Category Archives: Catalina / Channel Islands

Coastal Cruising In Southern California information round up

Posted on by in Beach and Ocean Recreation, Boating, California Coastal Cruising, California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands, Coastal Dweller Reference, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange County, Recommended Sites, San Diego, Visitor Guide  |  Comments are closed
If you want to discover the pristine California that hardly anyone gets to see it should be done from the water looking back at the coast.  That is the view that original European explorers and native American Channel Island dwellers had.  Much of the coast and most of the Channel Islands remain unspoiled.  However, relatively few California visitors or residents venture out by boat whether power or sail, charter or private because of perceived or actual discomfort.  Such discomfort is minor compared to the experience of seeing large schools of dolphins playing, pelicans diving, whales breaching and seals sunning themselves on large buoys at harbor entrances greeting you with a yawn or a bark.   In sheltered coves of the Channel Islands some moorings and safe anchorages exist where, after arrival one can swim and snorkel an enjoy world class under water wild life with family and friends before preparing the evening meal.  Cruisers are...
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Meet the Artists for Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show

Posted on by in California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands, Visitor Guide  |  Comments are closed
Friday, October 17, 2014 CatalinaConservancy.org AVALON, CATALINA ISLAND - We introduced you last week to four of the plein air painters who will be featured at the Catalina Island Conservancy's Catalina: The Wild Side Art Show & Sale on Oct. 26. This week, we would like to you to meet four more artists. Each will be among the 10 plein air painters who have spent considerable time on Catalina capturing the Island’s conservation in their works. All are plein air artists, which is a French term that translates as “in the open air.” It means these artists paint nature while they are in nature. The Conservancy has been sponsoring the art show and sale since 2011, and proceeds from the sales of the artwork benefit the Conservancy, including establishing a permanent collection of plein air art that can be seen at the Nature Center in Avalon. Among the artists participating in Catalina: The Wild Side this year is Andy...
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Locals break record for relay swim from Catalina to P.V.

Posted on by in All other recreation, Beach and Ocean Recreation, California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands, Los Angeles  |  Comments are closed
Posted: Thursday, October 16, 2014 1:31 pm | Updated: 1:34 pm, Thu Oct 16, 2014. by Matt Simon The Beach Reporter In complete darkness, a team of six swimmers recently embarked on a 21-mile relay from Catalina Island to Palos Verdes. At 3 a.m., the relay began with the first swimmer diving into pitch-black water with nothing to guide them but the ambient light of glow sticks hanging from a kayak. Keith Dickson of Hermosa Beach and Brent Blackman of Manhattan Beach faced the Sept. 28 ocean conditions with mixed feelings. “My first reaction was ‘OK the water’s smooth, the swells are good, my stroke feels great, but I will never do this again,’” said the 56-year-old Dickson. “That’s the mantra I kept repeating to myself. ‘Everything is great but I am not doing this again.’”   Full Story...
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5 reasons to visit Catalina Island in the fall

Posted on by in Beach and Ocean Recreation, California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands, Coastal Dweller Reference, Visitor Guide  |  Comments are closed
Published: Oct. 15, 2014 Updated: 12:31 p.m.
It’s the not-so-little island that sits some 20 miles off the coast of Orange County. It draws visitors all summer, but once the leaves start to fall, the tide of visitors turns to a trickle. With plenty to do and off-season prices, however, the autumn months are a perfect time to pay a visit to Catalina Island. Here are five reasons why Catalina is an ideal fall getaway: FESTIVALS 1 Although the weekday crowds have largely disappeared, the festivities continue in Avalon. From smooth jazz festivals to fall celebrations, a harvest dinner, Halloween parade and costume party Avalon comes alive in the fall. This year is the first the city will play host to Oktoberfest on the Beach (on Saturday) with appetizers and unlimited beer...
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Bald Eagles Increase Range On California’s Channel Islands

Posted on by in California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands  |  Comments are closed
Bald eagles have increased their range in the Channel Islands off the coast of California, where an official said that a nesting pair was located on San Clemente Island for the first time in more than 50 years, says a report from NPS. This indicates that bald eagles are once again forming their territories on five of the eight islands in the chain, and experts anticipate their return on all eight islands over the next several years.Bald eagles

