Two Harbors

The recent fire on Catalina Island was confined mostly to the interior and east end (near Avalon), therefore the trip my family made to Two Harbors and the west end last weekend did not afford us an opportunity to witness the damage.

My mother, my brother and I left Newport Harbor aiming for somewhere around Little Gibraltar / Lava Wall (about the mid-point) on Santa Catalina. Our 24' Sea Ray flew across in one hour due to minimal swell and wind.

Little Gibraltar (w/ Long Point in the background):

Two Harbors (a/k/a/ "The Isthmus") is an unincorporated town with a population hovering around 300. As such, it provides a much quieter, more rustic Catalina experience than Avalon has to offer. We hiked west to 4th of July and Cherry Coves, enjoying the views of both from the road.

Isthmus Cove as viewed from the west:

I saw this boat in the Newport Harbor yacht anchorage a few days later (notice the water clarity!):

We spent our time hiking, reading, swimming, BBQ-ing, and relaxing. Life in Two Harbors runs at a much slower pace than almost anywhere else in Southern California.