I may not have gotten shots of Endeavor, or the Thunderbirds, but Big Sur held still long enough for me to get a few shots yesterday.
Views like these just added to an already perfect day.
Month: September 2012
Endeavor, Thunderbirds, Fall Equinox
What an incredible day! I drove up the coast, stopping at every turn out from 9:45-11:00, chasing the endeavor. I didn’t see it, but I realized later, it passed directly over my house! That’s magic, whether I saw it or not.
NASA photograph
I had an appointment in Salinas. When I got there, I found out that the Thunderbirds were practicing for their weekend air show. I had at least a dozen near-misses with other cars and pedestrians, as I pulled over suddenly on streets in Salinas, trying to get the shot. I didn’t. But not because I didn’t try … And almost run up the sidewalk on a pedestrian on Sherwood – the old red-light district, and current homeless section.
Thunderbird media photo.
These planes travel at speeds over 400 mph, sometimes only 2 and 1/2 feet, yes FEET, apart. These Falcon F-16s sometimes reach 7 Gs. For the first time, there is a Mom on the team. She flew fighter planes in Iraq. She wanted to be a fighter pilot at the age of 13, when she first saw the Thunderbirds. Now she is one!
Then, top it off with the Fall Equinox, and official start of fall, and it was one of those days that make me so grateful to be who and where I am. Time to add water to my solar generator – 4 times a year … So equinoxes and solstices are obvious solution. This is the subject of a future blog post. I hope your days are full of magic, too!
Abalone poacher off Big Sur found guilty and sentenced
California Department of Fish and Game News Release
September 20, 2012
Media Contact:
Warden Patrick Foy, DFG Law Enforcement, (916) 651-2084
Marina Man Convicted of Poaching Endangered Black Abalone
A Monterey County jury recently convicted a Marina man of poaching 22 black abalone, a federally endangered species.
Hoang Tan Dinh, 53, was sentenced Sept. 12 to three years probation, a 90-day jail term suspended, and fined $15,000 for possession of black abalone for sale. His commercial fishing license was permanently revoked, and he is prohibited from recreational fishing for the duration of his three year probation. A second suspect, Hai Trung Luong, 41, of Salinas failed to appear in court. A $10,000 warrant has been issued for his arrest.
In April, Warden Brian Meyer was on routine patrol in the area of Big Sur when he noticed two men returning from the tidal area during a very low tide with wet clothes, wet hands and scratches. With assistance from a California Highway Patrol officer, Warden Meyer conducted a vehicle stop as the suspects were driving away. He found a backpack with 22 abalone in it, along with a 2-foot long screwdriver. He cited and released both men, photographed the evidence, then returned the abalone to the inter-tidal area in hopes that they would survive.
Monterey County Deputy District Attorney Kellin Dunne was instrumental during the prosecution phase of the case.
Abalone fishing is prohibited from San Francisco Bay south. Black abalone has gone locally extinct in most locations south of Point Conception. Black abalone is one of seven sub-species of abalone in California and was listed as endangered in 2009. Historical overfishing, withering syndrome disease and poaching are the primary causes of population decline.
First overnight closure set for Rocky Creek
The first over night closure is set for the week of Oct. 8th. The exact date and time have not yet been decided, so make plans as you can.
Clarifications on Rocky Creek Closures from Project Manager
From Project Manager, Ken Dostalek:
“I’m truly sorry that I didn’t adequately cover that subject at the meeting
on the 30th, but I did try. I want you to know that. At the meeting I
said that there will be 10 occasions that the highway will need to be
closed and each occasion will last 1 – 3 consecutive days. This is to
construct the 10 (actually it’s 9) bridge columns and abutments. I also
mentioned that there will be additional closures needed for girder
placement by crane, but I did not have a good estimate at the time for the
number of days required.
Since that meeting, the only change I have experienced is that we now
estimate each closure for the 9 columns and abutments will last 2 – 5 days
each. I told Kirk as soon as I knew and mentioned it again at last
Friday’s meeting but I’m sorry I didn’t send out a mass email like I should
have.
Our information changes over time because it becomes more refined as we get
closer to the actual closures. That’s something we can’t help. ;It starts
out as speculation initially because it takes the Contractor several weeks
to produce an accurate construction schedule and Caltrans is not allowed to
dictate to the Contractor how to build the viaduct as long as they adhere
to the general guidelines given in the contract specifications.
I’ll keep sending out new information as I get it. I would like to make a
weekly trip up there to take photos and get project updates and then send
that info to you for posting. I’m thinking I’ll go up each Friday and get
the schedule for the next week. Still in the planning stage though.”
Second clarification and special events
“I recalled that about a month ago citizen Jenny Morris asked on your blog
about the possibility of the closures interfering with her planned arrival
late on October 31 for the Big Sur Food and Wine Festival the next day. At
the time we thought the closures would not occur until January 2013 and I
responded as such. However we now realize that the closures will start
much sooner and that they will possibly conflict with the Food and Wine
Festival. I’d like to get the word out that we are evaluating this and the
other special events and that people should check back regularly for
updates. Please see below …
Other special events that have been brought to my attention are:
Halloween Bal Masque at Nepenthe on October 31,
Election night November 6 in which the Sheriff needs to pass through the
job site in order to deliver the completed ballots.
