May I share an personal piece of my past with ya'll

[HEyHEY]

When I did my internship on Gabriola Island. I used to drive out to a place called Berry Point...from that point I would sit and look at the lights of Vancouver only 18km across the water...but because of ferries it took four hours to get to... as well, the lifestyle on Gabriola was so different Vancouver may as well have been about 30,000 miles away.

I used to sit at berry and look at Vancouver - or that lighthouse...located on an island about 150 yards offshore. I went to the newspaper's site and saw it and remembered the chilly March evenings I would sit there, while the sun went down, and play my pennywhistle (poorly). Then I'd head to the Surf lodge for a drink.... I really would love to head back for a night or two.

Also, that lighthouse is about five or six miles from a DUer's house...but I won't say who.

[LeftCoast]

1. Looks really lovely

I think everyone needs a get-away place like that. Mine is a friend's place up in the Valley of the Moon. Going there in two weeks. Can hardly wait!

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

2. Off the coast of LA we have Catalina Island

and life is as it is on an island even though it is located in Los Angeles county. Spent all my summers there as a teenager and still take frequent trips over there.

I can appreciate your sentiments. :hi:

[arcane1]

3. I've been dying to visit Catalina

:loveya:

[nothingshocksmeanymore]

4. It really is great

Let me know if you are planning a trip down here...I'll take you around the place if I can swing the time off.

[arcane1]

5. cool!

they have camping, etc, there, right?

[hunter]

6. Everybody needs a quiet place.

I have a few places I'd like to head back to...

My wife and I have had some wonderful visits to Catalina, but we haven't taken our kids there yet. Hmmmmm, maybe we won't.

Before I was married I had a lot of places in Santa Barbara county where I could watch the ocean all by myself. I also used to hike up Sespe Creek in Ventura county and camp alone.

Better than Catalina, if you are looking for a very quiet place, is any of the other Channel Islands off California, especially in the winter -- at least that's the way it was twenty years ago. Sometimes you could be the only one camping on the entire island. Anacapa is especially gorgeous in the spring.