Catalina Island

I LOVE surprises...if they involve presents, trips or baby kitties but I'm also pretty good at figuring out what a surprise might be before it is officially revealed.  When Brad told me a month ago to keep September 10th & 11th open on my calendar, I was excited but also nervous that I would ruin the surprise.  I needn't have feared because Mr. Ewing is a PERFECT secret keeper; he did not reveal our destination to the boys until the morning we left (he knew I would try and make them talk!)!  That made the surprise even better.

When we arrived at the docks in San Pedro Tuesday morning, I was still clueless as to what he had up his sleeve until I realized that the boat we were boarding said "Catalina Express".  I was escorted to a seat, handed a Bloody Mary and required to relax.  Ha, no problem!

See those smiles?  They were planted on our faces for the duration of our trip.

Catalina Island measures 22 miles long and 8 miles wide but there are only two inhabited cities on the Island; Avalon and Two Harbours.  We stayed in the more populated Avalon where, at the height of the year, they have a population of 4,000.  Because of the insane cost of gasoline ($7.60/gallon), there are no cars to rent.  Most locals use golf carts, mopeds or bicycles for everyday life so when in Rome....

...our chariot for the trip.

We tootled all around Avalon and had the best time but, honestly, who could have a bad time with this view?

If Brad had suggested we move to the Island permanently, I would have had a seaplane booked and loaded with all our belongings within an hour!

Our hotel was on the beach and was so peaceful.

One of my favorite spots?  The lounge chairs in the courtyard.

We had a nice dinner on the beach but, of course, a bird just had to sit and stare at us during dinner.  Brad is convinced I have some sort of magnet that attracts the birds.  Why couldn't I have a kitty magnet instead?

Brad named this one Bob.

We spent all day Wednesday on the beach.

Paradise.

The trip was just what we needed.

"Your love, O Lord, reaches to the heavens, your faithfulness to the skies."

~Psalm 36:5