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S.S. Catalina

Sharksbaja - 6-26-2005 at 02:13 PM

JR, since I am so lame at remembering names I could not say if I new you buddy. We lived in the interior of the Island at Two Harbors where the population in winter was a mere 50 people. Burn-out period is about 3 yrs. We lasted 4.1985-89 It was a good experience and I learned alot. Of course summers brought every weekend warrior from L.A. with a yacht.

I do remember the steamer and yes, I dove for a few coins myself as a younger sea lad. My parents had many friends with boats and we spent many summers plying the channel.

Now that the "Steamer" is floundering in Ensenada Bay we wonder if it will ever return. I have some vivid recollection of those days, however.

Does anyone have current info?

[Edited on 6-27-2005 by Sharksbaja]

BajaNomad - 6-26-2005 at 02:27 PM

The most current info is at the Yahoo! group... and even there it's not quite the most comprehensive info.

Bottom line is no one has stepped up with the amount of cash necessary to make a difference.
They keep trying to squeeze enough $$$ out of those interested, but it appears to not be there, and I think they need to find a single source for the funds necessary to bring the Catalina back - or it may not happen.

People unsatisfied by the actions of the first association have formed a new one in the attempt to "rescue" the Catalina, but the outcome remains to be seen.

Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sscatalina

Original association:
http://www.sscatalina.org

New association:
http://www.savethecatalina.org

--
Doug

BajaNomad - 6-26-2005 at 02:27 PM

btw... the top picture you used (from escapist.com) is one I took a few years back.

Sharksbaja - 6-26-2005 at 02:30 PM

Doing a good thing just gets harder every day. Thanx, Doug

Me No - 6-26-2005 at 02:31 PM

I have an aerial photo of SS Catalina posted at Baja.net.

I too have many fond memories of Catalina island as a child. My parents used to get a house there every summer and we would fly over on our old twin beach. Anyone remember those? How about landing at that airport, cliffs on both ends.

Best memories, undersea gardens/ glass bottom boats, mini golf and the small regular golf course. Hand lining for fish off the pier. Those were some good times. I also saw my first streakers there.

http://www.baja.net/photobb/showphoto.php?photo=2641&pap...

[Edited on 6-26-2005 by Me No]

Thanks guys

jrbaja - 6-26-2005 at 03:08 PM

brought back the memories of bumping my head into the glass bottom boat because I was so caught up in looking at the sea life below me. Obviously the tourists as well as my Mom and friends on the beach got a kick out of that "mishap".
The boat "My Mistress II" was my uncles and spent a lot of time at Cat Harbor as well as Two/Twin Harbors.
Last time I was there was when I was married a number of years back. 28 minutes from the mouth of Newport Harbor to Avalon with an 8 month pregnant girl on a Whaler with twin Yamaha "Rampage" outboards. That thing almost flew!

Banned from using the golf carts on the island with Larry and some friends for doing a little "exploring" after buying the island out of Black Velvet. Ah. the memories.

Dave - 6-26-2005 at 03:12 PM

Talk about beatin' a dead horse!

The Catalina needs to go, period. No one's ever going to get enough money together to save the damned thing. The only reason we're even talking about this is because it's in Ensenada and the government ( or whoever) hasn't the money to scrap it.

Nope

jrbaja - 6-26-2005 at 03:15 PM

We are talking about it because many of us have fond memories of that ship. Like finding our girlfriends playing cards in the engine room with the crew for instance.

Ever been on her Dave? GOOD times!

I spent many summers there also

Keri - 6-26-2005 at 03:17 PM

with my grandmother and my cousin. My favorites were the salt water taffy place right in the middle of town . We would walk into town at night from our hotel and watch the machine pull the taffy and then buy a couple of our favorite pieces for the walk back. It was a great treat for us. I also remember the zoo with the bird that had an x-rated vocabulary. does anyone else remember him? He always gave my cousin and I the giggles. I loved dancing at the old casino also. I was very young but I remember it well . It was a great time with my grandmother.k :tumble:

Me No - 6-26-2005 at 03:20 PM

I crossed the channel many times on that old barge. I think the first trip I spent mostly in the bathroom, praying, or hugging the rail. It sure did rock and roll! I guess that was just part of the fun. :lol:

Me No - 6-26-2005 at 03:22 PM

Yes, Yes, Keri. The taffy, oh the taffy, and the arcade that gave out tickets to buy things. I think I was the worlds skeet ball champion. :lol:

Bob and Susan - 6-26-2005 at 04:33 PM

The BIGGEST Priate Party you will ever go to....at Catalina Island

"OCTOBER, 2005
10/1 Celebrating 16 Years of Buccaneer Days at Two Harbors

For that little bit of Pirate in each of us, join the Buccaneers of "2005" for a great day of fun.

