May 26, 2008
Sometime shortly after my husband and I were married, we went out to California together, and while we were there, we had a wonderful opportunity to catch the Catalina Express one morning from Long Beach and head out to Catalina Island for the day. Catalina lies west of southern California on the Pacific Ocean, and is the southern most island of the Channel Islands, sometimes called the Santa Barbara Islands.
I had heard of Catalina. I was pretty certain there was a song written about Catalina. I had an excited feeling inside whenever I thought about the possibility of going to Catalina, but nothing quite prepared me for its wild mountainous beauty, colorful flora and fauna, and its charming town of Avalon with its pristine harbor and huge flotilla of white boats of all sizes and types. We were awed, and to say we had a tremendous time on that first visit would be quite an understatement. After we walked around a bit, we took the tour bus all the way to the top of the highest peak where the airport is located, and is nearly always covered by thick clouds. We ate in wonderful restaurants there, visited shops, snapped photos ~ and could hardly believe it when it was time to catch the last ferry back to Long Beach.
My heart has never let me forget our time in Catalina that year, and I have always yearned to go back. Singer Tony Bennett might have left his heart in San Francisco, but mine very much remained on Catalina Island.
My busy, hard-working husband told me this past April that he had yet another, no, TWO more business trips right in a row out to southern California coming up in May. He suggested that since he would only be flying back for the weekend, that this time I could go with him, if I wanted. He didn't have to twist my arm ~ not even a little. May finally came, and we flew out on the 19th, and spent a lovely twelve days there (slightly lovely more for me since I wasn't the one having to work some of that time), stayed in Brea and also in Long Beach on the Queen Mary. While on the QM, we kept hoping for one nice, sunny day so we could make our plans to return to the Island of Catalina, but day after day there were nothing but ominous looking clouds, cool weather, and occasional rain. Finally, we had one night and day left in Long Beach, and I suggested that we ignore the weather and just go for it, rain or shine...and that's just what we did!
We walked from the Queen Mary to the Catalina Express office the next day...under another dark and cloudy sky. Once we purchased our roundtrip tickets, boarded the ferry, and got underway, the closer we got to Catalina, the more the sun began breaking through all of those dark clouds. After about an hour's ride, we arrived at Avalon. It was a perfectly beautiful day, filled with sunshine. The city of Avalon and Catalina are truly a photographer's dream. I unpacked my trusty Canon Rebel XT Digital SLR camera with all of its lenses, and began taking photograph after photograph, trying my best to capture all the beauty and color of that which is Catalina.
I hope you enjoy just some of the shots I took on our day at the Island.
The "Aqua Link" just in front of the Queen Mary, where we catch the Catalina Express ferry
We're on our way, come rain or shine, and it's not looking too great at the moment! Look at all those dark, gray clouds!
No turning back now! We're leaving those ominous looking clouds behind and heading out to where the sunshine will be greeting us.
Passing by a pretty white sailboat. These folks aren't worried about the weather!
Passing a packed out freighter, complete with tugboats
Here it is, up close and personal!
Yours Truly, holding on to my favorite hat!
Approaching Catalina! There's always someone parasailing here! I'll just watch, thank you!
There it is! There it is! The Avalon Casino! Almost there!
Getting closer... Getting excited...
So here we are at last! I couldn't wait to get this shot of the Avalon Casino and all the glistening, white boats in the calm harbor.
Using my fisheye lens now and capturing some of the shops in Avalon
More shops and restaurants ~ Check out that neat-looking house on the hill. I could manage to spend a summer there, I think!
Most everyone who lives here either has their own golf cart or they ride a bicycle. You only see the occasional car, which we really appreciated!
Here's another place I could spend some serious time!
Gentle waves lap the shore ~ The Avalon Casino in the distance
A local seagull contentedly cooling his feathers in the water fountain in the center of town
Hubby on the right walking toward a quaint little mall with shops and small restaurants
We got a kick out of this sign inside the little mall!
Walking along Crescent Avenue, heading northwest, along the harbor
Hubby enjoying a relaxing day as he gazes out at the harbor
The Catalina Yacht Club
The entrance to the Casino ~ using my fisheye lens sometimes creates very curved buildings!
The back of the Casino
If you like to watch nature programs, you've probably seen TV specials on diving in the kelp forests here. These divers are getting ready to do just that, and to do it you must wear full body wet suits with hoods, as the water is about 64 degrees farenheight. We hope to come back and do this before we're too old and decrepit to be able to do so! ;-D
Heading down the steps toward the ocean to dive the kelp forest
Going down! (I'm so jealous!!)
The Catalina Island Museum
The reason for the statue of the Buffalo: Fourteen buffalo were shipped out to Catalina in 1924 to appear in a movie called "The Vanishing American". Over 80 years later, the buffalo herd is still thriving, and numbers around 400.
Happy Hubby at the wheel of our rented golf cart reading the map for our self-guided tour
A private patio I spotted while driving up one of the mountains on our golf cart. I instantly fell in love with it. See the little orange tabby napping on the right side? I could live here, too.
A look down into the harbor. Another Catalina Express ferry is arriving, as well as the S.S. Nautilus (the yellow submarine), a 45-minute tourist ride, which allows you to see the underwater sights from aboard the semi-submersible submarine, and feed the fish yourself from inside the vessel.
