Sue's 2012 Birthday Trip To Catalina

Did You Know? - Catalina Island was first claimed by which explorers?

A Spanish galleon looking for a route to the Far East.. Spaniard Juan Cabrillo "discovered" the island in 1542.

Did You Know? - As was sometimes the tradition, the island was originally named after the ship that brought the discoverers there. Luckily, the name didn't stick as it shares the name of another famous place. What was the original name?

San Salvador. The San Salvador was Cabrillo's main ship.

Did You Know? - Before the fight with the U.S. for California, Mexico deeded Catalina Island to Thomas Robbins. The island would would be sold several times before a very rich man with a very well known name bought it in 1919. Who was this?

William Wrigley Jr.. William Wrigley Jr earned his fortune from his chewing gum empire.

Did You Know? - The Bloody Mary's origin is unclear. Fernand Petiot claimed to have invented the drink in 1921 while working at the New York Bar in Paris, which later became Harry's New York Bar, a frequent Paris hangout for Ernest Hemingway and other American expatriates. Another story maintains that actor George Jessel created the drink around 1939. In 1939, Lucius Beebe printed in his gossip column This New York one of the earliest U.S. references to this drink, along with the original recipe: "George Jessel's newest pick-me-up which is receiving attention from the town's paragraphers is called a Bloody Mary: half tomato juice, half vodka.

Did You Know? - Catalina also attracted tourists for its sports and activities. Which fact is not true?

A world-class velodrome, or cycling track, was built as cycling was one of the most popular sports of the early 20th century.. Velodrome racing was at its height at the turn of the century and lost popularity as Catalina was built-up.

Did You Know? - This famous actor took had his first screen test on Catalina Island while doing radio broadcasts.

Did You Know? - Because of its isolation, Catalina also has some unique wildlife. Which of the following is not true?

A herd of Tule Elk, not accustomed to hilly terrain, have adapted and thrived after being brought to the island for sanctuary.. The carrier pigeon service on Catalina is believed to be the very first commercial air mail service in the U.S

Did You Know? - Catalina has several sentimental claims to fame, including all of these except one. Which is the exception?

To encourage weekend visitors from Los Angeles, Catalina remained the last place you could be legally married without a license in the state of California.. The Bird Park was the world's largest aviary and was in operation for 35 years. It was partly built from the structure of an old ballroom

Quotation To Remember: "Give me the fresh air, a beautiful partner, and a nice round of golf... and you can keep the fresh air and the round of golf." - Jack Benny

Quotation To Remember:"I'm not saying my golf game went bad, but if I grew tomatoes, they'd come up sliced." - Lee Trevino