Catalina Island's Interior and Two Harbors (Part 3)

It's on to Two Harbors on Catalina Island. Just the anticipation of the view of the town and the coastline from above is breathtaking. It's our favorite spot on the island. If you ever want a place to get away with no phones, no TV - just rest and relaxation, along with scenic beauty - this is it. Only 1 lodging spot (the Banning House with it's 12 rooms and rustic serene ambiance), 1 campground, 1 restaurant, 1 bar, 1 grocery store. It's also a very popular boating spot.

But today we only are stopping in for lunch and a quick walk from one beach, across the Isthmus, to the beach on the other side. Two Harbors is also called the Isthmus, which in geography speak is the narrowest point of land - and you can literally see two harbors - Catalina Harbor on the windward side and Two Harbors is on the leeward side. In this case, the isthmus is only abut 1/2 mile wide, so it makes for a quick walk. And we sadly depart.

Heading back to Avalon we see more buffalo - one big male by the stables. A bike rider rides by on the road about the same time the buffalo is walking by. The bike rider speeds up to get past and the buffalo pays him no mind.

On the way home we take the other road back which goes past some beautiful beaches - Cottonwood and Ben Weston - and continue on through Middle Ranch.

We stop at the Catalina island fox home of Tachi. Tachi was the runt of the litter and abandoned by his mom and during his caring was imprinted on humans and could not be returned to the wild. He is now an ambassador to saving the native island species. Tachi was out (normally they are nocturnal) so we were happy to see him and his caretaker - Julie. At one time the tiny foxes numbered only 100 on the island. and were classified as endangered. Now they number over 700.

We pass Middle Ranch with it's stables and the Catalina Island Conservancy's nursery and maintance yard. About a dozen families live out here and work for the Conservancy. I didn't realize it but the Conservancy maintians about 200 miles of road throughout the interior of the island.

Pimu, the bald eagle has a home in Middle Ranch area also and you can stop to see him. Bald eagles live on Catalina and there are a number of nesting pairs. They are gradually making their way back after the DDT incident a number of years ago. There was already a small bus there and since our friend is from Alaska, he's seen bald eagles numerous times before so we didn't stop.

Soon we join up with the road that leads to the Airport and back to Avalon and in no time we're winding back down the steep hilly road - back home to Avalon. All in all it was a great day in Catalina Island's interior.