Avalon City Hall suddenly appeared in a rather unexpected spot as we drove around a corner while continuing up the mountain.
Looking through some cactus toward the mountains and valleys of Catalina
Look but don't touch!
A breathtaking view through the mountains as we continue to climb
Continuing our climb ~ so peaceful and ruggedly beautiful!
The vistas took our breath away, again and again
Me enjoying a little moment high above Avalon Harbor
There's a really nice beach below called Descanso Beach that we only had a moment to drive down and view, as we had to continue our tour and return the golf cart within the allotted time. Some day I'd like to spend some time on that pretty beach!
At the top of the world!
Another lovely vista of the ocean and boats below
This is my favorite view ~ the one that makes it all worthwhile
This comes in at a close second!
The Chimes Tower. You can hear it ringing out the time all over Avalon
Heading back on Casino Way toward Crescent Avenue and the end of our tour of the island
I snapped the Hotel St. Lauren with lightning speed as we were zooming around the corner. It was so pretty, I had to photograph it even while in motion. I'm amazed it isn't a complete blur! A lucky shot!
Pretty flower near the boat terminal while waiting for the Catalina Express to take us back to Long Beach.
Same flower, different color! They came in yellow, purple and pink...
Hubby taking some time out to call his Dad who lives in Michigan while waiting for the ferry
Our ferry has arrived to take us back! How hard it is to leave this wonderful island!
Kicking and screaming, I boarded the boat with my hubby (kidding), and so we say goodbye to our beloved Avalon and Catalina Island.
Some interesting condos we pass after the casino. Wonder how much they cost per month?
What a glorious sunset we experienced on our way back to Long Beach!
A nice couple offered to take our picture together...how could we refuse? ;-D
One more for the road...
Hubby looking thoughtful and handsome, gazing at the sunset
Coming into Long Beach Harbor... See the Queen Mary's lights behind the dome?
Coming up along the starboard side of the Queen Mary to the Aqualink
Our beautiful ship welcomes us home
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26 Miles Santa Catalina
sung by the Four Preps
Twenty- six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin' for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance, romance, romance, romance
Water all around it everywhere
Tropical trees and the salty air
But for me the thing that's a-waitin' there-romance
It seems so distant, twenty-six miles away
Restin' in the water serene
I'd work for anyone, even the Navy
Who would float me to my island dream
Twenty- six miles, so near yet far
I'd swim with just some water-wings and my guitar
I could leave the wings but I'll need the guitar for romance, romance, romance, romance
Twenty- six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin' for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance
A tropical heaven out in the ocean
Covered with trees and girls
If I have to swim, I'll do it forever
Till I'm gazin' on those island pearls
Forty kilometers in a leaky old boat
Any old thing that'll stay afloat
When we arrive we'll all promote romance, romance, romance, romance
Twenty- six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin' for me
Santa Catalina, the island of romance, romance, romance, romance
Twenty- six miles across the sea
Santa Catalina is a-waitin' for me-----------------------------------------------------------------
For more information about Catalina and the Channel Islands:
Catalina Island Chamber of Commerce:
http://www.catalinachamber.com/chamber/index.asp
Online Map of Catalina (.pdf format):
http://www.catalinachamber.com/pdf/PocketMap2006-07.pdf
Online Map of Avalon (.pdf format):
http://www.catalinachamber.com/pdf/PocketMap2006-07.pdf
Channel Islands Information on Wikitravel:
http://wikitravel.org/en/Channel_Islands_(California)
Channel Islands Information on National Park Service:
Information on the Kelp Forest:
http://www.mbayaq.org/efc/kelp.asp
"26 Miles Santa Catalina" Lyrics & Song:
http://www.lyricsdownload.com/four-preps-26-miles-santa-catalina-lyrics.html
"Catalina's Calling" ~ Song by David McMullen
http://cellfish.com/video/105178/David-McMullen---Catalinas-Calling
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Comments: 68
This is an Awesome essay,Love the pictures.
Thanks for sharing your trip,I enjoyed it..
Thanks.
Outstanding photos and information. And then all the links you included too!
Thank you so much for taking me there. I'm glad you decided to go for it!
Beautiful Photos.
I like that hotel St Lauren, I think you said was the name, without having to scroll up again. I will come back later and view all the photos individually.
I spent many summers there when young moored in that harbor on a sailboat, oh what memories of diving, fishing, exploring, etc. I'll never forget the sound of the bells either you mentioned; so nice at night to hear them when calm.
You used to be able to fly there in planes that landed on the water and taxied in to the pier at Avalon as well. It was such fun when they landed too, what a ride! It's been a while, and some things I don't remember, or weren't there last I was; like those condos though. Gorgeous place still.
Thanks, I have to go back one day myself and spend some time there again.
You did take some nice pics, though.
Now I see why this island is so popular. And what is it like staying on the Queen Mary? Do you feel as if you are on a ship?
Thank you and when I return to Long Beach (I have 2 sisters that live there) I would love to go see Catalina now! :)
The white building next to harbor above your husband's picture is the Tuna Club, where author Zane Grey was a member.
My daughter's name is also Avalon. ;)