Catalina 2009

Liz,

Two Harbors is a great place to stay--- better then Avalon (IMHO)
We tie up on the string line and use our inflatables to get to the dingy dock.

Ya'll have fun now, ya hear.

Roger
 
Liz & Ernie,

We lived in San Diego for a long time and made the crossing from SD bay, Mission Bay, and Oceanside many times but it was in a big slow boat we used to own, no experience with parking a trailer in Oceanside.

We live in the Bay Area now but are trailering the boat to Marina del Rey next weekend and plan on being in Catalina every weekend in August. I am bringing dive gear, usually great visibility out there so let me know if you want to dive. We will be on the string line. Hope to see you there.

Dougal & Jen
 
I've left my 2000 Silverado at Oceanside, Dana Point and San Pedro each a couple times or more. No problems, and I haven't noticed others having problems, but I haven't checked carefully.

Oceanside's OK for Avalon, Dana's closer. Dana's OK for Two Harbors. San Pedro's really close.

Part of it depends on what time of day you'd be dealing with Los Angeles traffic on your approach to the ramp for launching. If you're coming from the south, stopping at Dana is probably better than driving all the way to San Pedro unless you can pick your time carefully.

If you're coming from the north, you're doomed. (just kidding, sort of) Timing is everything. Stay away from rush hour, which is 6 am to 8 pm, 7 days a week, more or less. Again, I'm only sort of kidding.

I live very near Oceanside and when I go to Avalon or Two Harbors I trailer to Dana or San Pedro.
 
Speaking of Catalina, I still think I can make at least a couple days out of the week long cruise event, but almost certainly not the whole week for me. I don't know which days yet. I'll probably check in again as it gets very close. I'd sure like to make the fishing trip.

I actually got around to putting the name on the boat. Yay! Only took two years. Sheesh. I'm working on posting some pictures.

Wait, remember a picture is supposed to be worth a thousand words? Visualize this: A green CD-22 cruiser with Bossa Nova printed on the cabin side and a radar dome on top. There, 18 words and you all know exactly what it looks like. Who needs pictures? And I've got 982 words left for something else.

As she leaned down to pick up her ... oops, wrong picture.
 
If you're coming from the North -- Marina Del Rey is the preferred launch point. What I now do to avoid traffic is trailer down and launch at night (after 8:00 pm). Then motor over to the guest dock in MDR at Burton Chase Park (310-305-9595). It's a great facility -- secure, clean, pretty, on the main channel. Then, head across the channel at first light when the water is still dead flat. You'll be in Two Harbors for breakfast. (Try the french toast).

The Ramp and Guest Dock are open 24 hours. Both are well lit. See: http://www.visitmarinadelrey.com/harbor ... docks.html
 
Scanning the previous messages looks like around five boats I'd guess. I just had a work thing pop up in the middle of that week. I'm not sure if I should try to come over before or after that. How many boats are actually planning to attend? Maybe a roll call here? I didn't see a signup list.

Bossa Nova is somewhat likely to attend either the first or last part of the week. Is there going to be a fishing expidition to the outer island? I missed that last year by not thinking ahead about fuel requirements vs. gas dock hours.

Jeff
 
Hi Jeff,

The Marcia Jane (Marcia and I) plan to arrive at Two Harbors on Tuesday. We're staying until Sunday and hope to tour the USC facility. (I've heard it's really worth visiting and tours are only on Saturday). We plan to do a little fishing, a little kayaking, a little touring and hopefully a little diving. I have some equipment and there are rentals near the pier. PADI certification doesn't expire, but it's been 25 years since I've last dived. I'm sure it would be wise to have some re-certification instruction.

I'm not sure how many boats will be at Two Harbors, but those that do will get to enjoy one of the best "secrets" that exist in California!

We look forward to meeting you. :D

Kent
MARCIA JANE
 
Last year, when we went to Two Harbours from San Pedro, the parking fee was $15/day, plus another $15 that the computer added on. More than the string line at Catalina.

Long Beach is $5/day, if I remember rightly.

Oceanside is free, if you park in the large lot in the back, under the RR tracks.

