July 14, 2012

• PhotoPost: Catalina Island Vacation 3

  

   It has been so great seeing last night's sunset post featured at the top of "top blogs" today. Thanks to everyone who made that happen. Those were quirk of fate shots. Every time I see a pink sunset about to happen, I go grab the camera. I did plan to post these photos this weekend. This is the third entry in my Catalina Island series of photos taken during my "birthday vacation" the first week of May. I'm using the same title card as last time, an old postcard with my own photo selections inserted in the letters.

  

   On the second day on island, after parasailing, I went hiking up to the Wrigley Memorial and Botanical Gardens. Here is a sign pointing the way for me. Back in 2005 when I first visited the island, prior to getting my hip revision operation, I and Liz hiked up to the Memorial and right as we arrived at the gate, it closed. The hike is on a paved road, but it is uphill, and a pretty long trip on foot, esp. when one's leg and hip are hurtin! No problem this time out however.  

  

  The Wrigley Memorial is up on the hill, and I shot this photo as I rounded a curve in the road and first saw it rising in the distance.

   

  The entrance to the Garden and Memorial. William Wrigley, famous for his chewing gum and the Chicago Cubs baseball team, owned the island of Catalina, which has been a tourist destination since the 1920s. Wrigley heirs still own most of the land.

  

  This is the entrance gate to the botanical garden, which features dozens of plants which are endemic to Santa Catalina Island, and found noplace else on earth, which is pretty interesting.

   

  Some tall cactus reach upwards to the sky.

  

  Most of the flora is desert variety, but here is a splash of orange.

  

  These are Catalina Ironwood trees, found only on the island.

  

  At the top of the hill, the memorial building (which isn't a gravesite by the way, and has nobody buried there) stands out in white concrete and blue tile. Catalina Island tile was known worldwide in the 20s.

  

  It's a big memorial.

  

  I really liked the ivy cascading down the walls of the Wrigley memorial.

  

   The gardens were quiet and peaceful. The sun didn't peek out from behind the clouds while I was there, but I didn't mind.

  

  Back in town, I shot some interesting cottages belonging to some of the locals. Many cottages are vacation rental homes. The Number One "industry" on Catalina Island is tourism.

  

  I wanted to hike deep into the interior but wasn't there long enough to take that hike. I did walk around in the hills in back of Avalon, however, and it was nice and quiet, giving nature a lot of room to show off her wonders.

  

  Here's a shot I took through the railings of the balcony at my hotel.

  

  I'm pretty pleased with this shot of sailboats in the harbor framed by red flowers. (possibly geraniums.)

  

   Always like to snap a few photos of Jonathon Livingston Seagull when I find him.

  

  The locals drive golf carts for the most part on the island, and some of them are interestingly "customized".

  

  An "Island DJ" advertises on his cart.

  

  Even the "trucks" are downsized.

  

  Some of the hotels have customized carts. This one looks like a Model T Ford.

  

  This is the cart parked outside the hotel where I stayed.

  

  A reflection shot in a storefront window facing the harbor and pier.

  

  This is the "Bird and Breakfast" vacation home. Probably pretty "chirpy" in the mornings!

  

  A small auto and surfboard are parked in the carport of this local home.

  

   A shopping plaza at the end of town. The sun came out on my last day on the island.

  

  The Catalina Cottages were down the street from my hotel.

  

   And here's a shot of the hotel I where I stayed.

  

  If I only had a speedboat and unlimited funds for slips on the island and in Long Beach, I'd live here and commute the 26 miles to work each day across the sea.

  • 7:06 pm
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