Month: November 2010

Crime Spree in Big Sur

The “robbery” in Big Sur, was actually two – an attempted robbery and an attempted murder, on a local who lives in his car, and an actual robbery and attempted murder in Gorda.

John Ritter told me the story of his eventful evening last night. John had parked on the side of Highway One, south of Big Sur Valley, when this Lincoln Navigator pulled up behind him. He thought it was the CHP, so he went to get his license and registration. A man with a gun confronted him. John put his car into gear and started to pull away, when the guy unloaded his .32 at John. There is a bullet hole in his windshield and several more in his dash. John ducked, and drove away using his hands on the pedals. John felt these guys were high on something.



Those are photos of two of the bullet holes – one in the windshield, and one in the dash.

He did not know how many people there were, or that they had been caught in San Simeon after one of the men was shot by officers, until I told him the outcome. John said that the man with the gun was standing at the window, not more than three feet away and missed John with all the shots. All the rounds are still in the dash. John called 911 from the pay phone in at the Deli in Big Sur Valley, where he was eventually connected to a dispatch center in Santa Barbara, who, of course, is not familiar with our area.

John asked me to tell the story, so that he did not have to repeat it to everyone in Big Sur. John also said while he loved his Saab, now that it is full of holes and the memory of this night, he wanted to get rid of it. Ralph said, “Think of the bragging rights.” John replied, “Oh, yeah. When I pick up a crack whore hitchhiking I can tell her the story.” John, we are all very glad you are okay, and that you still have your sense of humor.

I then stopped by Gorda on my way home to confirm what I had heard about the robbery there. I spoke with the waitress to get the story, as the incident last night happened to the cook and dishwasher, and my Spanish is not good enough for an interview. She informed me that around midnight, the restaurant was still open, and they had guests seated on the patio. This guy came into the kitchen asking for help, and the cook and dishwasher went outside. One guy stuck a screwdriver in the cook’s back, pretending it was a gun, but then yelled at another guy to “Give me your gun. Give me your gun.” In order to convince the cook that he had a real gun and that it was loaded, the alleged robber shot out the window of a car. Apparently they did get gas and then drove off down the road, while the men at Gorda called 911.

According to other news sources, a roadblock was set up in San Simeon, and when the driver tried to run down the police, he was shot in the leg by the police, and all five occupants of the stolen vehicle were placed under arrest.

I was unable to confirm the alleged attempted break in at the Deli, but John thinks that is unlikely, as that is where he made his call to 911.

The Monterey Herald reported this:

“A wild ride that began in Fresno County and ended in San Luis Obispo late Sunday wreaked havoc on Monterey County, where the suspects robbed a gas station, threatened a police officer and tried to rob a Big Sur camper.

Three males and two females, tentatively identified as members of the Bulldog gang in Fresno, were driving a stolen a Lincoln Navigator when they were stopped in Pacific Grove for a seat belt violation, Monterey County Sheriff Cmdr. Mike Richards said. They escaped, eluding pursuit. The suspects then allegedly attempted to rob a man at the Big Sur Village, and later robbed at gunpoint two employees at a gas station in Gorda, police said.

The suspects were detained by San Luis Obispo sheriff deputies after a short pursuit south of San Simeon.

Deputies had opened fire on the car after the suspects had once again tried to flee. The five suspects were taken into custody without further incident. One of the suspects received a gunshot wound to the leg. He was transported to Sierra Vista Regional Medical Center where he was treated and released.”

Okay, now I can’t resist an editorial comment or two. Who robs a man who lives in his car? What idiot would choose an “escape route” that is 90 miles long and only one way in or out? If this is any example of the intelligence of the Bulldog gang, this gene pool is going to die out early, as it should.

According to Bert Etling, editor of the Cambrian, the booking charges on all five people are: Three counts attempted murder; One count attempted armed robbery (probably John Ritter); One count armed robbery (probably gas at Gorda; they got that, according to Mont. Sheriff’s); One count shooting at a dwelling. Now that’s a mystery, unless the MCSO are considering John’s car a “dwelling.” Of course, what the MCSO books suspects on and what the Monterey County DA’s office files could be different. It will be interesting for me to follow this one. Thanks for checking out the booking charges, Bert!

