It's the Catalina Wine Mixer!!

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So....I wake up and I'm...hungover... so we had a bit of a late start...close to noon. We had no shore excursions planned for Catalina Island and that was fine by me. The trip was starting to get pricey so I thought we could explore the island on our own, and that is just what we did. After some B-fast and much needed hydration, I was feeling good again and ready to get to that beautiful island known as Catalina! Apparently it is a one hour boat ride from the "mainland" or Long Beach...but for us it took over a day, lol. Im sure most people who reside in California werent that excited for Catalaina Island, but I was...especially beacause of...

The Catalina Wine Mixer!!

Actually there is no real Catalina Wine Mixer, but anyone who has seen the Will Ferrel movie "Step Brothers" will get that reference.

So we had to take a smaller boat off the ship, which Lyle immediatly fell nervous about...he took one of his motion sickness pills...little did he know the quiet ride would be only 4 minuets until we reached the island.

Well you couldnt have asked for a better day. No clouds in the sky, no strong annoying wind breezes. It really was perfect.

We had the option of renting a golf cart to drive around the island, which I considered, but it was $40 per hour!! So we opted to walk around instead. Sadly....everything on that island is expensive...EVERYTHING. From the cheesy souveniers to the good seafood lunch...it was nearly $30 a plate...and thats for lunch! We did however find a cheap hot dog place and got some fries, hot dogs and drinks...still paid $14 bucks...hmm...maybe I've been in EL Paso too long and I forgot how expensive the "real world" can be!

Truthfully, all we really did was walk around shop to shop and on the beach...uneventful, however beautiful it might be. But doesnt make for an interesting read, so I will not continue boring you.

We did, however, find an interesting art shop with some of the most beautiful paintings I have ever seen. Ruth Myers, I think the artist is named. Simply stunning.

Well, it was back on the boat for more night time debauchery!

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Photos

Avalon
City of Avalon on Catalina Island

Smaller boat
Had to take a smaller boat to the island

Spread Eagle
Lyle's "spread Eagle" picture...yes, he even told me to caption it as that.

golf carts
Everyone uses golf carts to get around and not really cars

Ice Cream!
No, its not meant to look dirty... so many people where around and I felt awkward posing with an ice cream statue

Better pic
This one came out better

fountain
SOme fountain thing that I liked

Carnival Inspiration
Feeling inspired yet?

Alright pic
It was this pic that made me want to reconsider having short hair =/ yikes

playing in the sand
Playing in the sand...with my boots on

Us
Some nice guy took this pic for us