Boris
 
I suggested a roll call of boats here and I see one positive response and one I can't tell if it was a positive response or just visiting in relation to the cruise idea.

So, at the moment it looks like two or maybe three boats. My work conflict just shifted to Tue/Wed, so I guess I'll be aiming for Thu-Sat if I can still swing it, along with a friend who's interested in coming along.

I wanted a sense of whether there's an organized group this year or not, and if there's a fishing side trip and when that might be. I still can't tell, which isn't meant to be critical at all. It's just vacation planning. No pressure. I'm just trying to get a feel for what's up and then adjust my planning accordingly.
 
Sorry guys, haven't had much time to get on the net lately. I will be there, plan to arrive Wednesday and leave Saturday morning some time (if crowded, they usually "kick" you off the mooring or string line promptly at 9am - arrrrgh).

Parking at Marina Del Rey is $7 per day. I use my credit card at the gate and insert it the number of 24hr periods I plan to be parked there (3-4 tickets for me). Then display on your dash so that all can be seen, I use a clothespin or two to make sure they don't curl up or blow away.

I plan to launch at MDR early Wednesday morning. Then head straight out to Santa Barbara Island to try and catch more of those 4-6 lb Whitefish we caught last year (on frozen squid - strips). Then, if lucky, we can have a fish fry BBQ Wednesday eve on the beach. Thurs or Friday would like to do some diving, hiking, general R&R.

Kent, I'll be glad to be your buddy on your first dive in years, start shallow! How's your equipment condition? Might give it a good check in a pool or have it checked at Sport Chalet or a dive shop. Geeez, did they even have BC's back then (haha, jk).

So if anyone would like to join me at S. Barbara Island for some fish'n, that'd be great, increases our "odds" of a fish fry later... :lol: (and I'll show you my "secret spot" -- which of course will have moved!)
 
Hi Steve,

Actually we used diving bells with air trapped inside. :lol: My PADI certification was issued in 1975. The last time I dove was probably in the 80's and I broke three ribs getting tossed up on a rock trying to get ashore at Diver's Cove in Laguna Beach. I sold my tanks, regulator and BC (yes, they had BC's then) not long after my accident. I'll have to rent some of the equipment and plan to stay in very shallow water. This is kind of an exploratory dive to see if I will get some re-certification training. I appreciate the offer though. Is Alex coming along? Tell him YES that was poison oak we walked through on that detour at Angel Island. :roll:

I'm going to pass on the Santa Barbara Island fishing this trip. I'd love to get in on some of that white sea bass fishing off of Santa Cruz Island sometime though. Jeff is interested in joining up with someone who is wanting to do the "outer" fishing trip.

I'll probably be there a little later than originally planned. (Wednesday) We had coyotes go after our pets this morning (they were actually on the front porch) and we've got to work out a different plan to discourage the varmints. I wished I lived further out in the country.

We look forward to seeing you and meeting new friends

Kent
MARCIA JANE
 
Hi Kent and Marcia,

Sorry to hear about the coyote attack, what pets were hurt? No, Alex won't be going on this trip, maybe another later this year, but Donna and my son Miles plan to go, Miles is PADI certified also. I'm hoping he will dive.

See you there, thanks for the update. Also, I'll tell Alex about the poison ivy, he'll be thrilled!
 
Hey Steve.
Sorry I missed your call....I don't seem to have your cell #.
In any event I can not make this. I now have to go to EAFB on Wednesday. That makes for a short trip either side.
Too short for me to want to travel the 5 or so hours.

Lets get together in the next couple of weeks.

Ron
 
Ron, sent you a PM. Thanks and sorry we missed each other. Too bad work continues to get in the way of pleasure, but hey, some don't have that option...! Catalina will still be there, another time perhaps, we'll post plenty of pictures to document, don't you worry... :smilep
 
Count us in too! This will be our first Gathering of the Brats. We plan to launch from Alamitos Bay on Tues and return Thursday. See you there! Keith and Donna
 
So... we've been waiting patiently for the pictures. How was the trip? I'm sitting here in Ventura wishing I were in Catalina and looking at the moon, which is covered by a red hue from the smoke from the Station Fire 70 miles away. Yikes.
 
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