Island Inland

As usual, I've got a backlog of posts I'd like to do. Yesterday was my birthday, and much happened. The week before our kitty had to go in for emergency surgery, and they saved his kitty bacon. Once again, 2013 is turning out to be rather expensive. He's got a bald patch on his front leg where they had an IV that he kept trying to pull out. Muscle relaxers for a cat, you wouldn't think they'd even make such a thing, huh???

Took the Falcon on a beach cruise, and we went up to the mountains for another vacation. My mom fell in a brier patch. Bought myself another cool little technology device, a month before my birthday, but I'll call it my birthday present to myself. Putting Little Black Submarines on me blog drove up traffic. Hope someone else enjoyed my artwork.

But for now, here's part two from our first vacation, the part where we went on the Inland tour!!!

Last time we were over there, I saw one of the buses they use for the inland tour, 1953 Flxable buses. Actually going out of the Avalon city limits would be a nice change, and going on such an awesome looking vintage bus was a plus!!!

I had to get a few shots of the bus. They ride as good as they look!!!

And a cool shot in a parabolic mirror going around one of the hairpin turns, only marred by a little piece of duct tape!!!

A shot I didn't manage to get on last year's trip, a bald eagle!!! Too bad it was in an animal sanctuary, but it made for a good shot.

And buffalo. Originally brought over for the filming of the movie "The Vanishing American" by Zane Gray (who himself lived on the island for a while, heard an amusing story that I again may relate...), and when the movie was done filming, William Wrigley Jr. opted to purchase them. They about overran the island, and now are kept on birth control. One of the offerings by many of the restaurants on the island is buffalo burgers. I had always assumed it was locally raised buffalo, but it is all imported from the mainland, where the USDA can keep an eye on the proceedings!!!

Back side of the island. Kinda makes you want to camp out there for a while, huh???

Another shot of the bus, and my sweet 512 shirt!!!

The famed Airport in the Sky!!! Since my nephew has his pilot's licenses, I always think it'd be cool to have him fly us over there. It is notoriously tricky, as the strip is high in the middle, so coming in, it tends to look too short.

The bus driver told us about the cookies. He was right about the cookies. I've heard about the "$100 burger" at the Airport in the Sky. I could have gotten in on that, but opted for the cookie and a Monster. The $100 burger is when a pilot will fly over and get lunch there.

Outside there was a pretty cool tile mosaic map of Catalina. I jumped up on it and was taking pictures when one of the Air Traffic Controllers stepped out onto the balcony of the tower and told me to get down from there. Of course, after that I saw the sign saying not to get up on it!!!

My wife's sunglasses broke the first day, and she'd looked at one of the shops along Crescent Street in Avalon. They were over $50 there, and these at the airport were only $14, so bargain priced!!!

It was a pretty long voyage, but it was a great experience!!! Even little babies approve!!!