With Cruzers heading west for IWS tours, I thought I'd open this thread for everyone to post their experiences and pictures in.

I've been sorting thru the photos (still gonna take a bit of time) and soon realized it would be best to do this in several parts - I'll write commentary soon ..... I promise

OK Here's Part 1 - Early AM in Avalon / IWS Office / off to visit Pimu and Heidi




OK Here's Part 2 - on the road and visit to TH Nest area




Next - Part 3 - leaving TH and visiting WE Nest area




and last but certainly not least - Part 4 - leaving WE Nest area and back to Avalon





click on photo above for slideshow

I have posted thumbnails of slideshow photos below thinking it might be easier for some folks to pick and choose what they want to see (or save) :<::

now I'll get down to business and write my "thoughts"! :)^

This is our tour which is self explanatory but we had a great time


http://picasaweb.google.com/jeanette19363/Catalina2009#

Forgot to add the titles



http://picasaweb.google.com/jeanette19363/Catalina2009#

Great pics Jeanette, only thing is, that even though I know you and Jennifer are twins and if we see one, we've seen both, but you should have had Jennifer take a pic of you and Peter or Steffani.

Thank you Jeanette and Deb for taking us along on your tour. :)^ I look forward to hearing all about it. You're smiles tell the story! :D

Jeanette, thanks for the great pictures. I love seeing Dr Sharpe with his dog.....

Thanks. Sheila said that she wouild have liked to have seen me not just my sister Jennigfer which is flattering especially as I am ten minutes more beautiful, wiser and charming etc

rofl rofl rofl

Early AM Tour Day - Cruise Ship Tuesday - Little Hummer - Avalon Bison



Here Come Joani-Scott - Peter & Darwin - Heidi's Egg/Surprise! - MR Nest



The Elusive Pimu - Heidi

all clickable photos

Heidi/Pimu Holes In Screen - Quail Yummy - Steffani/Heidi - Time To Eat



Are You Looking At Me - Remember That Quail? - Needs To Get Her Talons Done - Here We Go Steffani!



Beautiful Heidi - Heidi's Pellets

all photos clickable

Eagle Feathers - What Are You Doing Over There? - Pimu - Off She Goes



Is That My Lunch? - Pimu/Heidi Geo Cache - A Friend Along The Way

all photos clickable

Along The Way to TH - Smile or Search for Eagles hmmm - I Have The Coordinates - Beautiful Day On Catalina



One Of The Canyons - Almost to Two Harbors - What A View - Two Harbors Below



Bird of - Paradise

all photos clickable

Cactus Thingie - He's A Bird Too - Great Color - Is This Real?



Pregnant Lady - TH Nest Is Up There - TH Adult & 78 - More Than Just Eagles



#3 Is Outta There - Landing Gear Down But Not For Landing

all photos clickable

Whoa That's Close - Adult Chasing - Catching Up - Passing Right By



Close Again - Swinging Around Again - TH Adult - Give One More Chase



This Is How Far Up They Were - Zoomed In

all photos clickable

There's That Landing Gear - 78 Moves On Bye Bye - One Last Look at TH - We're Moving On Too!

all photos clickable

Should Have Been A Clue of What's Ahead - Stunning - As It Rolls To The Sea - Right Side View



Takes Your Breath Away - Steffani Hikes This? - Adult At Top Of Ridge - We Watch In Awe



Soaring Nearby - Across The Way A View

all photos clickable

Looking The Other Way - ES Where Are You? - Heading to WE - The Land Falls To The Sea



WE Nest Way Down There - We Have Company - Soaring High - Molting?



The Trail to WE - WE Trail Zoomed In

all photos clickable

Other Nature - Can I Look Thru The Scope? - We"re 2 Miles Away? - Beam The Signal Scotty



Cleaning The Solar Panels - Power Supply So We Can Watch - The Road Steffani Drove Down - Beep Beep Beep

all photos clickable

Transportation (or lots of walking) - Now To Get Back To Avalon - Another Look At The Terrain - This Road oh my ....



