Month: April 2009

Dakota Update

4/26/09 – The vet never called yesterday. I’ll be going down tomorrow.

4/24/09 – Spoke with the vet this morning. There are some problems, and she may have to have a second surgery to remove the “dead” skin on Monday. She pulled out the drain on her back that they were using to flush the wound. They tried the collar, but it stressed her too much. Her red blood count is not recovering as it should, so they will be doing some tests to find out what that is. She is eating very well, walking better, and feeling better, over all, and everyone loves her, she is a sweet dog, they say. I just want her home!

4/23/09 – The vet just called, and Dakota continues to improve greatly. She is “brighter” today than yesterday, is wagging her tail more, and has a great appetite this morning, and is walking better. There is a “slight” chance she could come home for the weekend, but I called and said given the 3 other dogs, the rural, dirty, dusty nature of my place, Monday would be better for her. I would really like the tubes out before I bring her home, as much as I miss her. I don’t want an infection or relapse! I really want her home, and miss her terribly, but reality is Monday, I am hoping.

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I went and saw my dog, Dakota, today. That was so very difficult. I did take my winter sweater, full of my smells. I am so grateful for the suggestion. I am sure it will help her. Hasn’t been washed in quite a while.

I expected her to be happier to see me, but she was so hurt and in so much pain, it pained me. She did wag her tail, some, and did give me kisses when I asked.

I got down on the floor with her (my ex said, “don’t do that, you are going to get blood all over you!” I said, “I don’t care.” But I was grateful he offered to go with me. It was so emotional.) She has a tube going in the top through which they put sterilized water to cleanse the inside of the wound, and, of course, a drain out of which is coming lots of blood, pus, and the water. She has an IV catheter on her leg, as she gets several IVs a day. Her belly looks like she is feeding a dozen puppies, her teats are so full and swollen. She has about 40 stitches, maybe more. She may need a second surgery to remove the dead and dying tissue. She won’t be coming home before Monday.

The good news is, no broken bones, no internal injuries, no gangrene, and no amputations. It will just take some time for her to heal. She is eating, goes out to pea, and walks around, albeit with quite a limp.

I will upload a couple of photos of my baby as soon as the internet allows. They don’t really show the injuries, as that is in the groin area, but they show the top, flushing tube, the shaving, and my sweetie. Thanks, to the ex for thinking to take these for me!!

What she went through to get home to me is beyond remarkable. We are so connected, and the psychic communication was incredibly strong.

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Happy Earth Day-show Mother Earth some lovin’

Hey, what happened to the cool down? It’s as hot as ever up here! Now, go plant a tree, pick up some trash, or care for her critters! Better yet, plan your solar system.

Going to visit Dakota in the doggie hospital. I am taking her my winter sweater, full of smells of me. She can’t come home until at least Friday, maybe Monday. The damage was worse than the vet thought. *Sigh* 🙁

Missing Man & Recovered Woman

Big Sur is a place where strange things happen, sometimes. People tend to run away from family, friends, or society here. They may unwittingly join the “West of Highway One Club.” In the past few days, we have had both happen. The lady who joined the West of Highway One Club is okay. She sur-vived and made it out. The 30-year-old man,Stephen Cunniff, finally made it back to the highway after 6 days missing. And not too long ago, the man who ran from the cops, and ultimately committed suicide, chose Big Sur as his portal to another life.

Something about Big Sur calls to lost souls — those who need healing. They seek it in countless ways. Some of us stay, when we find that healing energy we have been seeking. Others, pass on or through. 

Whatever one seeks, Big Sur so unerringly provides.

Hot Temperatures

Heat wave advisories posted throughout the region for yesterday and today, and then hopefully, a cool down. Lucia reported 100 degrees on the coast, yesterday. I did not notice how hot it got up here, as I was otherwise engaged. Stay cool and fire safe, everyone! And NOAA weather discussion had this to say:

“TREND OF COOLING TEMPS BACK DOWN TO BELOW NORMAL LEVELS WILL

 CONTINUE THROUGH THE END OF THE WORK WEEK."

Life in the Wilderness, 4/20/09

Two stories, and I will try to keep them short, but hopefully interesting.

Remember my post a few days about about trespassers? Wow, did that spark some debate at the Ventana Wilderness Alliance. So far, it is about even between those outraged by my declarations re my private property rights, and those who defend my right to be suspicious of trespassers, with those supporting me gaining a slight lead.

I had no idea people could get so het up about my private property rights. It got really hot today, and I don’t mean the weather. Some posters are very supportive, and others, not so much. Funny, sort of like the trespassers I meet up here: some nice, some not so.You can follow the whole debate; the good, the bad, and the ugly here: 

Ventana Wilderness Forums • View topic – Private Property & Silver Peak Wilderness.

Second, you remember when Dakota was missing for 3 days and I found her shut inside a storage trailer? Well, she’s been missing again. For four days. I didn’t post, as I just KNEW she would come home.