Concerts at the Henry Miller Library on Oct. 2 and 3.
Special events that are already listed in the contract specifications as
non-closure days are:
The California Aids Ride passing through Big Sure sometime between June
2 and 8, 2013.
Amgen Tour of California passing through Big Sur sometime between May 12
and 19, 2013
Also any special event that takes place on a Friday or Saturday night will
not be affected by the closures since they are not allowed on those days.”
Based on the above, it looks like the road will be closed more than open on Sunday-Thursday evenings, October 1st through the end of January – all subject to change depending on weather, material being drilled, and other unpredicted events.
Fire off Old Coast Rd
2:35 – 4-5 acres, contained! Great work!
2:30 pm, CHP has Old Coast Rd closed at North end (Bixby Bridge) open to residents only. SP Has south end closed at Andrew Molera.
2:20 pm- request for 2 AT and 2 Helios, Old Coast Rd. closed to traffic.
2:00 pm – both Cal Fire BEU, and BSVFB are also on the fire, which may be heating up from the reports I am getting.
Around 1:22 pm, it was reported to me that a downed power line started a fire off Old Coast Rd. WildCAD- LPF reports it is off highway one near the El Sur Ranch. USFS has sent BC 12, E 17, and E 18 in mutual aid to BEU. I will follow this until it is contained, hopefully fast.
It is Gone!
Thank you, Greg DeAlba, and Willow Springs Maintenance Crew!
The South Coast, the wild coast, NOT Lonely
What a great time we had … Celebrating life, beauty, and this incredible place where we live. It doesn’t get any better than this … Drumming, flute, music, ocean, creek, and great friends … Oh, and wonderful food!
The music ..
And, of course, the Jade!
And Guy’s famous BBQ
We will let you know when we have another, but it could be a while, as we are now focused on the Jade Festival coming up next month. We would love our north coast brethren and Cambria partners to join us!
Rocky Creek road closures
What Kathleen Lee’s message below does not make clear is that these closures are intermittent, not every Sunday-Thursday, but approximately 10 of them through the winter, and another round with fewer closures, scheduled for Spring. All closures will be preceded with adequate notice to all.
“The work to build the Rocky Creek Viaduct has started. Hard closures of the highway, where no vehicle traffic through the construction site will be allowed, will begin at the start of October. In order to place the equipment and do the drilling work, the contractor will be allowed to close the highway for 10 hour blocks during the evening hours, Sunday through Thursday nights. These hard closures are anticipated to take place October through the end of January.
Caltrans has designed the project to have the smallest possible impact on the highway, and is working diligently with the contractor to ensure that these hard closures and the intermittent daylight closures occur during times when the work will have the least impact on the residents, businesses and travelling public.
Currently, the hard closures are scheduled from 8:00 pm to 6:00 am, Sunday through Thursday nights. After hearing from the community various concerns about these scheduled times, Caltrans would like your input as to the best hours for the hard closures.
Please respond to this survey as to what your preferred hours of closure are. Based upon all results, a decision on the hours of closure will be announced soon. For those hours that are later in the morning, these will only be an option if Caltrans and Carmel Unified School District can make arrangements so that the students can get to school on time.
Share this survey with your neighbors, employees and people who regularly travel the coast so that we have the broadest possible outreach into the Big Sur community for this important decision. Due to the short timing, please respond by 5:00 pm on Tuesday, September 18th. Please only respond once. Thank you for your help.
Link to Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/BY9JGDG
Kathleen Lee
Chief of Staff for
Supervisor Dave Potter
(831) 647-7755″
The Road that Defies Gravity: Closures, delays, and other adventures on Highway One
By now, we are all familiar with the delays and closures that have been going on at Pitkin’s Curve and Rain Rocks south of Lucia for the last year – we still have about six months left to go here. The same thing is about to happen at Rocky Creek for the next year. A meeting is scheduled for 10 am this morning at the Big Sur Lodge to address issues and concerns about this construction, delays, and night closures. Steve Price will be leading the discussion. Maybe finishing this project in a year is too ambitious if it requires so many 10-hour night closures.
Also, for those who regularly travel to Cambria and other southern ports, be aware that Monday, 9/17, starting at 7:00 am, there will be delays of up to 1/2 hour between the county line just north of Ragged Point, to Hearst Castle, while Cal-Trans chip seals the road.
Finally, at the Alder Creek slide, starting on Monday, 9/24, there will be delays for about a month while Cal-Trans installs more rock slide netting at this location.
What can we expect when this road continues to march to the sea? Make sure and use the facilities at every opportunity, bring reading material, plan your trips accordingly, and make sure to bring an extra stash of patience and humor! A town run north or south now, rivals what used to be a trip to The City (SF) in the past, at least for length of time on the road!