Photos of some of the suspects have been posted on the Cambrian update which you can see here:

Cops, Accidents, and other stories

Around noon today, we saw EIGHT Santa Cruz sheriffs heading north on Highway One, toward Santa Cruz. Have not been able to determine what that was about. Last night a crime spree closed the Highway in San Simeon, after a robbery somewhere in Big Sur and an attempted murder in Gorda. I will be running to Gorda later this afternoon and will find out what I can. Lastly, there is a 6-car pile up on 101 near the airport. Darn, looks like the “real world” at least the ugly part of it found us, last night.

The “robbery” in Big Sur, was actually, apparently, an attempt, on a local who lives in his car. Duh. Also, these stupid yahoos apparently tried to break into the Deli, as well, before their crime spree continued in Gorda, and was stopped by a shoot out in San Simeon after these five guys tried to run the police down in their stolen vehicle. One of the five was shot in the leg. I’ll be trying to interview people this afternoon, and get the story pieced together for you for a report this evening

Saturday’s Storm

Almost midnight – and my gauge reads 34.5. Must be wrong, as everything is frozen over!

5:00 pm – it is down to 38.9 degrees F, and total rain of just over 1/2 an inch.

Also, there has been a traffic accident on Mill Creek Bridge and Highway One with an ambulance responding. The roadway was opened back up when Cambria towing pulled the vehicle off the road at 6:17 pm.

2:30 pm – The rain began this morning, on this mountain top around 10 am. Since then, I have had almost 1/2 an inch, and it is coming down quite significantly at the moment. It is not as cold as it has been. It is a balmy 42.8 degrees F. So far, no major problems on Highway One in Big Sur have been reported. (watch, that will have jinxed it!) I still advise, as I always do, to use caution, because there will ALWAYS be rocks on the road in weather like this, and while they might not block the road, they are really good at making tires go flat. Also, I advise that you complete your travel and get off the highway before dark, as there is no Cal-Trans patrols on the highway – particularly down here on the South Coast – after dark due to safety issues. If it is not safe for them, it is not safe for the motoring public. Additionally, there is a possibility of thunder storms this evening.

BE AWARE AND USE CARE!

McWay Falls

We have all seen so many photos of McWay Waterfall. It is one of the most photographed places in Big Sur, but this photo, sent to me by Dan Danbom, is one of the best I’ve ever seen. We both like the crisp, clear line of the horizon, and I like the soft peach glow of the sunset and the deep turquoise of the bay. Thank you, Dan, for sharing this with us. You nailed this one!

McWay Falls by Dan Danbom

Later Saturday, I’ll be keeping an eye on our newest storm.

Black Friday

I am guessing I no longer have a handle on consumerism. I think I never had a handle on consumerism. I don’t get it. Really. It is an absolutely foreign cultural experience.

Black Friday – the biggest shopping day of the year.

I watched a news report of people who were camping out – complete with tents, folding tables, and their Thanksgiving Dinner, waiting for a store to open at 1 am.

I also saw a Target commercial that announced its opening at 4 am on “Black Friday.” People shop in the early morning hours of the night?

There is a serious disconnect going on in my brain, right now. Shopping in the dead of night suggests psychosis to me.

Shopping isn’t something I do, except when absolutely necessary. I avoid malls, chain stores, and crowds. If I want to shop and enjoy it, I go to small local shops. I cried when Thunderbird closed and I was consigned to Borders. If I can get it on the internet, I do. But this weekend, there is a shopping experience that is enjoyable, even for a non-shopper like me.

Big Sur has its annual Arts & Craft Fair at the Grange this weekend, to benefit our local non-profits. If you aren’t standing in line already, to make the 1 am or 4 am opening tomorrow morning, consider coming down here to the Grange (just south of Ripplewood – watch for the banner over the highway) at a decent hour to do your shopping. No lines. No camping required. And no psychosis.

