We left Ventura at 6:00 am prepared for a bit of a bumpy ride but we were pleasantly surprised and had a nice crossing to Catalina. We arrived at White's Landing at 1:30 pm, very happy to be back at one of our favorite places on earth:
Thursday, June 4, 2015
The morning was overcast but the sun came out by early afternoon and it was a beautiful day. We spent the day doing a little housekeeping and getting ready for Nick and his family's visit.
We try to grill as often as possible when we are at anchor -- even quesadillas! For lunch - Grilled Chicken Quesadillas with Grilled Onions and Guacamole:
And for dinner - Grilled Ahi and Asian-Style Slaw:
Friday, June 5, 2015
There were only a few boats in the anchorage. The seas were calm and flat - beautiful:
John took the dinghy into Avalon to pickup Nick, Milissa, Mariah and Nicholas. Our grandson Nick spent many summers with us in Catalina when he was a kid and we were looking forward to sharing the experience with his family:
The water was still a little chilly, 67 degrees, but the kids were in the water almost immediately.
Making a schedule of activities for the next four days:
Looking for sea life in the underwater lights. Not much to see that night, but the following week there were several large flying fish attracted to the lights. A sea lion moved in towards one of the fish and it took off flying. The sea lion flew out of the water and grabbed the flying fish mid-air. It was spectacular!!!! How I wish I had a video.
Saturday, June 6, 2015
We had only been on vacation a few days but I had already lost track of time - "Island Time" it's called! I woke up thinking it was the 7th, John's birthday. The kids got busy making Grandpa birthday cards:
We took a birthday picture:
We celebrated all day and it wasn't until the next day that I realized I had the wrong day!! The funny thing was John kept saying it just doesn't feel like my birthday today. Ooops!!!
We went kayaking and the kids did a great job.
Nicholas eventually got tired and I had to give him a tow back to the boat.
Mariah asked if she could help me in the galley and I loved teaching her some new skills. She learned how to chop with a chef's knife and how to dress a salad "Grandma Ila style".
Sunday, June 7, 2015
Happy Birthday John!!
Nick, Milissa, Mariah and Nicholas kayaked to the beach. They all did a great job getting through the surf:
The weather was absolutely beautiful - perfect for lunching outside - Cheeseburgers in Paradise!
Grandpa was not a fan of Mariah's playlist:
Getting ready for dinner- grilled shrimp, squash and potatoes:
Monday, June 8, 2015
There was a hurricane off of Mexico (Blanca) that was affecting the weather in Catalina. The kids wanted to learn how to snorkel but John could not find them a spot that was protected from the swell that was starting to roll into the anchorage. Over "Big Breakfast Monday" - waffles, sausage and bacon - we realized the weather was only going to get worse and decided to move the boat to Avalon.
Underway to Avalon:
It was a very good decision. We were on a very protected mooring close to the Casino, the water was calm and crystal clear. Nick gave Milissa and the kids snorkel lessons.
The kids loved jumping off the upper deck of the boat. Scared me to death, but they loved it!
Fruity drinks for cocktail hour:
Carnitas tacos for dinner. I asked the kids what their favorite part of the Catalina trip was - Nicholas' answer was "Cocktail Hour!!!!!"
Tuesday, June 9, 2015
The kids had to leave this morning, we sure hated to see them go. We enjoyed spending time and sharing Catalina and the boat with our great-grandchildren. We're so proud of the great job Nick & Milissa are doing in raising such a nice family.
