I’ve been told, no, promised, that I’d see whales on our sail to Catalina Island. It has been 10 hours, and I haven’t seen one breaching baleen.

What I have seen are hearts. Big, red, mylar heart-shaped balloons, a reminder of this past weekends Valentines Day. They are floating on the Pacific as thick as crabtraps on the Chesapeake.

We use this opportunity to practice our steering and pick-up skills, snagging 12 within a two-hour window. Hopefully we have saved the life of a sea turtle or other wildlife with our finesse.  (Please check out Balloons Blow-Don’t Let Them Go on facebook).

Balloons Blow-Don’t let them Go!

We moved aboard soon-to-be-named El Gato a month ago in San Diego, but this is our first foray into the open ocean with her. Catalina Island will be our Shakedown Cruise.

We spend our first night at Mission Bay, about a four-hour sail from where we keep the boat in Coronado. It is President’s Day, and the boardwalk and beaches are packed with teens and millennials working their stuff. The perfume of marijuana and sunscreen remind me of my adolescence, vacationing in Panama City, Fl, the Redneck Riviera, where I tended to migrate towards older boys offering up beers and bong hits.

At daybreak, we weigh anchor and steer due West towards Catalina Island for a week-long adventure.

Catalina Casino

Catalina Casino from the water

Avalon, the only incorporated city on Santa Catalina Island, is a quaint tourist town that draws a million visitors per year. The modest houses are built into the hillsides that rise from the waterfront. The majority of vehicles are golf carts. The round Catalina Casino claims front and center, although it is closed on the day of our visit. The Art Deco style building was commissioned in the 1920’s by William Wrigley (of Wrigley gum) and David Renton. It serves as a movie theater and ballroom, and is not and never has been used for gambling.

Avalon

The street front  buildings are independent shops selling art and souvenirs, and plenty of over-priced cafes serving up the usual tourist fare.

On the days when the cruise ships come in, the town is hopping and all the merchants open their doors. As soon as the cruisers are herded back on to their ship, many shops close back up until the next ship arrives, at least during the mid week off-season.

Avalon is not particularly dog-friendly, as there are numerous “NO DOGS” signs around, especially on the beach and front streets. This is important for me, since Chance and Roxie go everywhere we go, and have to get off the boat for potty breaks several times a day.

Dogs are allowed on trails, however, and with plenty of good hiking, we take to the hills for some exercise and photo-ops. After two days in Avalon, it’s time to move on up the coast for more remote harbors.

And I’m counting on spotting my whales along the way.