Sunday, April 28, 2019

Traveling with Stan to Santa Catalina - 4

Saturday, 27 Apr 2019 - Exploring Avalon, Santa Catalina






After a leisurely wake up & breakfast on the yacht, we went ashore & walked over to watch the fishermen & see the divers along the pier around the casino.  We had hoped to snorkel, but we talked to the divers in their wet suits & they said it was very very cold! 




We decided to take a Jeep tour of the island, even though it was a bit foggy!  Sherri, our driver talked non-stop about the history & relating stories about the island.  These Spanish Eucalyptus were planted by Mrs Wrigley to keep the stage coaches on the road!!


We stopped at the airport, but it was all fogged in!




As we continued our drive, the fog lifted & the views got more & more spectacular!




We pulled off on a side road to see the WWII barracks (just cement holes in the ground left). 



We realized the jeep had a flat!  Sherri started trying to take care of it, but couldn't get the lug nuts off, so George helped.





We were treated with a great interaction with the well renowned bison herd!!  They were originally brought over in 1924 by Zane Grey to make one of his silent movies.  Since then, they have become a huge tourist attraction & the herd is maintained at about 150 beasts by a method of birth control!  They were big & healthy looking!




We continued towards the end of the island with a last stop for a picture of us.




On the way back, we were lucky enough to see a mule deer and then the little native fox came out to pose for us beside the road!!!  He's smaller than the mainland red fox and just as cute as a button!


We stopped for another picture of the harbor & a view of Stan's yacht!!  It is 4th row from the shore & has a blue top.


We had another lovely relaxing evening on the boat that evening.

Saturday, April 27, 2019

Traveling with Stan to Santa Catalina - 3

26 Apr 2019 - Exploring Avalon, Santa Catalina




After a beautiful nights sleep rocking on the water in the harbor, we got up & had a leisurely morning on the boat.  





Then we decided to head ashore to do some investigating.  First stop was the Santa Catalina museum.  Most interesting was the story about Natalie Woods dying there in a suspicious drowning.  And of course the history of Santa Catalina & the Wrigley's.  Did wonder if when Mom was an switch board operator in Gilmer, if it looked liked this one?


Didn't get to see many identifiable birds, but did spot this Flicka on a Palm Tree. 







Then we walked all the way up the hill to the Wrigley Memorial & Botanic Garden.  I thought it was only about 1 mile, but ended up that it was more like 2 to 3 miles & mostly uphill!  Both the men were a bit irritated with me!  But the garden & memorial was worth the visit.




After fish & chips at Antonios Pizzaria and ice cream at Scoops we headed back to the boat!  For another lovely lovely night rocked to sleep by the harbor water!!

Thursday, April 25, 2019

Traveling with Stan to Santa Catalina 2


25 Apr 2019 - Arrived at Avalon Harbor, Santa Catalina



Harbormaster led us to our "parking space" & we got secured to our buoy.



We settled in a little bit, then hopped in the zodiac & headed over to land.


Stan's Alaskan Gypsy in the Avalon Harbor with the Casino in the background.





Took a small walk around town. This place is gorgeous!



Back on board, we relaxed for the evening - Watched dolphins swim all around us & folks using paddle boards to get from shore to their boats!