Couple More Looks - Scenery Awesome - We're Going Over There? - That's Only 1/2 A Road!!



Steep Drop Offs - Catalina Island At It's Best!

all photos clickable

Can't Get Enough - Some More - Two Harbor Area In View - Closer



Back At The Gate - ES Helping Out - Late Day Look at Pregnant Lady - Zoomed In To Nest Area



One Last Fly By TH Adult - What Luck We've Had

all photos clickable

Going Past The Ridge - Moving Forward - Here They Come - Last Look



Until Next Time - But There's Other Things To See - Rounding The Curve Heading For Home - Avalon



But Work Not Done Yet - Saving Photos For Update

all photos clickable

Everyone Has An Opinion - Steffani Just Smiles

all photos clickable



and a sad good-bye - until next visit...... sun setting over WE area of Catalina as we headed to mainland ...... :}^

Jeanette & Deb - Enjoyed getting a taste of what's in store for me in a few weeks! I hope I get to see as many eagles as you did, Deb and I hope I get somebody to take my picture with the handsome Dr. Sharpe! How could you let Jennifer hog him like that, Jeanette?!?!?

Kathie

I let my sister hog him this year as last year I had the privilege which was purely coincidental of driving with Dr Sharpe and Steffani all the way to the west end nest then hiking with them to switch the eggs so I felt generous this time

OMG great pictures all, :><: still working on mine. :rolleyes:

Thanks Deb and Jeanette. Great stories of even greater adventures. :><:

Thanks Deb, ES, and Jeanette for the great photos. I can never get enough. Sure looks like everyone had a great time.

We had our IWS tour today with Steffani. Can't begin to tell you how awesome it was. :**: :**: :**:

I'll work on pictures to share when we get home.

I've sifted through and sorted all the photos from our IWS tour last week with June. It was great. Loved getting a glimpse into what Steffani does every day. We didn't do the hiking....although I think Dave would have liked that, but she showed us the island in a way we've never seen it before. She was disappointed that we didn't see any eagles....other than Pimu and 'friend'. We got a signal from 00, but couldn't get any sightings. But what she did show us was awesome.

Anyways.....here are my pictures from our tour. I'm sure June will have more to share soon too.

<::: Arriving & Dinner w/Cruzers on Catalina

<::: IWS Tour 2009

Awesome Jann :><: :><: :><: I am so happy you posted all those because it looks as though we won't be going on a tour this year....:boohoo:

Thanks, Penny. Glad you like the pictures, but sorry to hear you may not get to take your tour this year.

Loved the pictures Jann, did you and Dave stay in room # 114? That spot with Dave sure looks very familiar. rofl rofl

Sure did, Barb. We didn't get good internet connection in the room, so Dave spent most of his time in that spot while June & I went shopping! :D

Great photos Jann. Jennifer and I also stayed in room 114 but the restaurant was closed for two days Portofino has a nice location. Your tour looks really special and so pleased you enjoyed yourselves

Thanks, Jeanette. Sounds like Room 114 is a popular room! We need to put "Cruzer's Room" sign on the door? :lol:

Forgot to mention that while we were eating lunch Friday, I was looking out the window and saw an adult bald eagle flying over the harbor. :soar: Saw a flash of orange WB, but couldn't make out the number.

I was so shocked, I could barely speak....just pointed and finally said, 'eagle'. It flew out of sight, but a few minutes later, we saw it (or another one) :soar: fly from where it disappeared to the harbor and up over the buildings to the hills. When we saw B-)) at the pier a little later, we told him about it and he thinks it was probably one or both of the Rattlesnake pair. Was the perfect ending to a wonderful trip. :soar: :soar:

Yea mine was a little spotty but I had and extra antenna that helped. But it is a nice little spot and you girls got to go shopping. :D

I like it there and stay in the same room and as a repeater you get better price and a bottle of wine or champagne that I always forget at my DS's house

Yea Jann thanks to Joanie and Scott we got to see them from the ocean on the boat and now know where to look from land and sea.