Windy Memorial Day Weekend



Public Pier at Port San Luis

Once again we found ourselves waiting for weather so we spent some time ashore at the adorable seaside village of Port San Luis.  The public pier is used by boaters as a convenient access to town but there’s no float for dingy tie-up.  Instead, it’s a unique adventure to tie-on to the bottom rung of a ladder and then climb straight up the side of the pier to a staircase which winds to the top.  An added challenge is watching out for the fishing lines hanging over the pier and avoiding the creosote, barnacle covered pilings. 

Ladder and Staircase under Public Pier

Tying-off at the Ladder - Public Pier

A Busy Beach on Memorial Day Weekend

Seaside Village of Port San Luis

Once top-side, it’s a nice walk down the long pier to the lovely beach-side town.  The shops and restaurants were busy with visitors, and bands provided music for the Memorial Day weekend.  We checked out the shops and picked up a few groceries, then it was back to the boat to make ready for an early morning departure.  We left at 6am, passing scenic Point San Luis Lighthouse built in 1890 after a series of shipping accidents.  Port San Luis was established in the late 1800’s when it served as the main shipping port for San Luis Obispo. 

Cute Shops at Port San Luis

Although Avila Beach at Port San Luis still has a working commercial fishing pier and the inland areas have extensive apple orchards, tourism is now the main industry.  The name Avila commemorates Miguel Avila, who was granted the Rancho San Miguelito land in 1842.  As we made our way north, we met 10-18 knot winds with gusts between 19 and 22 knots.  Winds were predicted to worsen in the afternoon but we would be at Morro Bay within 3 hours so it wasn’t a major concern.  

Fog Begins to Move In

We did have the fog to contend with however, and the winds picked up a bit while rounding Point Buchon.  The hours passed quickly and it was soon time to find the bar entrance into Morro Bay through the fog.  We marveled at the mariners of the past who had to constantly find their way without radar or GPS.  We entered the narrow channel into the bay and Morro Rock loomed above us, shrouded in fog.  We found space at the Yacht Club guest dock and tied-up just before the winds began to really blow.  

Morro Rock Shrouded in Fog

Inside Morro Bay Harbor

Coincidentally, our friend Horst, a German/American, happened to be on the dock at Morro Bay Yacht Club and recognized our boat name.  We had been in radio contact with him at Cojo Anchorage and during the rough seas around Point Conception.  We were glad to know he had safely made it into port with his 36 foot sailboat, Pacific Star.  It looks like we will all be here for a while, as more gale force winds are predicted over the next several days.

Winds in the Harbor, Pacific Star on a Buoy