On Thursday, I went to town for an overnighter. Dakota absolutely has to be kept locked inside the first day, or on a leash, otherwise, she will come looking for me. Once, about 3 years ago, she went to the school, 5 miles away. So, she always gets locked up. This time, the dog sitter left the door open and she, naturally, being Dakota, went running off to look for me. When I got home, I combed the area on Saturday. Went to the campground, went to the school, went to Sand Dollar, checked the sides of the road, nada. 

Today, just after noon, Dakota showed up with no fanfare. She came in the open door, and laid down at my feet. I jumped for joy, and then noticed she was all tore up, not walking right, and had a major gash. I rushed her to the vet. Seems she was hit by a car. Her wound was filled with maggots. Four days with little or no food or water, a hip and/or leg that may be broken, and yet she made it home, five miles and 3200 ft in elevation from the highway where she was probably hit. She is in the doggie hospital tonight, and will undergo surgery tomorrow, but the vet is confident she will survive. My dog sitter might not, however.

Dogs are just the most amazing critters, aren’t they? Dakota, the Wonder Dog!!

First Big Sur Fire of 2009 Season

From one BSVFB member, this fire is at Rancho Rico. This is what is reported on wildlandfire:

“As of 2116hrs, Los Padres Communications Center is reporting a veg fire at Sycamore Cyn and Hwy 1 on the West side of the highway, 3-5 acres with 50-60% contained.” 

SurCATS is reporting that as of 9 pm, this fire is in the mop up stages. Here is a link to some photos of the fire:

Kodakgallery.com: Slideshow.

Photos by Nancy Sanders

Big Sur Marathon in one week

Just a reminder, the 24th Annual Big Sur International Marathon is a week from today, Sunday, April 26th. Highway One between the Deli/Post Office and Rio Rd. will be closed for the race. There are only 2 caravans going south, starting from Rio Rd. at 8:45 am and again at 11:00 am. There are 3 heading north, starting at 7:20 am at the starting line; 9:50 am at Point Sur; and 11:55 am at Palo Colorado. You can download the entire caravan schedule here: 

http://www.bsim.org/site3.aspx

State Park & Bridge Update, 4/18/09

Bidding for the installation of a temporary Bailey Bridge closed yesterday, 4/17. Part of the required bidding process was a guarantee that the installation would be completed within 30 days of the awarding of the contract.

Current speculation regarding how camping reservations will be handled for the summer traffic at the Big Sur State Park is that it will be on a first-come, first-serve basis, starting the day the bridge opens. The Bailey Bridge will be one lane, controlled by a signal light.

The closure of the State Park is putting a burden on the remaining campsites, which down here on the South Coast are filled *beyond* capacity. That, in turn, is leading to camping in undeveloped areas of the forest. As XT points out, the closure of much of USFS (and state) lands in Big Sur, due to the 2008 fires, has lead to additional stress on the unburned and highly vulnerable areas of the Los Padres National Forest. This is a lose-lose situation.

And more wildflowers

I tried. I really tried to narrow down my wildflower photos, but darn, they are just going off, right now. Particularly the blue bonnet lupine – you know the short little ones that are so bright, they almost hurt one’s eyes? Yeah, those ones. I still haven’t finished posting my others, and here I am with new ones!!

Lupines & Sea blue

Oh, you see a lowly poppy here, as well as the popcorn flower (I really must learn its botanical name) as well as the lovely legume, vetch. Yup, that is the ocean in the background.

You’ll probably be tired of bright blue lupines (aka blue bonnets) when I am finished with this post. Probably, but not me. They are around such a relatively short time, and this way, we can look at them all year!

dsc_1988It used to take me only 1/2 an hour to get down to the highway. I cannot do it in less than an hour, now-a-days. Gee, I wonder why?

dsc_20291Isn’t that one of the most gorgeous things you’ve ever seen? And why are we surprised that all the city folk want to come here? Where else can they see something like this? Now, if we could teach them that those fields they want to tear up with their 4×4 when there are no flowers  could all look like this if they stayed on the road, we’d make some progress! This one used to get torn up, but the USFS set up a ditch and a berm to prevent off-roading, which is not allowed up here.

dsc_2040Okay, I have more, but I guess I will change hues. Don’t want you getting bored. Here is some clover, not owl’s clover, which I’ve seen, but not much of.

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Some of these are not as clear as they could be, as it was a VERY windy day when I took these. They were in a relatively sheltered area, or none of them would have been clear. 

Okay, and how about the lovely Flannel Bush? Yellow goes well with blue, don’t you think? This one is located at Pacific Valley School, in Gail’s front garden. I’ve asked for seeds, but, as I recall (I’ll have to look it up) this may be one of the seeds that I have to put in a tray and set fire too for it to germinate. See, fire does play a roll.

dsc_2009I think that is all for tonight. Tomorrow, I have off. I am meeting friends for a variety of activities throughout the day. This weekend, I’ll be putting up “No trespassing” signs so that people can have fun tearing them down. It’s what they do, up here in the wilds of Big Sur. I guess they think nobody has the right to be as lucky as I am.

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Sorry, I could not help myself. I so love these lupines! Promise, this is the last one, at least, today.