The Adventures Of Bette Porter And Sissee Gardner Living Happily Ever After (Part 2, Chapter 7)
PART TWO: SANTA CATALINA ISLAND

Chapter 7

By morning, a nice breeze coming through the balcony doors, had cooled down the high temperatures. I got up first, showered and dressed even before Bette and Angie woke up.

Bette had told me last night that she had made reservations for us to take a four-wheeled drive eco-tour of the island in the morning and a glass bottom boat ride in the afternoon after which we will be able to lay out at the beach and catch a few rays.

Sounded good to me.

When I called room service for a simple breakfast to be sent up, Bette heard me and got up to shower. Meanwhile, when sleepy-head Angie came out of her room, I told her that her mom was in the shower and I helped her to get in with her. By the time they were dressed and ready for the day’s activities, the breakfast arrived for us to enjoy and then we were off and running.

We were picked up at 9 a.m. in front of our hotel by a driver in what looked like an elongated Jeep with roll bars. The top was down as we piled into the back with plenty of leg room. There was a cooler on the floor at our feet that had been packed for us. I peered in and saw bottled water, sodas, sandwiches, fruit, cookies and a bottle of Chardonnay with several glasses on ice. Perfect.

I grinned over at Bette and she winked at me. All three of us fastened our safety belts as the driver drove slowly away beginning his narration.

He said the tour was permitted by the Catalina Island Conservancy. The island was once owned by William Wrigley, Jr. of chewing gum fame, who bought it in 1919. He turned it into a glamorous resort destination that was frequented by movie stars and film makers. In fact, 14 buffalo were brought over to make The Vanishing American. The herd grew to over 600, then were weeded down to 200 and left to roam at will in the island’s interior.

When Wrigley built the rotund casino, on Avalon Bay, the tourists began to come. It was a 12-story art deco masterpiece with a circular ballroom on the top. Swing music used to be popular there and still is, with swing and jazz festivals every summer.