Whale Watching around Catalina Island

Last Sunday the American Cetacean Society (the whale society) of Orange County sponsored a whale watching trip around Catalina Island. The Catalina Flyer from Newport came over to Avalon on it's normal run and instead of being on a mooring all afternoon in Avalon, it took a cruise around the island looking for whales. It was a great deal for Catalina residents - only $35 plus it was narrated by whale experts and by Aaron, a wonderful naturalist from the Catalina Conservancy. Most of the 3rd grade class at Avalon School got to go - for many it was their first trip around the island.

The boat was a bit late in arriving but once we were on board we headed south, past Lover's Cove toward Pebbly Beach and past the quarry. Our first stop was Seal Rocks. Now I'm not sure why they call it Seal Rocks since the California sea lion hangs out here, but I guess a pinniped is a pinniped. The sea lions are curious so before long a gang of them came close to the boat, checking us out.

We eventually cruised on and ran into porpoises everywhere! Very cool. Some came right close to the boat and in the clear water you can see them streaming alongside. Others were leaping out of the water in groups of 2 or 3. Almost everywhere you looked, you could spot them.

Then we saw a blow! (Thar she blows!) And we're off in search of the gray whales. Gray whales migrate from Alaska to their mating and calving waters in Baja every fall and head back to Alaska every spring. From January to March is the best time to find them in the waters around Catalina. About 90% of them are on the outside - the backside of Catalina - and about 10% of them head inside in their northern journey - between Catalina and the mainland - going by Avalon. They are big - about 45 feet for an average adult and they weigh 30-40 tons.

We ended up seeing quite a few gray whales - more than we had expected. It was amazing to think they they are traveling such distances. They were certainly on a beeline to Alaska. They come up, blow, and you can see the bulks of their backs, and then they head back down with a classic whale tail dissolve.

As we continued around the island, many in the boat spotted one whale breaching just outside of Two Harbors. I missed it of course, but I did see the splash.

We also saw more porpoise and even bald eagles - in fact we got close enough to see a bald eagle nest - with an eagle cam close by sending pictures of the eagles (and soon to be eaglets) across the internet.

We were back in Avalon by about 3pm. All in all it was a great way to spend an day! Cruising the coastline of Catalina in search of whales. Thanks to the American Cetacean Society for sponsoring the trip. They do it every year in March. We'll do it again!

Yacht Regatta Finishes in Avalon Harbor

Dateline: Avalon, Catalina Island. What's great about living high on the hill on Catalina Island is that you get to observe what's happening below -in the town and harbor. Arthur calls it being "a spy in the sky." It's like being a voyeur in your own town; it's the ever constantly changing TV.

Mostly we sit out on the deck and watch the harbor. It's always fun to watch the harbor fill up for the weekend. This Saturday late afternoon there was a regatta finishing up just outside the harbor, near Casino Point. We watched a 35-40 foot red-hulled foot boat, which we later found out was called the Pendragon, coming in on a long port tack. From the corner of my eye I caught another boat (T N T) coming in from Lover's Cove, that tacked and headed toward the finish line also - also on a port tack. At the finish line, both boats were neck and neck toward the line. After watching Pendragon for 20 minutes on a beeline to the end, TNT snuck across the finish line just a boat length ahead of the Pendragon. I'm sure Pendragon wasn't happy. But as yachtees, I'm sure everything is forgiven at the bar afterwards.

About 15-20 boats continued coming in for the next 2 hours. Many boats came in with their colorful billowing spinnakers. Just beautiful to watch. The Marina del Rey Flyer boat arrived in Avalon just as the middle of the pack boats were finishing up and had to maneuver though them to get to the dock. As the sun set about 5:15pm over the Bay, there was little to no wind in the harbor but about 10 boats were still on their way to the harbor.

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.