IWS Catalina Tours - 2012, IWS Tours by Cruzers.

[silveregal]

I have my tour on Mar 14.

[cindyzinaz]

Tour set for Apr 26 . Also plan a swing in the north and south again...Cruzers...we're back! Hope to see a few of you

[silveregal]

Hope you have a Great Time Cindy.

[jeannec]

My trip to CA will be a very short one!!! Landing LAX Friday evening May 11th, and returning Wednesday, May 16th. My tour is Tuesday the 15th, and Trish and Sara will be joining me for a day trip over to Catalina.

So I will be in Ventura Saturday and Sunday nights with a scheduled day on Santa Cruz on Sunday, then off to Long Beach Monday and Tuesday nights.

Perhaps a lunch or dinner could be had with some Cruzer company?

[summer818]

Jeanne, I would love to get together when you're in Ventura. Are you going to Prisoners or Scorpion on SCI? You're gonna love it.

[jeannec]

Vicki, sounds good! I booked a spot on the Island Packers boat to go to Prisoner's Harbor, but the more I think about it, I may just get off at Scorpion Anchorage. From what Regan described, sounds like I can get a guide-led hike and still have some time on my own. Bringing my sketchbook and probably my watercolors, provided the weather cooperates!! I'll be staying at Eagle Central as I believe it's called!

[jeannec]

Well, I am sorry to say I have cancelled my CA trip. Ever since I planned it and then booked it, things keep happening to say don't go. Circumstances just not the same as when I initially planned it. I don't think I mentioned here either, but there has been a big directive from above at work (Dept. of the Army) for a 10% cut and for some reason it seems like our office in particular is being eyed. I have 21 years in so hopefully that helps, but who knows what will happen. And you always seem to find out at the last minute. I still have a flight I need to use by next March, so perhaps October time frame would be a possibility as there might be some clearer idea of what is going on. We'll see. I am truly, truly bummed as I was really looking forward to visiting and seeing Cruzers and eagles and the Pacific coastline...

[cindyzinaz]

I am so sorry, Jeanne..

[cindyzinaz]

Here is our Apr 26, 2012 visit to the beautiful girls of Middle Ranch. Lala mentioned Hydi's coloring after her visit this week...you'll see I was fixated on it as well...she is a beauty...not that our Pimu is chopped liver. And Pimu had lots to say that day...probably about her "hair-do". She had that Wray look after the rain. But since Pimu loves the water, we sure didn't mind

Bear and Cindy visit Pimu and Hydi

[lakemaryeaglewatcher]

Finally have a few moments to post a few pictures from our Catalina trip. It was just so much fun. We started off taking the trolley up to the Wrigley Memorial and walking around the botanical gardens. It was a beautiful cool day and the gardens were beautiful.


Back to town where we watched the beach visitors.


Next we took the dinner cruise to Two Harbors and saw a huge pod of dolphins on the way. What fun.


While in Two Harbors we walked across the island and looked out on the TH nest site. Watched for eagles all day but never spotted one. Had a delicious dinner and cruised back spotting a fair number of flying fish.

[lakemaryeaglewatcher]

The next day was our tour. We arrived to be greeted by Darwin at the door with a few licks. Steff was going to be our tour guide this time so after some discussion of which nest to visit ( we went to SR and Gulliver last time) we settled on the WE area. Pete wasn't sure we'd be able to see anything because of the marine layer but off we went anyway. Darwin rode in back with his head on my lap most of the way.

After a pit stop at the airport we headed for Two Harbors where a jeep went by us in the other direction a pretty good clip. When we went around a bend there lying in the middle of the road was a poor fat ground squirrel. Steff came to a stop and jumped out to collect it a small cooler. AH, a delicious meal for Pimu. A real treat. Ugh.

We passed through Two Harbors and stopped on the Catalina Harbor side to look at the TH nest. Steff found the TH pair perched together on a favorite snag. A bit far for pictures but OK with the binocs. Then it was through the gate and off to the West End. That is quite a road perched on the edge of the ridge. Tremendous drops down to the ocean but Steff is a great driver so wasn't concerned. Wes never is. You can see one of the camera poles to the above right on the rocks. The chicks are on the small bump on the left of the taller rocks.

The nest was visible but the triplets were just little dark spots...but we could see them.
The nest is way down there to the left of the grey rock outcropping.
When I took this the chicks were lined up from our angle so there is only one dot. You can see one of the camera poles to the above right on the rocks. The chicks are on the small bump on the left of the taller rocks.

Of course as soon as we packed up the scope and tripod the chicks started moving around and I could see two doing wingersizes with the binocs.

Lots of prickly pear cactus out on the West End and they were all in beautiful bloom.


Saw one other island animal while driving out to Two Harbors.

[lakemaryeaglewatcher]

Now our visit with The Girls. Pimu was screaming as soon as we drove up but Heidi gets fed first. One plump quail and some pork. Steff brought her out on the glove and she was very well behaved.
Such a beautiful girl.

Then it was Pimu's turn for her special treat.


I've left out the gorey details.

We were soaring high after such a wonderful day. It was a trip we'll always remember. A special thank you to Steff for being such a terrific guide. Wes says what she doesn't know isn't work knowing.

[lakemaryeaglewatcher]

One more interesting tidbit. The usual Tuesday cruise ship was at Avalon when we arrived but there was also another ship off the Casino just as large but much sleeker looking. We didn't give it much thought but when we went on the boat to Two Harbors we went by and noticed that it had really large windows and was named The World. The next morning at the IWS office we were talking about how unusual it was to have two cruise ships at Avalon and Pete says that The World was not a cruise ship. He pulled it up on the his computer to show us pictures and OMG! It's the largest privately owned residential yacht on earth, There are private residences from studios to 3 bedroom condos and one penthouse suite. They are owned by people from all over the world and cost millions. Not in my price range. Google The World cruise ship and you can see pictures. Here are two I found.



If I'd known what it was Tuesday I would have taken my own pictures but it left Wed morning.