Month: November 2009

Rock Shed & Bridge at Pitkins near Limekiln

Cal-Trans just issued the news release quoted below. Also, while I haven’t received a release on them, there are two other on-going projects I have witnessed. One is just south of Packard/3 Palms beach. It involves a one-way stop light. Another project is north of Ragged Point. Last I saw, it did not have a signal light, but news reports in SLO papers indicate one will be installed.

Date: Monday, November 30, 2009
District: 5 – Santa Barbara, SLO, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
Contact: Janet Newland or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3461 or (805) 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

MAJOR BRIDGE AND ROCKSHED PROJECT BEGINS ON HIGHWAY 1 SOUTH OF LUCIA

MONTEREY COUNTY – Roadwork will begin this week on the Highway 1 Pitkin’s Curve Bridge and Rainrocks Rockshed. The project will install a 620-foot long bridge and protective cover on Highway 1 just south of the town of Lucia.

During the first stage of the project the roadway will be relocated closer to the hillside and one-way flagging operations may be in effect from 8 am to 4 pm Monday though Friday. By spring, a temporary traffic signal will be in place so one-way traffic control will be in effect 24/7.

The project will protect motorists and the highway from falling rock and slides. The contractor for this $29 million project is Golden State Bridge of Martinez, California. The project requires four years of construction time; however, it will go through several winter seasons so completion may be extended depending upon severity of the weather.

“We are thrilled to break ground on a project that will significantly enhance the long-term stability of the coast highway,” said District 5 Director Rich Krumholz.

Caltrans reminds motorists that “we’re here to get you there.”

For more information on you can call the toll-free project hotline at (888) 836-0866 or visit http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/projects/pitkins/index.htm.

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Natural California, Reception & Dinner

Big Sur Lodge Invites you to a special event:
Restoring California

With the Big Sur Lodge at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park, WildBigSur and PelicanNetwork present a reception and dinner about the California we love and [are] learning to restore. In this series of talks, receptions and dinners we will offer the exciting artistic and scientific work of learning about the real California. What is so great about natural California and how and why we can bring it back is the theme of this series.

Our first event features the wonderfully knowledgeable and affable director of the University of California ecological reserve in Carmel Valley. Dr. Mark Stromberg has created a significant book, California Grasslands.

Thursday, December 10, 2009
Fireside lounge, Big Sur Lodge
Reception 5:30 pm
Special Musical and Culinary Treats
Wine by Heller Estates in Carmel Valley
Dinner in the Redwoods Room 7 pm

Dr. Mark Stromberg
Resident Reserve Director, Hastings Natural History Reserve,
University of California, Berkeley

Reception and Dinner:
There is no cost to attend this reception. Contributions are welcome. Proceeds will benefit the Community Garden at the Big Sur Captain Cooper School.
The wine paired dinner with the author will feature local native foods truthfully and exquisitely prepared by the Big Sur Lodge Head Chef Joel Manriquez. He is preparing special recipes for smoked wild boar, abalone, quail and of the incredible bounty of edible plants of the Santa Lucia Mountains. Award winning organic wines are by Heller Estates of Carmel Valley.
Cost for the dinner is $65 a person.
For more information and to make a dinner reservation:
WildBigSur@PelicanNetwork.net
or, call Jack at 831 667 2025

3 Small Fires in Big Sur, all out

Around midnight, two fires ignited by downed power lines, due to high winds – one on El Sur Ranch and one near Pfeiffer State Park. Today, another one, near Captain Cooper School, also from power line. All three out due to rapid response from our Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade! Way to go, firefighters!!

Giving Thanks



Giving Thanks, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

Shot by my son, Brendon Shave, using my Nikon D90. I did minor editing (only straightening and cropping) but he did the rest in camera. A beautiful shot! Thanks, kiddo.

I have been without a computer for 3 days (withdrawals) but have today rectified the differing problems with both laptops, and purchased a 1 TB external hard drive, a necessary chore I have postponed for years.

The weather here yesterday was picture perfect. Today, the opposite. Very chilly, strong gusty winds, and light rain this afternoon. I haven’t checked the weather reports (no computer, remember?) but will do so and post if anything of interest. If this is primarily isolated, or mild, I will leave you with this gorgeous image and post more photographs tomorrow.

NOAA Discussion Friday afternoon:
SO SHOWERS AND ISOLATED THUNDERSTORMS WITH SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS ARE LIKELY TO CONTINUE UP THROUGH MIDNIGHT BEFORE THE UPPER LOW DRIFTS FAR ENOUGH EAST TO MOVE THE THREAT OF THUNDER AT LEAST TO EAST OF OUR AREA.

Impetuous Son

Got a call from my wonderful, impetuous son. He is leaving Oregon and driving most of the night to come for Thanksgiving. WooHoo!! He’ll be here sometime tomorrow. He did give me a “heads-up” that he might be doing this, but I was still surprised by his call. Will leave again on Friday so he can be at work on Saturday. Oh, to be that young again! Emailing him the directions, particularly coming the “back way” were a challenge, as I have never paid attention to the mileage or details as someone coming for the first time might need. I guess I better do that!

Happy Thanksgiving!



Happy Thanksgiving!, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

“Life without thankfulness is devoid of love and passion. Hope without thankfulness is lacking in fine perception. Faith without thankfulness lacks strength and fortitude. Every virtue divorced from thankfulness is maimed and limps along the spiritual road.”

– John Henry Jowett (1864-1923)

I may not have time to blog for the next few days, and in case that turns out to be true, I wanted to take this moment in time to wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving Day. May it be filled with love, joy, friends and family. Take a few moments each day to fill your soul with the gratitude you truly feel. Blessed be.