And the cold keeps coming

Just in case you are in Bermuda, or some other tropical isle (can I join you?), and haven’t heard:

URGENT – WEATHER MESSAGE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA
206 PM PST WED NOV 24 2010

…FREEZING TO SUB-FREEZING TEMPERATURES AGAIN LATE TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING…AND AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING…A RECORD COLD AIRMASS HAS MOVED INTO THE SAN FRANCISCO BAY AREA AND CENTRAL COAST REGION. AREAS OF FREEZING TO SUB-FREEZING
TEMPERATURES ARE FORECAST AGAIN LATE TONIGHT THROUGH EARLY THANKSGIVING MORNING. RECORD OR NEAR RECORD COLD LOWS WILL BE POSSIBLE AGAIN THURSDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY FRIDAY MORNING.

1:45 pm – want to get an idea of the range of temperatures right now, here in Big Sur? Here you go. I looked them up for you.
Chew’s Ridge – 28 degrees F
Kate’s place – 37 degrees F
Nepenthe – 49 degrees F

1 pm – it has yet to get out of the 30’s and at this rate, probably won’t. Still ice on the deck, as this deck is on the north. South is thawed, and gennie started after leaving it in the sun for an hour. Getting ready to deal with another very cold evening, then hopefully, it will start to warm up.

Ice still on the deck, the comforter on the railing enjoying the rain bath, is frozen solid, and frost in all the shady spots. Hoping the sun will warm the gennie, as it is on strike until it heats up a bit.

Today’s NOAA report: “SO FAR WE`VE TIED OR BROKEN 3 RECORD LOWS. … BUT WE TIED THE RECORD OF 41 IN THE CITY GOING BACK TO 1906. 34 AT OAKLAND AIRPORT TIED THE RECORD AND 34 AT MONTEREY CLIMATE STATION BROKE THE RECORD LOW FOR THE DATE.

FREEZE WARNINGS GO BACK INTO EFFECT TONIGHT WITH EXPECTATION FOR EVEN COLDER LOW TEMPERATURES TONIGHT.”

Spoke to my mother in Redondo Beach and this cold front is affecting them, as well. Stay warm, and hope I can get the gennie started soon!

Weather Report, 11/23/10

7:30 pm – the water on the deck is now frozen, and covered with ice. Just about lost it when I stepped outside.

5:00 pm – the temperature is dropping rapidly, it has dropped 5 degrees to 37 just in the last hour and a half. I can literally watch the numbers roll down. At 5:00 pm it was 37.8, and now at 6 pm it is 35.8, er correction 35.5. Thank goodness I have spare propane for both heating systems. I was a Curved Bar Girl Scout, don’t you know!

3:30 pm – first rock/mud slide of the storm hits in Santa Cruz on Highway One and Laguna Rd. NB lane affect. No additional info. Temperature has dropped to 42, again. Be careful out there, and stay warm!

At 10:30 am, it is 44 degrees – a couple of degrees warmer than yesterday. I received .5 inches last night and this morning, bringing the season total to 7.9 inches. I found my older calendars (but now have misplaced the last 5 years – really, I am hopeless) and so will be able to do a 16 year comparison for everyone, soon. Scattered showers have continued all morning, thus far. Also, for those of you, like me, who count on the radar soundings, the radar has been out since 7 pm Saturday night, due to the storms in the Santa Cruz mountains.

Unseasonably cold nights will continue through Thursday night/Friday morning – all nights well below freezing in many areas. NOAA had this to say:

“ANALOGOUS COLD SYNOPTIC EVENT FROM NOV 29, 1975 WAS LOOKED AT FOR COMPARATIVE PURPOSES WHICH HAD LOWS OF 29 FOR SANTA CRUZ…36 FOR OAKLAND AND 28 FOR NAPA. FOR WHAT ITS WORTH THE LATEST MOS GUIDANCE FOR PASO ROBLES (WHICH IS A GOOD PROXY FOR COLD SPOTS IN MONTEREY COUNTY) IS 18 FOR THURSDAY MORNING. 1975 WAS ONE OF THE STRONGEST LA NINA YEARS AS WELL?” (FWIW, I often use the temps in Paso Robles to predict what I will receive here, as I concur with NOAA on this point.)

NOAA also issued a warning that for those vulnerable among us, these continuously freezing nights are life-threatening. Illegal campfires, like the possible one seen last night, are more likely under these conditions. Our homeless are very vulnerable this week.

The CHP is not reporting any problems on Highway One, but I would suggest that those of you who must drive it use extra caution, as I am sure there are rocks everywhere.