This was going to be GREAT! Back to my old High School stomping grounds.
It was late Wednesday night that word came I could head to LAX. It wasn't until Thursday afternoon that I was able to depart Rio in the Flight Club's 707 and head on the long flight to Los Angeles (so long in fact that I had to stop off in Caracas for gas).
Arrival to LAX was after dark but the landing was smooth - and about half a runway long. I forget how comparatively small the 707 (versus say the 767 or MD-11) and this error always puts me high and fast on finals. But, I arrived in LA just in time to ... wait for everyone else to arrive.
No one else in this club knows the Channel Islands like I do; I've done fishing and whale watching and SCUBA diving and animal observation all throughout this area - and I figured that justifies my self-inscribed title as "Tour Guide for the Month" (sorry Joao). So while I waited for the others to arrive I set about picking my aircraft for this feature, something that could accomodate all of us comfortably and still provide a good view out the windows.
Flight One: "The Overview" in the Do-328 Turboprop. Once the last Executive arrived we loaded up and headed over to Santa Catalina Island (and the notedly tough approach).
As we crossed the channel I recounted stories of Whale Watching and Catalina cruises I had taken. I pointed out the fishing and ferry vessles below. I'm sure the other members where quite enthralled! Once we got to the island we took an overflight, north to south to give everyone a good perspective. After coming to the south end we descended and returned to the airport where I requested clearance and turned onto downwind. It had barely been an hour and I was getting tired of hearing Bill ask, "Are you sure you can get this big plane in and out of there?" Then there was Brad, "Should've brought a Beaver..."
After spending the better part of three hours touring and shopping around the island (major tourist trap!) we were all pretty ready to head on to Santa Barbara via the Channel Islands. This time I asked Bill to sit in the very back and invited Alejandro up to the front seat. We taxied back out to the east end and for Bill's benefit I held on the brakes and pushed the throttles forward until the "little" plane shook and rattled. Then I released the brakes and let 'er scream down the runway. Peter said it was not unlike a carrier launch! I held the plane down until Alejandro was calling out 200 knots, then ... I put Bill and Brad in their proper places! It wasn't until we were cruising along happily at 3,000 feet and 260 knots that I realized that Joao and Hans were still offering up their prayers. This wasn't supposed to be a scary flight! 
"Off to the right of the aircraft you will see Anacapa Island where I did my first SCUBA dives. In the distance beyond is the Pt Mugu NAS - Pacific Rocketry Base." From there we continued on to Santa Cruz Island. Next up was Santa Rosa Island and Natural Park. Finally we come to the most remote of the Channel Islands, San Miguel. Finally, that afternoon, we headed north into Santa Barbara. 
Alastair, who had sat quietly studying his map all afternoon, finally asked, "How is it that the Pacific Ocean and these islands are SOUTH of California? I thought the Pacific was WEST." We then had to show him how California curves in this part and Los Angeles is actually EAST of Reno Nevada.
Flight Two: "Up Close and Personal" in the Twin, Nomad-on-Floats. After a couple of days in Santa Barbara (and on the beach) we were ready to head back towards LA. 
We departed from the Santa Barbara waterfront and headed back to the Channel Islands. Santa Rosa Island: I think the relatively cold Pacific Waters were a shock to some of our Club Members - Tim and Geert just swam in their shorts. Santa Cruz Island: Anacapa Island:
Finally we took our cold and wet adventurers back to Catalina and landed near the Two Harbors port where we deplaned for lunch. (I know that Joao and Tony were getting some odd looks but it's not everyday you see a couple of older guys with such purple lips from the cold water!) We also ordered the local "Vegitarian Special" for Peter which he learned later contained clam. Oh well, sorry mate.
From there is was just one last, short flight back across the channel to Long Beach where we landed near the Queen Mary
Tim, thank you so much for taking us back for a more thorough and up-close look at this scenic area of the Pacific Coast. This was great fun as predicted.
