Catalina, The Island Of Romance - Our Anniversary 

The scouting Party Continues It's Work

The Scouting Party Goes To Catalina (Page Two)

We now finalize the arrangements at the Villa Portofino Hotel and the Bluewater Grill.   We took care of the golf course on the way back!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We walked down the promenade to the hotel and the Blue Water Grill

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
The grille was pretty busy as it was a beautiful day!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Sue waited while Paul conducted business

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
"I am freezing!"

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
An oxymoron if we every saw one!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We find the taxi!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
10.1 miles as the crow walks!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We are on our way!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
The stagecoach road was a bit narrow at times

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Here come da bus.... Breath in!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We stopped for a photos shoot - The tower is called the "Black Jack Black Jack Radio Facility 33-23-13.1 N, 118-24-03.3 W "

Did You Know? - "Shadow areas" on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, on Santa Catalina Island and in Malibu, where radio signals sometimes cannot reach county emergency vehicles, will be served next year by a communications complex high on a Catalina mountaintop.

The county-funded complex on Blackjack Mountain will use a microwave relay system to bounce radio signals to Catalina, then back into hard-to-reach canyon and coastal areas on the mainland.

"If a vehicle is traveling in one of these shadow areas, they cannot get good communication from command posts who are trying to reach them," said Farid Khalil, deputy director of engineering for the county Facilities Management Department.

Mount Orizaba is the highest peak on Santa Catalina Island, California, United States. The summit is at 2,097 feet. On January 10, 1949, 8 inches of snow fell on the mountain.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Someone is going home

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
A better view of the Black Jack Radio Tower

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Last summer this was dry as a bone!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
This is a small park with children's playground equipment

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Right off the road... Paul was brave and got out of the car!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
They are used to civilization!


He was watching us carefully

Did You Know? - The non-native but charismatic Catalina Island bison herd has existed for nearly a century.

This herd of American Bison roam and were supposedly first imported to California's Catalina Island in 1924 for the silent film version of Zane Grey's Western tale, The Vanishing American. However, the 1925 version of "The Vanishing American" does not contain any bison whatsoever and shows no terrain that even remotely resembles Catalina, according to Jim Watson, columnist for the Catalina Islander newspaper.

Over the decades, the bison herd grew to as many as 600 individuals. The population currently numbers approximately 150. Biologists found that the American Bison of Santa Catalina Island are not pure bred; 45 percent have a domesticated cow as an ancestor.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
The leader of the pack!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
One of the three herds on the island today

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Enjoying all the new green grass!

Did You Know? - Controlling the bison population, however, remains important for Catalina's overall ecological health. In the past, bison were routinely removed and sent to the mainland to auction. In 2004, the Conservancy partnered with the Morongo Band of Mission Indians, the Tongva (thought to be Catalina's original inhabitants some 7,000 years ago), and the Lakota tribe on the Rosebud Reservation in South Dakota. A hundred bison were relocated "home" to the Great Plains. Recently however, another solution was implemented. The Conservancy initiated a scientific study that determined that a herd of between 150 and 200 would be good for the bison, and ecologically sound for the island. Beginning in 2009, the herd was given animal birth control to maintain the population at around 150 animals.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Catalina's Airport in the Sky

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Did You Know? - Catalina Island's only airport is privately owned and located 10 miles from Avalon, a 30 minute drive and 13 miles from Two Harbors, a 45 minute drive. The airport is open the public and is primarily used for general aviation. Freight aircraft arriving from the mainland also use the Airport in the Sky. There are no scheduled passenger flights to and from Catalina Island. The airport sits 1,600 feet above sea level, one of the highest points on Catalina Island.

The Airport in the Sky is home to DC-3 Grill and Gifts, a restaurant and gift shop featuring Buffalo burgers, sandwiches and world famous cookies. The Skyline Drive Tour stops at the Airport in the Sky for 30 minutes. Plenty of time to shop, have lunch or visit the Nature Center. You can also get to the Airport on the Safari Bus or by hiking or biking up.

The Airport in the Sky was commissioned by the Wrigley Family. The airport officially opened in 1946. Two mountain tops were leveled and the remaining canyon filled in to create the 3,200 foot runway. Construction of the runway began in 1940 and was nearly complete when Pearl Harbor was bombed in 1941. Because of World War II, construction was halted and the airfield, along with the rest of Catalina Island, was leased to the United States Government for $1 per year. The runway was covered with debris so that enemy aircraft would not be able to use it as a base. After the island was returned to the Wrigley Family and the Santa Catalina Island Company, paving of the runway and completion of the tower and terminal building commenced.


Getting the layout of the land

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We had a glass of wine at the restaurant

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
While sitting on the patio, we made a new friend!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Hello there!

Did You Know? - The Catalina Island fox is found on Catalina Island and nowhere else in the world. An adult fox weighs just 4 to 6 pounds and is about 25% smaller than its mainland ancestor, the gray fox. Its diet includes mice, lizards, birds, berries, insects, and cactus fruit. It is Catalina's largest terrestrial predator.

In late 1999, an outbreak of distemper virus caused the fox population to plummet from about 1,300 to just 100 animals. In 2000, the Catalina Island Conservancy and its partner, the Institute for Wildlife Studies, implemented the Catalina Island Fox Recovery Plan. The plan combined relocation, vaccinations, captive breeding and release, and wild fox population monitoring.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
He was right below the patio!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
His playground went on for miles!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
He walked down the patio wall looking for a handout!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
The garbage smells "Lip Smacking Good"

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
He could not figure it out!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
"Good by cheap humans... I could have used a hamburger!"

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
A magnificent day at the airport

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Even the cactus are green after this winter season!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Back to Mr. Toad's Wild Ride!

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We stopped by the golf course to make reservations of our May adventure

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
Panoramic view of Avalon Harbor showing the steamer S.S. Hermosa docked in front of the Hotel Metropole. There are appear to be more tents than permanent buildings being used as dwellings.

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017
We had our wine... Time to set sail for home

Anniversary trip to Catalina 3/24/2017

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