Bald eagles vanished due to excessive use of insecticides

In the year 1960, bald eagles vanished from the islands due to the increasing use of the insecticide DDT, which caused thinning of the birds’ eggshells, causing them to easily break. Dr. Peter Sharpe, who has dedicated his 18 years to bald eagle recovery efforts with the Institute for Wildfire studies, stated, “This news is very gratifying. I expect to see bald eagles return to...
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Travel and Adventure: Charm and adventure abound on Catalina Island

Posted on by in All other recreation, Beach and Ocean Recreation, California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Misc., Orange County, San Diego, Visitor Guide  |  Comments are closed
By Doug Hansen Creators Syndicate - Wickedlocal.com This trip to Southern California's Catalina Island doesn't even compare with the last one I did 25 years ago. That time I made the mistake that many do of just walking around Avalon, shopping and eating, spending the night and then leaving. But while Avalon is a delightful place and time spent here is worthwhile, it's not sufficient to fully savor all that Catalina Island offers. Continue Reading...  ...
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West Coast states and BC to link climate policies

Posted on by in California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Misc., Orange County, San Diego  |  Comments are closed
By JASON DEAREN Associated Press - San Jose Mercury News SAN FRANCISCO—The governors of Pacific coastal U.S. states and a Canadian province official are joining forces in a new effort to fight climate change. In an agreement announced Monday, the governors of California, Oregon, Washington and the environment minister of British Columbia, Mary Polak, will place a price on greenhouse gas pollution and mandate the use of cleaner-burning fuels. Continue Reading......
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From the Boathouse: Helping the blind to sea

Posted on by in California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Misc., Orange County, San Diego  |  Comments are closed
By Mike Whitehead - The Daily Pilot Ahoy! Saturday sees an inspiring happening at the American Legion Newport Harbor Post 291, when eager sailors will take part in the Sail for the Blind and Visually Impaired event. Participants will be able to help steer the boats and adjust sheet and halyard lines while feeling the sensations of wind and motion. The event is sponsored by the Women's Ocean Racing Sailing Assn. (WORSA) and hosted by the American Legion Post and Yacht Club. Continue Reading......
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A Fight Over Vineyards Pits Redwoods Against Red Wine

Posted on by in California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Misc., Orange County, San Diego  |  Comments are closed
ideastream.com Environmental groups in Northern California are suing to stop a winery from leveling 154 acres of coast redwoods and Douglas firs to make way for grapevines. As climate change heats up California's interior valley, the wine industry is creeping toward the coast, where majestic redwoods grow.
Environmental groups are fighting to stop the leveling of 154 acres of coast redwoods and Douglas firs to make way for grapevines.Environmental groups are fighting to stop the leveling of 154 acres of coast redwoods and Douglas firs to make way for grapevines.

Aerial Stunts and Land Activities at Catalina Air Show

Posted on by in All other recreation, Beach and Ocean Recreation, California Coastal Notes of Interest, Catalina / Channel Islands, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Misc., Orange County  |  Comments are closed
eCatalina.com - By Jim Watson AVALON, CATALINA ISLAND - From dazzling high-in-the-sky aerobatics to activities in more down-to-earth venues, spectators will be treated to a wide variety of entertainment at the 2nd Annual Scheyden Catalina Air Show Oct. 26 with a static display at Airport-in-the-Sky on Oct 27. Like last year’s show, all aerial stunts and most ground-based entertainment will be available free of charge.  The show will also be simulcast by Catalina radio station KISL 88.7 FM, including the station’s website at www.kislavalon.com. The show’s title sponsor, Scheyden, is a Huntington Beach-based manufacturer of aviator’s eyewear, chronometers and other pilot’s accessories. Streaking, rolling and looping through the heavens will be nearly a dozen aerobatic performers, including an encore appearance by “Super Dave” Mathieson in his Team Scheyden MX2 stunt plane. Continue Reading......
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