Internet at the Islands

Several entries for this year’s Baja Ha-Ha — there are currently 123 — have indicated they plan on spending some of the fall at the Channel Islands. Understandably, they tell us that while they’re looking forward to getting away from cars and ‘civilization’, they worry about not being able to get connected to the Internet.

"Please tell us that we can we get the Internet at some of the Channel Islands," they plead.

If it were up to us, there would be high-speed Internet access all over the world. After all, it should be a basic human right up there with shelter and food. Alas, we’re not in charge.

We haven’t been to the Channel Islands yet this summer, but based on our previous experience, the only island in the chain with Internet is Catalina, and there’s only Wi-Fi in certain parts of the island.

We’ve had good Internet off Avalon, Two Harbors and on Harbor Reef, and so-so Internet at White’s. At peak times — weekends and mornings and late afternoon — lots of users can really slow things down.

If you’ve been to the islands lately and have anything to add — perhaps which carrier has the best connectivity — southbound cruisers would like to hear about it.