BSVFB Muster Photos

I’m sitting in cool, wonderful Morro Bay, where not only is it cool, but the internet is SOO much faster. I remembered I owed you some muster photos, so without further ado … (no comments, or names, just photos. Okay, a few silly comments.)
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Okay, so the internet is only a little faster, and I don’t have time to load a whole bunch, so a few more now, and a few more later.
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And no editing on any of these. What you see is what you get. Some of us have to work for a living.
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We all know this guy, don’t we? He’s the guy behind our new fire chief.
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And here’s to the woman behind our retiring chief (not the one above, he’s got another fabulous woman behind him!)
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There she is, on the left.
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And food. Did I mention the food? Lots and lots of food.
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The man of the hour — giving an interview.
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That’s the line for the food. A long, l-o-n-g line. There were lots of us.
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And what’s a muster, without some mustering?
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Go to it, boys!!

I’ve got lots more photos, but I rarely seem to get around to Round 2. There are always other things to report, other photos to take. But I’ll try. No promises, but I’ll try.
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A group shot I meant to include. Photographers shooting photographers, again.
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Those of you who know me, know I am a hat lady. I cannot resist a good hat, or a photo of it.
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And red hats are my favorites!

I shot in both jpg and raw. Those close-ups of people in jpg were too saturated, and the skin tones not right, so I posted the raw ones. Of groups or the muster, the saturation was just about right, so I used the jpg ones. You can tell the differences. As I said, these are straight out of the camera, I didn’t have time for editing, and one can tell. I am always learning.

Lake (Nacimiento) Fire

8:30 pm – no additional information. Last word was 100 acres and 50% contained. I did not get up to look at it, was preparing a bunch of work that has to be mailed or overnighted tomorrow. Sorry. Work sometimes gets in the way of life, you know?

5 pm – New fire this afternoon by the lake, near the dam. Moderate to rapid ROS anticipated. These high temperatures cannot be helping. I will go out later to take a look, as my perch up here provides a view, although, I must go up to the top of the property. I will update this post later this evening as I obtain more information. For those not familiar with the area, while it is miles away from the South Coast of Big Sur, it is visible from here, and the terrain in between is unforgiving.

With the blazing hot temps (116 at the lake today) we’ve had for days, this one may well go beyond initial attack. So far, with all the fires starting across the state, Cal-Fire has been knocking them down in record time. Great job, guys and gals!!

I just heard that this one has been “picked up.” That appears to mean, under control, but I’ve never had official confirmation of the term. It is being reported at 100 acres and 50% contained at 5:15 pm. Good news. But I will continue to keep abreast of developments.

Here is a live feed: (caveat, I have not tried it, yet.)
Online feed is http://www.sloweather.com/firescanner.htm

Temperatures in the Mtns. of Big Sur

We ran it up to 112 yesterday, and it hit 100 before noon today. Kate’s recipe for heat with no AC: 1. Take hose, and run all the scalding water out; 2. Soak head and hair thoroughly, do not dry; 3. Take light cotton dress and soak thoroughly, do not wring out; 4. Put on wet dress; 5. find bug-free zone and lay down; 6. Repeat every hour.

That’s my day today, with transcripts, printing, and writing thrown in during the “dry” times in my routine. Paper and computers do not like to be soaked.

I danced with a hawk today

I danced with a hawk today, perhaps a juvenile red-tail, but I’m not sure, who decided to play with me on the way to the BSFVB Muster & BBQ.

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He flew over the car and landed in a nearby tree. Then got curious for another look.

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He looked me right in the eye. We danced.

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He showed me his coloring and his great flying skills. Then our song of soaring ended, and he flew away.

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I am better at photographing Mother Nature than I am people, but I will post some people shots tomorrow or Monday of the BSVFB Muster/BBQ/Retirement Party. Great food. Great people. Great party.

Smoke on Horizon

The problem with living “On Top o’ the World,” is I see everything. There is smoke drift, particularly visible at sunset, although I saw it earlier this afternoon, too.

Last I heard, earlier this afternoon, the fire on the NV/CA border, up by Reno was about 7K acres. I also read about several new fires down in LA County, and of a new fire between Lookwood and San Ardo. (seems to have been contained in rapid fashion.)

I’ve purused all my usual sources, and find nothing to explain it. I am working late tonight so that I can attend the BSVFB Muster/BBQ/Retirement Party tomorrow.

Maybe the million acres that have burned in AK this month have finally made it down this far, or the Backbone in the Trinity Alps, or the Redrock/Trailer complex up by Reno. But I can’t smell smoke, so I will continue working, and see some of you tomorrow.

Tourists in the Wilds

Campgrounds are full. This was Plaskett Creek Campground, early on a Tuesday afternoon.

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Tourons enter the wilds.

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They leave footprints every where they go.

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And by next weekend, the sign will be run over again. And a few, rare people at the Ventana Wilderness Alliance wonder why I get bent out of shape.

Tuesday … afternoon

It is hard to write a blog almost every day for a year, and find new and exciting things to say, unless there is a fire, or a mudslide, or heavy snow, or a murder. Just kidding about the latter. And if not new and exciting, maybe informative. Well, if not informative, then of interest. It is sort of an informal newspaper column … sort of … with a small readership (much larger than I ever expected). And, if all else fails, post some photos. People like visuals. And I like taking photographs. So, there you have it.
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So, this afternoon’s foray to Cambria for supplies yielded a few photos.

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And when words fail me (OMG, did I say that? And me, a lawyer?) Photos never do. Thanks for reading, and looking, and commenting, when you do. I enjoy the feedback, I really do.

Farmer’s Market

Farmer’s Markets are so colorful. Fresh flowers. Fresh veggies. Fresh fruit. I mean really fresh, and much of it organic. The Farmer’s Markets I have attended here are nothing like the ones I went to in Provence, where they are day-long events. One can be found every day within a 10-20 mile radius. But here, I have the 1/2 day one in Cambria on Fridays.

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See that 8-ball zuccinni? I bought that. Simple way to prepare is to slice, sprinkle with freshly ground salt and pepper and sauté in olive oil. When done, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Delish.

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Don’t you just love all the colors at a Farmer’s Market?