Join us at the Paradise Carnival Cove for fun games and activities for all ages. Don your best pirate attire for the costume contest. Enjoy great food and dance the night away."

WOW is this FUN :lol:

you gotta be kidding....

Sharksbaja - 6-26-2005 at 05:39 PM

18 years ago my one son turned 5. So in order to celebrate we invited a bunch of his classmates from the one one-room schoolhouse there. We decided to play it up so we all dressed as pirates and searched for a buried treasure over on the Cat Harbor side. needless to say, the party was a fabulous hit and I heard later that the tradition had been carried on........unbelievable! I just reminised with my son about the pirate party and he was pleasently surprised.
Thanx, Bob & Susan

ley me guess? They also have a model rocketry party too.

Dave - 6-26-2005 at 05:46 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrbaja
Like finding our girlfriends playing cards in the engine room with the crew for instance.

Ever been on her Dave?

No, but judging from your card game description, I must be the only one.

Sharksbaja - 6-26-2005 at 05:55 PM

no prob me no. I guess I wasn't the only one caca-faced by the time the steamer hit Avalon. :tumble:

Me No - 6-26-2005 at 06:18 PM

Sharks, your next thread title should be: Morphing. Oh what fun.

The Past Lives Only in Your Mind

MrBillM - 6-26-2005 at 06:32 PM

I, too, have a lot of fond memories of Catalina Island, though I crossed on the S.S. Catalina only once. Most of the time we visited on whatever boat my Dad owned at the time during the period from 1955 - 1960. I have a lot of fond memories of wandering around Avalon and going to the movies at the Casino in Summer and the small downtown theater in the Winter while my Dad got smashed in the local bars.

As a young adult, I made a few trips over by air, the first time with an instructor. It was pointed out that it is one place where you really have to trust your instruments. Rolling onto Final, it LOOKS like you're way too low because of those cliffs.

After many years of absense, I sailed over from Dana point on my sailboat back in 1992 and stayed for a week. My wife was enchanted with Avalon, having never been there, but my emotions were somewhat mixed. So many of the places and things I remembered fondly were long gone.

Sadly, I think that it is about time to let go of the S.S. Catalina. Those days are long gone and the cost of restoring the vessel will never be met. She'll just lay somewhere until she rusts through.

BTW, back in the 50s, a relative of ours told us that a cousin worked for the Sheriff's department on Catalina. His name was Roy Paine. The next fishing trip over, we went up to the station and introduced ourselves. Roy took us for a tour of the Island on County time.

ok, lets see here...

Sharksbaja - 6-26-2005 at 08:01 PM

now that we are on the subject. These here postcards were from my grandma and sent home in 1909 and1911. Notice no casino

and a "real" steamer

and I also found the stash of Newport , OR from that period....VERY small world!

I agree Bill

jrbaja - 6-26-2005 at 08:10 PM

Great memories and nothing more!
But you know these gringos who have to have some sort of ridiculous cause!

Let's see, restore a metal hull that was already messed up and has now been underwater for how long? :lol:

I'd rather go cut the huevos off some dog!

Me No - 6-26-2005 at 08:16 PM

Breathtaking. Thank you Sharks!

Sharksbaja - 6-26-2005 at 08:25 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by MrBillM

Sadly, I think that it is about time to let go of the S.S. Catalina. Those days are long gone and the cost of restoring the vessel will never be met. She'll just lay somewhere until she rusts through.

I am afraid the task too monumental besides the beauracracy involved. It sure would make a great artificial reef or dive attraction. Oh yeah, boo-hoo...

Check out Balboa in 1910, he he ....

[Edited on 6-27-2005 by Sharksbaja]

BajaNomad - 6-26-2005 at 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrbaja
Great memories and nothing more!

Actually, a significant piece of history in California - and a ship that's the last of its kind on the Pacific Coast.

- On the United States National Register of Historic Places (reference#: 76000495).
- A registered California State Historical Landmark (No. 894).
- City of Los Angeles Historical Cultural Monument (No. 213).

Also a WWII veteran, transporting more troops than any other Army transport throughout the war:

http://www.escapist.com/sscatalina/veterans

Quote:

But you know these gringos who have to have some sort of ridiculous cause!

People tend to become involved with causes that have personal meaning to them. You have yours, and this happens to be one of mine. I don't find it ridiculous in the least.

I've spent considerable time on this, and contributed Internet-resources to this cause since 1998.

