Month: April 2009

Storm Watch, 4/8/09

9:00 am – The Herald is reporting the road expected to open by mid-day. Cal-Trans is predicting one lane open by about 1 pm. Stay tuned for further updates, as they become available. And the photo, when the internet fairies allow.

car-in-culvert2I do not know who provided these, it may have been Rene, but I would like to give credit to the photographer. Here is one of Highway One:

1-clean-up

8:00 am – I received an additional 1/2 in. overnight, for the storm, 1.25″, for the season, 33.75″

Here is a shot taken by Rene Robles of the parking lot at the Big Sur Lodge late yesterday afternoon. Be patient with me, if it takes a while to get it uploaded. Well, I will get it loaded when I can. In the meantime, there is an article in today’s Herald about last night’s closure. There is also an article about the fugitive who shot himself in Big Sur a few days ago. The mudslide article is at: http://www.montereyherald.com/ci_12096953?nclick_check=1

5:00 am – it continues to rain, heavy at times. While CHP is not reporting the closure, anymore, I cannot imagine that it opened during the night, given conditions. Often times, old incidents will drop off their website. There were unconfirmed reports that one lane was open for a time, last night around 9:30 pm. Will report more, when I know more.

Storm Report & Road Closure

9:00 pm – conserving power for posting tomorrow, first light, and also conserving my own power, as I have been sick with a nasty grunge for DAYS!! Check back in the am, and I will post what I can find out.

6:45 pm – I have received another 1/4 inch in the last 45 minutes. It is POURING, some hail, too. Imagine being inside a tin can with someone shooting BBs at you. That is what it is like up here, at the moment.

6:00 pm – This is from various sources:

Highway 1 is closed in both directions because of a mud slide. The CHP website has the south end closure at MM 44 (Nepenthe), and the north closure at 46, I believe, and cars are being turned around in both directions. Per CHP, closure all night, crew to clear in am. Reports are that this mudslide is significant, and one can NOT get through, even locals. Updates, as available, and my battery power allows.

It is being reported that the mudslide is at the Big Sur River in the State Park, and that the mud  is near the top of the K-rails surrounding the Big Sur Lodge, and that same water has seeped into the Lodge itself. If my friends who live near-by send me any photos tomorrow, I will be sure and post them. 

Also, it is raining like crazy up here, and I received 3/4″ since 8 am. Season rain totals tomorrow.

Storm Watch, 4/7/09

I’m waiting and watching. NOAA is predicting up to an inch in the higher mountains by this time tomorrow, as well as possible lightning and hail. I’m not expecting it down here until later this morning. Other possibilities of precipitation later this week, also. It will make the grass and the wildflowers happy, particularly if we get nice warm sunshine next week. 😎

Sprinkles started here about 8:00 am, and there is also wind. Could be an fun little springtime storm.

Zigadenus fremontii

Zigadenus fremontii, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

Latin name: Zigadenus fremontii; Pronunciation: zig-a-DEE-nus free-MONT-ee-eye; Common name: Star lily; Family: Liliaceae (Lily); Habitat: Rocky outcrops, dry grassy or wooded slopes below 3000′, coastal sage scrub and chaparral. Blooming period: March to May.

I have these above 3K ft, but they are not in bloom, yet. I took this one a couple years ago.

Rain a comin’

Spring rains expected tomorrow morning. Yay!! Every little bit helps. NOAA is predicting between 1/4 and 1/2 inch. Possibility of further rain Wednesday through Friday, but only a possibility.

Also, on a sad note, dear Miss Sara Byrne’s husband, Greg Denmark, died just short of his 56 birthday in a drowning accident in Washington State about 10 days ago. Our thoughts and love are with you, Miss Sara. (You may remember Sara and Greg from their days at River Inn, she managing the store, and he, doing maintenance.)

Baby Blue Eyes

baby blue eyesThis field of baby blue eyes shows the scorched area of the Chalk Fire.  That is Cone Peak in the background.

dsc_1869

These are the baby blue eyes, a little closer up. I have one more hillside of baby blues to add to this post later tonight, if possible.

Incident near River Inn & Andrew Molera Saturday

Ever since I heard about the incident yesterday in the Valley, I have been trying to confirm what I had heard. There has been a dearth of information about it from the local news media, and all I could get was information from my local sources, which was surprisingly accurate.

Finally, this afternoon, KION, channel 46 in Salinas provided information it obtained from the MCSO. Here is a part of that story:

“According to sheriff’s investigators, two drivers were involved in a traffic collision near the Big Sur River Inn at about 3:30 p.m. Saturday; shortly after, county dispatchers told the deputy on scene that one of the vehicles involved was reported stolen out of Colorado Springs, Colo.  The  driver of the suspected vehicle then fled on foot behind the River Inn.

The deputy and a U.S. Forest Service officer ran after him, and a California Highway Patrol airplane was called to help search the hillside.  Sheriff’s deputies say the man was found about 150 feet up the hillside, lying down under a tree; upon being found, investigators say he put a gun to his head and shot himself dead.”

There is not much I can say, except this man must have been desperate. I am sorry for his family, but given the rash of shootings making the news, I am very grateful that this person did not try to take others with him at the end of his journey. (He has not yet been identified.)

Castro Canyon Wildflowers

I managed to make it through the entire winter without a cold, flu, or any illnesses at all. I’ve got a great immune system, but somehow, I’ve caught a cold, and am sinking fast.To give you an idea how long it has been since I’ve had a cold, I found some old cold meds that expired in early 2008. I took it anyway.

I’ve been trying to upload a photo by Joyce Duffy all afternoon, and the internet ghouls are interfering. I’ll get it up, here, as soon as the internet fairies intercede in my behalf, assuming I don’t fade first. 😎

castro-canyon1

Random Big Sur Photo #3

Wine Opener

Where am I?

I love the effects of window lighting, and it is one of my favorites subjects to photograph, whatever it happens to be lighting. 

I got some wonderful wildflower shots from Graves Canyon, Castro Canyon, and Stone Ridge (although this one did not completely download, for some reason) from Joyce Duffy. When I find them, I will post this weekend. We are having amazing showings all up and down the coast, in both the burn areas, and the non-burn areas. All us photographers are in heaven!

NOAA has pushed the rain back to Monday night/Tuesday. We’ll take whatever spring rains come our way. Maybe we can extend the wildflower displays!

*Poppies, field

*Poppies, field, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

Chalk Fire burn area, taken on Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd.