After traveling about 100 nautical miles south overnight from Santa Rosa Island of the Channel Islands National Park, we arrived early at Santa Catalina Island, which is mostly managed by the Catalina Island Conservancy. We anchored just outside of Two Harbors in the morning, where there were opportunities for hiking, kayaking, and beach lounging. The hikes varied from a gentle walk across the isthmus to an athletic hike to the hilltop, as kayakers leisurely enjoyed the exceptionally clear and calm sea conditions near the pier and along the rocky coastline. The morning was beautiful and the air temperature was very comfortable, as the sun and fog did a dance between the island and the sea.
We then cruised eastward to an anchorage off Avalon. Along the way we observed dolphins from National Geographic Venture’s viewing windows and bow. After shuttling to Avalon, everyone chose their own route as they enjoyed this beautiful seaside town. One of the afternoon highlights was complimentary ice cream from Scoops just at the base of the pier.
