Escape to Catalina

Words by Steven Smith

Photos by Josh Weinberg @jweinberg

It’s not every day you’re presented with an opportunity to step out of the routines of daily life and to reconnect with a couple old friends in a beautiful, fairly isolated environment; and to get to fully experience that place from the saddle of your bicycle. When a couple of my oldest friends, Josh and Alex, invited me on a bikepacking adventure - and asked me to assist with a video they planned to produce about the trip - help with logistics, carry some gear, etc. - I gave an enthusiastic and immediate, “I’m all in.” What cyclist wouldn’t want to throw their bike in a bag, fly down to Los Angeles for a 3 day weekend, and spend the bulk of that time pedaling around on Santa Catalina Island with a duo of old friends?