The Isle of Catalina

Here it is....the post everyone has been waiting for. Well maybe not everyone, but I have put it off too long so here is a recap of our Catalina Trip! Sorry for the photo bomb in advance....we got some really cool shots! We awoke bright and early Sunday excited to have a mini vacation just the two of us. Made sure that everything was organized, threw our luggage in the car and made the trek to Long Beach for our ferry to the island. We met some cool people, as we always do, and boarded the ship buzzing with electric excitement. D heard that the bartenders make a killer Bloody Mary, so of course he had to partake. A quick hour ride and we were there, docked and made our quick walk over to the hotel. At this point the city of Avalon was hopping. We got to the hotel, checked in and were told to come back in 45 minutes because our room was still being cleaned. We ate a quick lunch, grabbed our things and went to our room. We tinkered around for about 10 minutes grabbed the camera and went down to explore the island. In the time we were up there the entire hustle and bustle just DIED! It was a ghost town! We took the opportunity anyway and wandered around, taking photos and whatnot. The gloomy weather made for some pretty cool photos though, I.M.O. We went back to the hotel and booked our zipline. I was super nervous! We went and had an early dinner and went to the local arcade. I schooled D at a little Ski Ball but he thoroughly walloped me at air hockey! It was like we were teenagers again. We walked into the sweets store and bought some jelly beans, not too many though because we realized as we were eating lunch earlier in the day that D had forgotten his insulin! Bad bad bad. At least he had plenty in his pump so we didn't worry too much, but did make sure to find a pharmacy just in case. After the arcade we wandered around and realized that there wasn't much more to do because the city had closed for the night. We went back to the hotel and watched the Grammy's and conked out.

The Harbor

The round building in the back is the old casino

I had set my alarm early the next day so I/we could get up to witness the sunrise. We were on the wrong side of the island for the sunset so we bombed ourselves out of bed and wandered over to the pier for some really great scenery. While over there we met a little seal pup who had fallen asleep on the pier. He was so cute! Also in the distance could be heard a very large and loud seal sitting on a buoy barking away. We moseyed back to the hotel, had some coffee and muffins and then proceeded to TRY and sleep some more before ziplining. This was NOT happening with me. I was terrified already. We had watched the YouTube video that shows the course and I was freaking out. D kept saying "you'll be fine" but I was having a panic attack!

Harbor and Pier Sunrise View

At 10:30 we walked over to the course. I was hyperventilating as we were filling out the paperwork and looking up at the platforms above my head. The girl managed to terrify me even more by saying "that's not even the highest one!" Great thanks! The guys that took us up the hill were really great, cracking jokes and telling stories about the island, but nothing eased my fear. We walked onto the first platform and BAM! Sheer panic, shaking and if I didn't have sunglasses on they would have seen the tears welling in my eyes. We were the last couple to go, that was by design! I kept backing away and D kept falling behind me not letting me run up the stairs and back down the hill. My turn.....he hooks me up to the wire and its time to JUMP! Yea, no. That wasn't happening. So he held my harness so I could feel how it would support my body. That eased my mind just enough that when he said anytime your ready, I bunny hopped off the platform tucked and screaming with terror! There may have been a few expletives exclaimed, but honestly they were completely warranted! D came soaring in behind me with a big smile on his face. The next line, the longest and highest, I wasn't even given the opportunity to panic because I had to be launched off the platform to guarantee I would get all the way across. I looked down about halfway across to see my teeny tiny shadow on the ground beneath me. It was an exhilarating and terrifying experience and I am so glad that I did it! I know D was proud too! One more check off the bucket list!  

Our last day we rented a golf cart and toured around the island. Of course it was the day that a cruise ship was in port and the island was once again hopping with tourists. We drove around, stopping every so often to take in the scenery and of course some photos. We saw the Wrigley mansion; you know Wrigley field and gum, he bought the island for 2 million dollars in the early 1900s. To put it into perspective, the zipline course cost 2 million dollars to install in 2010. We missed the botanical gardens and didn't get to hike or kayak, but that will be for our next trip there! On our drive we went past the zipline course again and were able to take a couple of photos of other people on the course.

View of Avalon from Wrigley Mansion

One of the Zipline Runs

The girl is really hard to see, about a third of the ways from the
left right above the power lines.

We had such a great time on our little weekend getaway! We both have memories for a lifetime and want to go back soon. Thanks again to my parents for one of the most memorable Christmas gifts!! And to D's folks for watching our fur baby! I can't wait for our next adventure!!!!