The Monterey Experience

At zero-dark-three-thirty this morning, an Epipfany wakes last night's plumber from his slumber. Something he forgot to do during the test process for waste water pump “rebuild”....have to wait until Owner wakes up (about 5 hours of anticipation). Can't stand it. Zero-dark-four-thirty, had to get up, make coffee, wait...0745 finally comes. Retest system, this time with thru-hull open (reference the prior “ah-ha” moment). Works fine! Big sigh of relief....NJ showered, then we headed out and walked down Cannery Row towards to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Upon arrival, we got major sticker shock. They wanted $34.95 per person just to walk through their glass doors! We've seen Aquariums before, so decided to forgo this one and head up the hill to the Nob Hill Grocery Store. Bought some necessities, then headed over to CVS. Picked up 4 cases of beer to store on the boat (just in case), found a new electric mixer to replace the recently burned up due to excessive torque from bread dough, as well as a rolling pin (don't ask). We now had enough supplies to require calling a taxi to take us back to the boat, which we did, and our backs thanked us. Got back to boat at 1115. Unpacked & stowed our loot, and at 1145 we headed towards Old Town Monterey, marveling at some 100+ year old buildings hosting modern day botiuqes. Finally spied the Trader Joe's, entered, and immediately spied the annual Christmas holiday stash of Brandy Beans. Had to go back to entrance to get a basket, because I wasn't just going to buy one box ($2.99 each). Got nine boxes, and NJ got a box of Chocolate Cherries, 6 bananas, and a bottle of Chariot Gypsy wine, that somebody had recommended, and we picked up a Trader Joe's bag to haul our loot. On the way back to the harbor, we stopped in at the London Bridge Pub to check it out in anticipation for tomorrow's SF 49ers football game. Neat place, but 9 really small screens (like 27” !!!). Had a beer, met a nice guy named Steve who had driven down from Concord to scuba dive for the day. He was still shaking from the cold. Decided to open one of the boxes of Brandy Beans....made ALL of us warmer. Lightened load in the bag just a wee bit. Returned to Shakedown at 1600, last load of laundry (bedding) hauled to “laundromat” by NJ. Hal got into “deep” storage in setee bench to pull out some items and store boxes of Brandy Beans out of harm's way. Beer was also stowed away for pending departure Monday. Bed made, movie started, skipper fell asleep (see opening sentence) in his lazy-boy. Nuff said for this day.