Catalina, The Island Of Romance   - Our Anniversary 

Our Visits To Catalina

The Scouting Party Goes To Catalina

Well, it is our anniversary and we celebrate by working in Catalina. MAybe working is a strong word!  We mix work and fun! Our anniversary is perfectly timed, six weeks ahead of the Avalon Ball so we can finalize the arrangements (the rooms were secured a year ago but we make the room assignments, we notify the restaurants and arrange for separate checks and locations, etc!).

It was cool but not cold... Make walking quite pleasant!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

We Are Off!

Did You Know? - "All ashore that's going ashore" is a naval expression and means the ship is about to sail; therefore any persons not intending to sail with the ship should disembark immediately.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We are ready to sail the bounding main!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
On our way...

Did You Know? - The Hamilton Beach Airport (now called Hamilton Cove) was built as an amphibian seaplane airport and opened in 1931.  The airline, Wilmington-Catalina Airline, LTD, flew 10-passenger Douglas Dolphins two engine amphibian seaplanes. The fare from Wilmington to Catalina in those days was $5.

A small Spanish-style terminal building welcomed residents, business people & tourists to Catalina. The terminal can be seen in scenes from the 1935 movie “Murder On A Honeymoon” which was filmed on the island.

Following a water landing off shore from the narrow cove, the plane would taxi up a concrete ramp to a large turntable set into the ground.  The turntable was similar to those used in railroad round houses.

 After the arriving passengers disembarked, the turntable would be reversed by hand until the plane was facing the opposite direction.  Departing passengers would board and the plane would head back down the ramp into the sea.  The turntable was designed by Philip K. Wrigley.  The boat-like hulled seaplanes were designed by Donald Douglas, Sr., a close friend of Philip Wrigley.

Tourists and residents were served at the airport until September 1942, at which time the Coast Guard took over, after the United States entry into World War II.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We were treated to a magnificent show

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
The sea bubbled and gurgled and all of a sudden... Dolphin time!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
The encircled the boat... coming at us from all sides

Did You Know? - Common dolphins live in both warm-temperate and tropical waters ranging from 40–60°N to 50°S. Long-beaked common dolphins mostly inhabit shallow, warm coastal water.[6] Short-beaked common dolphins are common "along shelf edges and in areas with sharp bottom relief such as seamounts and escarpments".

Common dolphin have a varied diet consisting of many species of fish and squid. This includes both mesopelagic species and epipelagic schooling species. They have been recorded to make dives up to 200 metres (660 ft) deep.

Common dolphins can live in aggregations of hundreds or even thousands of dolphins.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
There were hundreds all around the boat!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
The dolphins can really move

Did You Know? - They are fast swimmers (up to 60 km/h), and breaching behavior and aerial acrobatics are common with this species.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
They would come within 2-3 feet of our ship!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Four in a row underwater and they would breach at the same time

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
There were dolphins several hundred feet from the boat

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Zipping right along

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Glad we had a telephoto lens... Listen carefully!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
As we speeded up, so did they!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
They did NOT see the speed limit sign

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Hurry... The boat is about to leave!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Here we go... Here they come!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
See you later!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Look carefully, there are hundred's of them!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Easy to see from the inside of the ship!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Bye bye!


It happens to all of us!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
The mountains are so green!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We will be seeing you up close very soon... The Avalon Ball

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Our trusty steed gets ready for another journey to the mainland!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We have seen the other side of this sign for fifteen years!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Didn't realize the other side was different   and the sign contains a time capsule

Did You Know? - A time capsule is a historic cache of goods or information, usually intended as a method of communication with future people and to help future archaeologists , anthropologists , or historians .Time capsules are sometimes created and buried during celebrations such as a world's fair , a cornerstone laying for a building or at other events.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Did You Know? - Quick Description: This beautiful tiled welcome sign greets visitors as the disembark at the ferry terminal on Catalina Island, in Avalon, the only incorporated town on the Island. A 100-year time capsule was placed here on Oct. 13, 1987.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Eclectic decorations

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Great bar!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Corn on the cob... Excellent!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
The poppers were OK but needed so be fried longer to get crusty!


Lobster enchilada


Veggie taco's

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

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