Year: 2010

Island Revealed

As I said, one of you was very close, but we are not on the island of Hawaii, only in the state of …

And this is our view from the lanai.

This is the plantation where we had Sunday brunch.

This is near Spouting Horn.

This is the view from the hotel lobby.

And I took the back road (I always find the back roads) to Lihu’e and saw some incredible views.

My internet is very slow and unreliable, and I refuse to pay the $15.50 a day the hotel charges, so photos only as is possible.

Thanks for playing along with me, and I hope to be able to continue posting while I am gone. I am checking in with Big Sur events and weather, and am sorry it has been cold, windy and rainy there this week, but I have sure been enjoying the sun and warmth! Aloha!

Hint #2

It is an island … and it is in the Pacific … and one of you is very close, but not quite accurate.

These are all over the island, as well as wild chickens.

And this was at the Plantation where we had Sunday Brunch. Tomorrow, I reveal my whereabouts.

Wildflowers, Misc. & Storm …

Here are some photographs I took on Friday of the wildflowers.

Lupines at Turkey Flats


Also, a reminder that the BSMAAC meeting is this Friday at 10 am.

Storm report later …

Okay, according to NOAA, today’s storm could bring an inch or more, and showers could linger through Wednesday night, with another possible storm for Thursday and Friday.

Partington Acquisition

Good morning – I am writing to address speculation that the Trust for Public Land (TPL) was close to purchasing property on Partington Ridge. TPL was engaged in preliminary, private conversations with a Big Sur landowner to explore the possibility of a property acquisition. These conversations came to a close with mutual agreement not to proceed.

Rumors of these discussions may have implied that a transaction was imminent or inevitable. I assure you that was not the case. I’m sorry that we weren’t able to address the issue sooner but doing so at such an early stage would have violated the landowner’s right to privacy. Disclosure of these discussions was simply premature. We appreciate your interest in our work and I look forward to soliciting your thoughts on future projects.

Sincerely,
Brendan Moriarty

Brendan Moriarty
Project Manager
The Trust for Public Land
116 New Montgomery St.
Third Floor
San Francisco, CA 94105

Big Sur International Marathon Sunday

I think the marathon started the first or second year I moved here. Not being into self-flaggellation, I have always avoided the crowds, the traffic, and the headaches. Three years ago, I could avoid it no more. My son was running.

I got exorbinately expensive rooms for he, his wife, and his dog at the finish line, and one for me too. It was the first time in all these years that I felt the excitement, and participated in the legend – from the sidelines.

My son had run several other marathons, but what surprised him (and me) is that he turned in his fastest Marathon time in the Big Sur International. It is grueling. No question. So, why did he do so well? He might tell you it was because he was home. He spent most of his teen-age years here — went to junior high and high school here. I might tell you it is because of all the encouragement the runners get along the way. Whatever the reason, he finished in just over 4 hours. (He could tell you to the second, I only know it was just barely over 4 hours.)

And this photograph I shot, will always epitomize the race for me – all the thousands of people who participate, only hoping to finish.

So, enjoy, and cheer on the runners – particularly those in the back.

Weather Report 4/21/10

I got another 1/2 inch after reporting the last inch. At a bit before midnight, it snowed. I know, I was out in it, filling the gennie so I could work for a few more hours. Now, at 1 pm – the wind continues to howl, as it has all morning long. There is a bit of rain, on and off, but nothing heavy.

BTW, power line went down north of Andrew Molera, and power is expected to be out in Big Sur Valley most, if not all, of the day.

Redwood Forest Photos by Dan Danbom

Tonight, Dan sent me these incredible shots taken yesterday afternoon, and he gave me permission to share them with you. They are magnificent!

Sorrel

Big Sur River

Iris and River

Scale

Thank you, Dan. You are so generous to share your photographs with me and my readers. Remember, if you want to see more of Dan’s work, his gallery can be seen here: Dan Danbom

Weather Watch, 4/20/10

11:45 pm – I had to go outside to take care of the generator, and son-of-a-gun, if there weren’t big ol’ snow flakes covering my black sweater. Amazing. Let you know if it sticks before I got to bed.

7 pm – significant amounts of hail, although not too large. Lasted only long enough to cover everything and make the deck slippery.

6 pm – it has started to rain, again. Let’s see if it keeps up. Didn’t at 2 pm.

It rained pretty hard in the wee hours this morning, and I woke to another inch, bringing the season total to 63.75 inches. Debbie reported 3/4 of an inch in Big Sur Valley (Thank you, Debbie!) It has not rained here during the daylight hours, but there is considerable wind. I take it back, it has started to rain again at 2 pm.

Storm Watch, 4/19/10

11 pm – NOAA discussion, in part:
.DISCUSSION…AS OF 9:05 PM…SATELLITE IMAGERY SHOWS A FAST
APPROACHING FRONTAL BAND SITUATED OFF THE CALIFORNIA COAST. ALTHOUGH THE FRONT ITSELF IS NOT FORECAST TO REACH THE COAST UNTIL AFTER MIDNIGHT TONIGHT LIGHT RAIN IS ANTICIPATED TO BEING FALLING OVER THE NORTH BAY IN THE NEXT FEW HOURS.

TUESDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING ARE SHAPING UP TO BE QUITE INTERESTING … WIDESPREAD SHOWER ACTIVITY AS WELL AS SCATTERED THUNDERSTORMS ACCOMPANIED BY SMALL HAIL AND GUSTY WINDS. TEMPS ARE FORECAST TO DROP TO BELOW NORMAL TEMPERATURES ACROSS THE REGION AS WELL AS THE POSSIBILITY OF A LIGHT SNOW ACCUMULATION ON PEAKS OVER 3000 FT.

IRONICALLY THIS COLD SNAP THAT WE WILL EXPERIENCE TUESDAY AND WEDNESDAY FALLS EXACTLY ONE YEAR TO THE DAY THAT THE REGION EXPERIENCED A RECORD BREAKING HEAT WAVE. APRIL 20TH AND 21ST OF 2009 SAW TEMPERATURES WELL INTO THE 90S ACROSS THE BOARD WITH A FEW LOCATIONS REACHING INTO THE LOW 100S.

6:45 pm – I am sitting watching the storm come in from the west. Only 1/2 an hour ago, it was warm, sunny, and beautiful. I looked around at the completely clear skies and thought, yeah, right a storm is coming. Sure. Now, I watch it come in.

I don’t have the quote, and will add one later, but this afternoon’s report indicated that the storm would be coming in to the Monterey area late tonight or early tomorrow morning, bringing a cold front with it that could bring snow levels down to 3,000 ft., along with hail on Tuesday.

Also, don’t forget to make your plans to stay off Highway One on Sunday for the Big Sur International Marathon. Highway One will be closed, except for Caravans from 4 am to 1 pm, from the MAF facility north to Rio Rd. Caravan schedule and additional info later.