat traffic passing by including us who almost hit him because he refused to move. We watched the sheriff tow his boat that night as well. 

Sailboat Girl 

Side Boat Driver's Boat Being Towed

Despite being anxious and looking out the window every 5 seconds we both manage to sleep really well Monday night. We were both really anxious to get off the boat, exercise and see the kids. Tuesday we managed to get our bikes down from the top of the boat and went for a long 13 mile bike ride from our Marina to the Santa Monica Pier. It was great to stretch our legs and exercise. We found a great vegan Thai place to have lunch and made a plan to meet up with Izzy near his work for coffee. We went to cute place called Rose and caught up with Izzy for a bit. 

Santa Monica Pier

Santa Monica Pier

With Izzy at Rose

Tuesday night the four of us had a plan to go to dinner to celebrate Father's Day since we weren't able to in San Diego. Izzy was excited to take Jeff to an authentic sushi place that he knew of. Sam and I were less excited. We agreed to go to a vegan sushi place before hand and then to the main sushi place after. Well after we all got our acts together and sat in L.A. traffic for an hour to get Sami at Izzy's house we no longer had time for vegan sushi. Instead we found a vegan ramen hole in the wall instead. Time was ticketing and the traditional sushi place said we needed to all 4 be on time or they would give our reservation away. We all were nervous and pacing around the ramen place while they prepared Sam and I's food. We no long had time to eat it at the restaurant we would have to eat in en route to the sushi restaurant which meant hot bowls of ramen in our laps while Izzy drove. I spilled and laughed a lot. 

Sam & I in Front of Ramen Champ

Backseat Ramen Dinner

Somehow we managed to make it to sushi on time. I think I walked in with corn and noodles stuck to my shirt and pants. Either way we were happy to have had good vegan food before the boys chowed down on sushi. The dinner was nice and we were all happy to be together. The kids gave Jeff a nice workout shirt and Izzy bought everyone dinner. All and all a good night. Sam came with us back to the boat and slept over. 

Father's Day Dinner 

Jeff's New Father's Day Shirt

Wednesday morning we took our time and slept in. The three of us made our way to a coffee shop and walked around a bit in Abbot Kinney. Sam got some birthday shoes and Jeff some athleasure pants. Then we went to Erewhon for lunch and to get groceries for the week. For those of you who haven't experienced an Erewhon market, it's incredible. It's like Whole Foods times a thousand. Everything is organic and tons of great products. We first started with lunch from their deli - vegan for Sam and I and Pescaterian for Jeff. Then the shopping began. Despite having a list I could have spent all day there looking and reading the different products. It's such a wonderful place and I wish they existed outside of L.A. After all the shopping and walking around we were tired and decided to just go back to the boat and relax. We sat outside and watched the boats go by, read our books and just enjoyed the day. That night Izzy came over and I made dinner from our nice new Erewhon produce. It was nice being home with the four of us in L.A. 

Heading Out For The Day

Cruising Around In The Zeyda Mobile

Sailboats Behind The Boat

Tiding of Joy in Burton Chase Park

Our final day Thursday would bring great news for Sam. She found out that she got the house that she had seen several days before which she loved. While we were in L.A. she had been seeing places and filling out applications non-stop and finally she had a place. We were anxious to see it right away. After deciding traffic wouldn't be too bad we hopped into her car and made the 55 minute drive to her new home in Atwater Village. As we got closer and closer to her house Jeff and I couldn't believe how cute the neighborhoods were and how charming all the shops and cafes were. I wanted to live there. Finally we arrived and met New Jade, a friend Rachael and Stephen (whose lease Sam was taking over).  All three people we so nice, sweet and hospitable. We toured the charming little house and saw Sam's room and the peaceful backyard. Jeff talked with he guys while Sam and I connected with Rachel who happened to be from the Midwest like Jeff and I. When we left the three of us were so happy we couldn't believe it and couldn't believe all the crazy interweaving of our lives into that house. Finally Sam was getting settled in L.A. 

Sam's New Home

Thursday night we had a plan to celebrate Sam's birthday with her since the four of us wouldn't be together on the actual date. Now that she found out she had a home it felt like a double celebration. Weeks before she chose a vegan pizza place that she knew of from New York that just opened in Venice right by the boat. I was excited for vegan pizza and the four of us made our way there. The place was charming and quiet. The pizza was great and the four of us shared a bunch of food and wine and celebrated Sam. 

Sam's Birthday Dinner 

Vegan Gelato 

Sadly we said our goodbyes to Izzy who had to go back to work and the three of us made our way back to the boat. In the morning we had an early departure so we settled in and went to bed early. Friday we would make our way to Oxnard and stay at our sister marina.