Sorry Doug

jrbaja - 6-26-2005 at 08:49 PM

and I do know the history. But, do you really think it's possible without replacing almost everything? If it is, I wish you the best of luck!

roundtuit - 6-26-2005 at 09:04 PM

Does any body remember the golden god who use to greet every ship and the ship's passengers as they got off the boat

bajaden - 6-26-2005 at 09:40 PM

I've never been to Catalina Island, except with the beach boys. Great posts and very informative. I enjoyed the pic's Sharks. Looks like it was a very cool place at the time. Gotta agree with Jr though, you can never go back.

Except with the memories............................

BajaNomad - 6-26-2005 at 09:53 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by jrbaja
...do you really think it's possible without replacing almost everything?

The only thing considered still salvageable is the hull.

rpleger - 6-27-2005 at 09:57 AM

I rode the boat over to see the Catalina Grand Prix in the 50s.
Big, Big motor cycle race, Great time.
A bunch of bikers (racers) were going to take control and sail to Hawaii.
Funny what too much booze will do.
We made it back to the mainland OK.

Good Timeshttp://forums.bajanomad.com/images/smilies/lol.gif

Cincodemayo - 6-27-2005 at 10:31 AM

Anyone remember the flying fish landing on the deck? Dang those fun weekends at Avalon! Back then full day diveboats to Catalina and Santa Barbara Island for $16 out of San Pedro....those were the days!

Cincodemayo - 6-27-2005 at 10:36 AM

Some folks who lived at Lagunita in Laguna used to own the shiplines...Just as I joined the Laguna Fire Dept. there was an incredibe storm and unusual high tides that washed out many homes on the beach and one of them was their house.

JR

Baja Bernie - 6-27-2005 at 12:12 PM

I wrote a story on the S.S. Catalina and how it came to be stuck in the mud in Ensenada Bay. It's in my book,--Bouncing Around Baja--go back and take a look at it.

A lot of the information came from the sites that Doug quoted. Really a shame that they never could get her going because she was one of a kind and could have continued life for many more years as a tourist attraction if had not politics reared its ugly head.

I vaguely remember Bernie

jrbaja - 6-27-2005 at 12:21 PM

But unfortunately, the book is loaned out. :no:

I'll get it back though! Thanks. There seems to be quite a lot of "ex passengers" as well as interest in the old girl. Maybe it will help renew and interest in the project.

Doug, have you talked to anybody at Voss or the fuel dock on Shelter Island?

funny you mention that.

Sharksbaja - 6-27-2005 at 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cincodemayo
Anyone remember the flying fish landing on the deck? Dang those fun weekends at Avalon! Back then full day diveboats to Catalina and Santa Barbara Island for $16 out of San Pedro....those were the days!

Being stationed at the USC marine science center at little fisherman cove afforded many opportunities. One of my favorites was to hang out on our private pier with a long handled net. You get the idea. Almost like catching butterflies as the fish would zoom in towards the bright lights. Man was that fun. Oh, the fish ended up a new taste treat.... flying fish sandwiches....yum. Delicious but bony darn things.

I will tell some (scary) dive boat stories later.

Cincodemayo - 6-27-2005 at 12:51 PM

Kinda like runnin all over Huntington Beach late at night waiting for the grunion runs...only place on the planet! Fish porn right in front of everyone...

Cincodemayo - 6-27-2005 at 12:54 PM

Sharks....
Looks like the Corona del Mar tidepools area below Five Crowns restaurant...Best tidepoolin on the coast with some of the best bodysurfin just the other side of the jetty at the Wedge.

Sharksbaja - 6-27-2005 at 12:55 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Cincodemayo
Kinda like runnin all over Huntington Beach late at night waiting for the grunion runs...only place on the planet! Fish porn right in front of everyone...

actually, I've seen grunion running from Santa Monica to Ensenada. The grunion marathon of course. :lol:

Cincodemayo - 6-27-2005 at 12:56 PM

Sharks...
Sorry I meant the So Cal coast not just HB...

Sharksbaja - 6-27-2005 at 12:59 PM

and they DO taste much like the flying fish. I like grunion, bones & all.

Cincodemayo - 6-27-2005 at 01:04 PM

I'd take jumbo prawns ANY day of the week!

Me No - 6-27-2005 at 03:33 PM

Anybody got a good grunion recipe?

Grunion Munchies

MrBillM - 6-27-2005 at 05:59 PM

We always just rolled them whole in breading and fried them in a deep frying pan filled with grease. picked them up by the head and ate the rest.

Baja Bernie - 6-27-2005 at 06:44 PM

Well guys now that this thread has evolved into a discussion of fish in Southern California I have a question.

I used to be able to get 'sand dabs' at a cafe in Mission Beach a long time back--Do they still exist?

Me No - 6-27-2005 at 06:48 PM

Yes. You can buy them fresh every thursday at 3rd st promenad santa monica.