Hello everyone. Avis here again.

I managed to get out and about today. My first stop was at Lucia to see how everyone was doing. My timing was spot on when I ran into our local Park Ranger who offered to take me on a ride-a-long to get some pictures. The first shots are of the slides to the south of Lucia. The first one is as you head down the hill towards Limekiln. We call this spot Paul’s Slide.

They made a lot of progress today on the Limekiln Chimney Slide.

Before dark, they managed to get a hole poked through for about an hour and hundreds of cars went through. The cars were parked along the side of the road since last night. I spoke to some of the stranded people and some even slept in their cars last night. Many people missed flights, deadlines on car returns, meetings, conferences, and other reservations. But all in all, they were treated to Big Sur hospitality and we kept them safe, warm, dry and fed until they could slip out in that one hour window.

The Ranger & I headed down into Limekiln State Park. It’s so beautiful down there. If you have never been camping at Limekiln, I highly recommend it!

While I was there I wanted to check out the where the Limekiln Creek empties into the ocean. I always love where the fresh water meets the sea water.

The next two shots are to the North of Lucia on Highway 1.

It was a beautiful , sunny day here. Just what we all needed. And with the progress they made today it sounds like they may get the Chimney Slide closure open sometime tomorrow. I just want to say how much we all appreciate the highway workers. They all look so tired. They have been working long hard hours trying to get this road open again. Be safe, and thank you one and all!

I’ve gotten a number of photos these past 10 days, and while I have tried to upload and post as many as possible, some have gotten lost in the shuffle of the various bulletins and emergencies, including this photo of the funnel cloud/water spout by Kristy Sullivan taken from near the Post Ranch:

And here is another by Dan Clark from the Coastlands

Next is one from Simon Eagar of the Carmel River mouth and parking lot along scenic drive:

And lastly, here is tonight’s view of Cone Peak by the usual suspect. I hope I haven’t forgotten anyone’s photos. It has been quite a time these last 10 days, and while it isn’t over – we have some good weather headed our way. I would like to remind everyone that just because the rains stop doesn’t mean the sliding has. My experience is that when the soil dries out, it contracts, and then it moves – somewhere new.
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Can you save me one? I’ll be right there – when I can!

5:30 pm – CHP website says this:
2:10PM IF IT IS RAINING CALTRANS WILL NOT BE WORKING ON RDWY
2:10PM GOOD CHANCE IT WILL BE CLOSED TOMORROW
2:10PM PER WAYNE/CALTRANS-RDWY WILL BE CLOSED TONIGHT

BUT when I spoke to Colin Jones several times this afternoon, he stressed that crews WOULD be working tomorrow, even if it rained. He also said he would be checking in in the morning with his office and hoped to put out a press release with good news.

Also, reports of a bottle-neck at the slide with people hoping to get through from both directions. This is what we called in the Army a SNAFU. 5 points if you know what the acronym stands for. ;=)

4:00 pm – there has been a rumor about a one-hour opening on the southern slide this afternoon. Stan Russell and Kirk Gafill are indicating that Cal-Trans Steve Price confirms that Cal-Trans “hopes” to be able to do this between 5 and 6 this evening. I called Colin Jones at 3:30 this afternoon to confirm or deny this rumor, and he indicated that IF it is possible, it will be on a very, very limited basis, for emergency supplies ONLY, and not to let trapped guests or locals through at that time. So, there you have it. Even Cal-Trans is not consistent on this one. You could get down here only to be turned away.

2:30 pm Cal-Trans update re Limekiln: “CURRENTLY, THERE IS STILL NO ESTIMATED TIME OF REOPENING Hwy. 1 to at least one lane of traffic. Several tons of mud and rock have fallen on the roadway and while crews and contractors are making good clean-up progress today, conditions are changing. Caltrans will issue another update around 5 pm this afternoon.” Don’t hold your breath that this puppy will be open, but who knows? Crews will be working all day tomorrow, even in the rain (which is supposed to be a much lighter storm, and our last for a while) so let’s hope.

From Cal-Trans:

**11:00 AM PER C/T: “Several tons of mud and rock has fallen on the roadway but crews and contractors are making good clean-up progress today. Caltrans will have a better estimate this afternoon as to when at least one lane at the Limekiln slide can be opened.”

**10:15 AM PER CHP WEBSITE, CAL-TRANS HAS NO ETA FOR OPENING THE SLIDE NEAR LIMEKILN AT THIS TIME**

9:00 am – nothing reported directly to me late last night or this morning, so will be checking my online and in person sources.

CHP is still reporting Limekiln closed thusly:
12:08AM SEVERAL LARGE BOULDERS IN RDWY
12:05AM WILL BE CLOSED MOST OF DAY JSO LIMEKILN

I am waiting for my morning call from Colin Jones on this one.

Did get a report last night after 8 pm on N-F Rd that there is a slide about 1/2 way down from the summit, but able to be navigated. Also, there was lots of water on the road both on the base and through the USFS lands.

Right now, I am looking at a combination of blue skies and fluffy clouds.

Here are some photos of the Big Sur River sent to me by Debbie Reed. Thanks Debbie! Glad you didn’t get flooded!