Wow, what a parade of beautiful cars I was treated to on my way to town today. The shoulders were crowded with cars, onlookers and more photographers than I have ever seen. They clung to hillsides, bridge trussels, laid down next the road way, and were in every possible position to grab that one-of-a-kind shot. I drove one handed and shot blind, which meant very few even depict a car, never mind a good photo of a car. I tried!
Month: August 2012
Rocky Creek Viaduct
Today’s Date: Monday, August 13, 2012
District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz Counties
Contact: Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
HIGHWAY 1/ROCKY CREEK VIADUCT PROJECT TO BEGIN AFTER LABOR DAY
MONTEREY COUNTY – A project to construct a permanent viaduct about 15 miles
south of Carmel near the Rocky Creek Bridge along Highway 1 will begin
after Labor Day, Caltrans officials have announced.
This project came about after a roadway slipout caused severe damage to the
southbound lane and required Hwy. 1 to be closed from north of Big Sur and
south of Carmel at Rocky Creek from March 17 through April 16, 2011.
Roadwork is scheduled to begin after Labor Day and be completed by the end
of 2013. In addition, some planting of new vegetation will occur.
The contractor for this $11 million project is Golden State Bridge Inc. of
Martinez. (Ed. Note: This is the same company that has been doing both the bridge at Pitkin’s Curve and the rock shed at Rain Rocks.)
In order to minimize impact and as part of the project, some overnight
closures will take place but there will be plenty of advance notification
for motorists, residents and businesses.
Caltrans reminds motorists to move over and slow down when driving
through highway work zones.
For traffic updates on other state highways in Monterey County, motorists
can call Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at (805) 549-3318 or visit the
District 5 website at: http://www.dot.ca.gov/dist05/road_information.htm
Susana Z. Cruz
Public Information Officer /
Portavoz de Relaciones Públicas
(805) 549-3138
(805) 549-3326–Fax
On another note, Jack Ellwanger is leaving Big Sur, and is looking for someone to take over the WildBigSur emailings.
Bob Mattson, Barbara Sparhawk, and Black Walnut
Last week I got an email from a friend and fellow blogger in Carmel Valley, Barbara Sparhawk. What an amazing lady. Her life has been so rich and diversified, I want to be her when I grow up. She wrote for CBS News, FOX, and others in NYC, all the while doing huge murals in NYC, Coney Island and other places. You can find a sprinkling of who she is here: hawk’s Perch
Any way, she emailed me about a walnut tree that had shed a limb that she wanted to offer to a Big Sur wood carver. Rock Knocker is such a carver, so I asked if he would be interested. “Hell yeah!” he said, and so we were off to see the Farm Center in Carmel Valley on Robinson Canyon Rd. I hadn’t been since I moved to the South Coast, and there were LOTS of changes! I love what the place has become – an artist’s colony. Here are some photos of that journey.
I am convinced that Barbara is a soul sister from a past life. If not, she should be!
Barbara carried 90% of the wood to Rock Knocker’s truck. What a gal! I’ll make sure there is a bowl for you, but RK says it will be at least a year before it is ready to carve. If he won’t carve it, I will. My maiden name is “woods” for a reason!
Chalk Peak illegal campfire
This morning, around 9:30 am, an illegal campfire was called in to LPNF, and Engine 17 responded. It was at the Chalk Peak primitive campground, per WildCAD-LPF. Considering it was already in the upper 80’s or low 90’s by then, this could only have been necessary to brew a cup of joe, in my opinion. What does it take for people to get that this is a completely unnecessary and dangerous risk? NO CAMPFIRES OUTSIDE DEVELOPED CAMPGROUNDS! Primitive is not developed. Just because you see a fire ring, doesn’t mean this is a “developed” campsite! People build them everywhere, and do not take them apart when they are finished or the season is over. The only developed campsites are Plaskett, Kirk Creek, Ponderosa, and Nacimiento down here on the South Coast of Big Sur. Campfires are also allowed at the Day Use areas of Mill Creek and Sand Dollar beach.
Hot August Nights
8/11, 7:30 am – it is already 91 degrees. When it hits 100, I am going to fill the tub with cold water, climb in, and spend the day there.
10:00 pm update – found the fog! Enjoyed a cool day, or at least not hot. Temp here at 10 pm, is a “cool” 89 degrees!
One thing I must say about hunters: in my 18 years here, I cannot remember a single time when a hunter had an illegal campfire. That’s hundreds of hunters over the years, and not a single one. Kudos to all the hunters out there.
I woke at 5 am. It was too hot to sleep. I checked my temps. 84 degrees, both inside and out. At 5 am. I am going down the mountain, hoping to find some relief today. Hunting season opens tomorrow. Oh, joy! Bullets sparked the last Plaskett fire. That one was only 12 acres, thank goodness.
Sunset over Willow Creek
Just loved these cloud formations the other night.
On another note, new Fire restrictions went into effect yesterday. Still no campfires outside of developed campgrounds (Nacimiento, Ponderosa, Plaskett Creek, and Kirk Creek, along with Day use areas Sand Dollar Beach and Mill Creek). Also permits are now required for both propane stoves and lanterns. I’ll post the notice later today, which has a link to get a permit online.
Wildfire – Jolon & 101
6:00 pm update- all units released but one engine.
5:00 pm- A friend just sent me this for a fire at Jolon and 101. The good thing is, this will be easy to get to, so should have it out in no time. But it is a good reminder that it is incredibly hot, incredibly dry, and incredibly fire-prone!
“Hey kate ….just heard a dispatch for mutual aid to monterey cnty for a veg fire….A/A340, T74 an 75, 3462, 3482, 3472, D3441….”
A/a is air attack; T is Tanker; 34xx are engines; and D is dozer.
Lost Dog
One of the new family members at the Cal Trans Yard (Willow Springs) sent me a plea to help find their lost dog. They, and their dog are new to the area, so the dog may be confused. The dog answers to the name of Blazer and is a Yorkie mix. It has a collar with the owners name and number on it, and even though it is from Ventura, they have the same number. If you have any information please contact nescha42@yahoo.com or call the number on the collar if you have the dog. Thank you. This has been one of many public service announcements.
A trip to the dump
For those of us who are regular recyclers through MoCo incredible waste management site, Rock Knocker and I were greeted by this wonderful site last Friday.
Highway One closure in Santa Cruz
Heads up, everyone. Highway One, Southbound, will be completely closed between midnight and 5 am, Soquel to Morrissey TONIGHT, TUESDAY. Next week, the 13th and 14th, the Northbound lane will be closed during the same time frame.