19 October 2011 - Catalina Island, California
Aboard s/v Damiana

It’s odd that after having spent so much time on my own boats & so little time aboard others’, (except for drinks or dinner), here I am sailing on Damiana for a few days, with Marlene & Roy, who are on their way south to Mexico. It’s wonderful that it’s worked out for us to have this little mini-vacation after the difficult past few weeks, & BB is just so pleased to be able to show me "his" Catalina.

After a leisurely breakfast we went ashore & walked across the isthmus marveling at the antics of the ravens flying around us. I knew there were buffalo here, but I didn't realize there were ravens on Catalina Island. It was still foggy & coolish. When we got to the bay on the other side, BB pointed out the area where Migration was back when the previous owners lived aboard her here; they were involved in the discovery of Natalie Wood's body floating in the harbor in 1981. Interesting that this case has just recently been re-opened, after so many years.

At BB’s urging we had a Choco Taco at the store - an ice cream confection that is a Catalina thing, apparently, & one of the things that BB says one must do here - & enjoyed the view of Isthmus Harbor. However, the drunk guy at the bar who was “helping” Marlene perfect her pool game last night walked by & insisted on talking at us until we finally left.

It was still foggy as we motored, then sailed – when BB noticed that we had adequate wind from behind - the 12 miles along the coast to Avalon. One of the things BB has talked about after his many trips to Catalina is the beautiful diving. Yes, the water’s painfully cold, but his description (as well as the photos I’ve seen) of the kelp forest with seals & sea lions swimming through them, & abundant fish hiding in the leaves, is so very different from any of the warm-water diving I’ve done. BB really wanted me to experience this, but it didn’t look like the weather was going to cooperate. However, amazingly, almost as soon as we were on the mooring in Avalon Harbor, the sun came out long enough for us to go snorkeling at the nearby marine park. Although it wasn’t very far from the boat, Roy drove us over there in the dinghy & waited for us in order to reduce our exposure time. The water was decidedly cold & all we had was a bathing suit, but BB loaned me his t-shirt so my boobs would have a bit more protection (they’re always the first thing to get cold).

We had a very enjoyable 15-minute snorkel through the kelp with the cute orange garibaldi (they look just like big goldfish!) swimming around us, as well as lots of other fishes of various sizes -- unfortunately, no sea lions or seals. The garibaldi are very aware that they are the State fish & protected, so they swam right up to us & didn’t dart away. Just as BB had described, it was really beautiful with the kelp coming up from the bottom creating columns like a cathedral. The yellowish leaves – which are huge, with dark veins running through them - & the bulbs floating on the surface filter the light like a stained-glass window & create wonderful patterns of light in the water. We did many free dives & twisted our way through the kelp in order to get the full effect, but the water got considerably colder just a few feet below the surface. I can see how magical it would be to go diving in this environment. Maybe someday.

We went ashore for a walk to the famous Avalon casino before dinner. Lots of nice tile work & murals all over the quaint town. Avalon has a lot of character, but it does feel a bit touristy. I can't imagine what it's like when full of tourists, but it certainly was nice now. Lots of free moorings & very few people.

Marlene made us a very good dinner, then we played a new game - Sequence. The girls were victorious. I enjoyed a couple shots of Damiana (an agave-based Mexican liqueur) aboard Damiana, knowing they can get more of it where they're going.

says ADR