MARILYN CORNWELL: Marilyn's Photos - Aug 27 2026 - Catalina Island Across The Sea

Catalina Island across the sea. How far was it from the Pacific shore? In my mind it is 17 miles. But that's not the case it is 22.3 miles. And the song's lyrics, sung by the Four Preps makes it 26 miles across the sea.

I went looking for the song's lyrics and found this song bio at genius.com

"ONE of the sunniest songs about Southern California began in frosty Chicago where a 10-year-old Cubs fan named Bruce Belland watched the movie reels about his team’s spring practices on distant Santa Catalina Island. “I would sit there in the dark and stare at the players and those palm trees waving in the background and wonder ‘How can it be that warm anywhere in the world when it is so cold here in Chicago?’ ”

A year later Belland’s family moved west, and he ended up at Hollywood High. At age 15, he tumbled from his bike and broke an ankle, which led to a long, boring recuperation with his foot propped up. He got a gift to help pass the time: A ukulele. He learned four chords that would change his life. “Those chords would be the opening of ’26 Miles,’ ” Belland recalled. The chorus came to him later in the year, though, when he was bodysurfing at Will Rogers State Beach. A pal pointed to the horizon and said he could see Catalina 26 miles away. “That’s where it came from. But those words would haunt me. It’s really like 22.3 miles, but you try singing that. Think about that meter!”

Bruce Belland didi everything imaginable in his life - he was the originator of the Four Preps and co-wrote the song with Glen Larson. With such an interesting story about the song, I went to his website. He grew up as a Pastor's son, living close to Beverly Hills and the Hollywood Studios. Even as a toddler, he was a church singer, and was involved in singing and the music industry from an early age. He credits himself in his bio for giving Ricky Nelson his big break. After his music career, he went on to radio, TV and print advertising, and became a TV executive. He's still with us at the age of 88.

Something that caught my attention was his mother's first name - Hertha. That was my mother's name, too.

Another one of the Lone Tree images.