The ex has been documenting the slip-out at Shale Point, 3 miles south of Gorda, and shared his images with me. I also have a photo essay about the repair which I will post in the next few days, but will begin with the damage. All photographs by Ralph J. Novoa, Cal-Trans Willow Springs, retired. I will be adding photographs throughout the evening.

Here is the existing horizontal drain at Shale Point. You can see the sea wall to the south and to the north, but it is completely gone near the drain on both sides.

This shows some of the damage to the road.

Here is a closer look.

perspective


and that is what did the damage.

Tomorrow, the start of the repairs. It is truly amazing to watch how Cal-Trans and their contractors keep this road that defies gravity betwix the ocean and the mountains. Unbeliveable feats of engineering, guys … and pure guts, Chuckster!

4:00 pm – lots of activity today. Local news reports indicate the missing man is George Carpenter, age 74, suffering from mild dementia has been missing since Dec. 23, 2009 with his black lab, Scooter. Scooter turned up at a local’s residence Wednesday about 7 miles inland from Gorda, up Los Burros and MCSO was seen at a residence up Los Burros Rd. this morning. The vehicle has been found. One SLO newspaper indicates the man’s Jeep was found “near” Ft. Hunter-Leggett property, but one of my sources puts it close to “Lion’s Den” near Los Burros and South Coast Ridge Rd. One local resident reports spotting the “old man” a couple weeks ago up on South Coast Ridge Rd. more on the northern end. I am concerned that the dog left him on Wednesday, and this is Saturday, and we’ve had storms & snow during that time. I hope he is found soon, as, I am sure, does his wife. Let our prayers be heard.

Can not always take a day off. Anyone on the South Coast reading this, the helicopter you may hear is on a search & rescue mission for the SLO man missing since just before Xmas. His dog and Jeep have been located, but they are concerned about the guy and hypothermia, given all the snow. The dog wandered off to someone’s home and his tag lead to the missing man’s family. ATVs will be used in the search only as a last resort. (Information obtained from Sherry Tune, District Ranger, Monterey District LPNF.)

And here is Cone Peak this morning during a quick break in the clouds.