"Rails to Sails"

AAPRCO 2008 Convention

San Pedro, California, September 20 - 24, 2008.

Story and Photos by Carl Morrison, Carl@TrainWeb.com

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Catalina Island Boat Trip to Avalon

Monday, September 22, 2008, the Day's activity included meetings for Owners, but I was scheduled for The Catalina Island Excursion:

8:00 a.m.         Registration, Company Store and Vendors            Crowne Plaza Hotel

9:30 a.m.         Catalina Island Boat Trip departs from Long Beach to Catalina

10:00 a.m.     Catalina Express departs from Long Beach to Catalina

11:00 a.m.        Arrive in Avalon, Catalina Island

Noon                Lunch on your own

3:45 pm            Catalina Group departs Avalon for Long Beach

5:15 pm            Cataling Group arrives at Crowne Plaza

6:00 pm            Car Party - Margaritas and Mexican Fare (Jalisco Mariachis)        6th Street Yard

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Boat Trip from Long Beach to Catalina Island.

Our bus from the Crowne Plaza delivered us to the Catalina Express pier just in time to step on for departure for the 26-mile boat trip to the city of Avalon on Catalina.

Leaving the breakwater, we passed the Queen Mary, where we would enjoy the Gala Banquet and Dance, later this week, as well as a Carnival ship. The dome behind the Queen Mary used to house the Spruce Goose. It is now a Carnival Terminal.

Also leaving the Long Beach Harbor at the same time was a 3-master that we would later see in Avalon.

(Double click any photo to see a double-sized copy; Click BACK in your browser to return to this page.)


Waitress on the Catalina Express	Chef Bill from The Observatory. The waitress was not saying No to Bill, but rather to my taking her picture.

Arriving in Avalon Harbor, Catalina Island.


	Jerry Angier

AAPRCO Members head to Catalina Adventures

	Julie King
David Schramm	Kelly and Tom Marshall


Garibaldi (California State Saltwater Fish) welcomed us to Cataling Island.

Avalon city sights, Catalina Island, California.


Mermaid over the box office in the Casino has become an icon associated with Avalon - her image appears on event posters all over town. This one was in the golf cart rental office.	Original tiles at the Casino in Avalon, one of the world’s greatest Art Deco treasures.

Above Avalon

Tom Marshall, Depot Inn & Suites, La Plata, MO, suits up to drive the rented golf cart.	A nice white stucco place with red tile room overlooks Avalon Harbor from the drive above the city. Brochures for the places we saw for sale on our drive were $1.2 and $1.7 million.
Former home of chewing gum millionaire William A. Wrigley, is now a bed and breakfast inn called The Inn at Mt. Ada (named for Wrigley's wife).	AAPRCO Associate Members from Missouri take a photo to send home pointing to their supposed Catalina Island home.

Birch Grove owners and guests check out the Avalon sights.	The Observatory owners sightsee as well.

Every turn on the golf-cart-approved route provides another picture perfect view.

At the Dive Park behind the Casino, we met Andy and Ashley of the

ECO Dive Center, 4027 Sepulveda Blvd. Culver City (West Los Angeles) Southern California 90230 310-398-5759

They were kind enough to answer all our newbie questions about diving. They offer classes each weekend.

	Ashley Tindall, Instructor, ECO Dive Center.
Some condominiums have been tucked into the first bay north of Avalon.	An alternative to renting a golf cart or walking downtown, is to go on a guided tour of the rest of the island.

Avalon Activities


	Heart Attach cheeseburger is Fine Food?!

The Holly Hill House

The charming Queen Anne style cottage on the bluff over looking Avalon Bay has been a local landmark since 1890. The third oldest house in Avalon, its history mirrors that of the town. The house has always been a private residence, and Vlctor Kreis, the current owner, has restored it and furnished it with turn-of-the-century antiques.

The Queen Anne style Holly Hill House was originally known as Lookout Cottage, on Catalina, Island of Romance. Built in the late 1800's almost single handedly by Peter Gano using his horse, "Mercury", to haul large timbers and lumber. It was to become home for him and his betrothed who lived on the mainland. Her fear of isolation on the island ended their wedding plans and made Peter an embittered man. Legend has it that he posted a sign on his property saying, " No women allowed", and lived in the house alone for several years until he sold it and moved back to the mainland.

The house can be seen up and to the left as you walk from the pier to downtown Avalon.

Two things Catalina Island is known for: Buffalo and Bald Eagles	It was time to reboard our boat back to Long Beach and a bus to San Pedro in time for the first Car Party.
We joined other boat people on their way back to the mainland. One male and one female...I think.	A California Brown Pelican perfers not to get involved.

Local artist was painting the Casino, using a dozen colors.	It was like we'd visited an Italian Village except that all shop owners spoke English and used American Dollars. Many guests thought they'd return some day.
The Carnival Paradise was still tied up. Locals knew this was a disguised oil derrick (right) on an island with palm trees and a water falls on the beach side.

A couple of day markers that look like lighthouses as we reentered Long Beach Harbor.

[Next: Car Parties ]

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