Month: March 2013

Pitkin’s Bridge

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Photo by Andrew Borrelli, CalTrans inspector.

Yesterday, Rock Knocker was able to drive across the bridge and called me very excited. He won’t get his photos to me until Saturday, at which time I will post them, if possible.

Today, CalTrans released this:

“District: 05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito and Santa
Cruz Counties
Contact: Susana Z Cruz (bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGHWAY 1/PITKINS CURVE BRIDGE AND ROCKSHED PROJECT CONTINUES

MONTEREY COUNTY—A permanent slide repair project which began in December 2009 to construct a bridge, rockshed and a retaining wall at Hwy. 1/Pitkins Curve will now allow one lane of traffic to drive on the new bridge as of yesterday, March 19, Caltrans officials have announced.

The ¼ mile project limits are from just north of Limekiln Creek Bridge to south of Lucia. Roadwork is currently being done with one-way traffic control and a signal in operation 24/7. The project includes a rockshed, a bridge, and a retaining wall.

“We are excited to provide limited traffic on the new bridge as project completion nears,” said District 5 Director Tim Gubbins. The entire project is scheduled to be done this fall.”

My sources say a ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned for early August.

Storm Coming in.

8:00 pm – I LOVE the sound of the rain! We are so thirsty!,,

7:00 pm – I didn’t think much of this storm, so haven’t followed it closely, but the tell-tale winds tonight let me know it was coming, and then, letting the cats out at 7:00, the drizzle let me the front was just beginning to arrive. I’ll check my usual sources, and let you know what I find out. I know SLO, was predicting this morning that it wouldn’t go much south of Paso.

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New Photo Contest

My dear friend, Vilia Kakis Giles,Vilia Kakis Gilles, Realtor (one of my Ladies of the Sur friends) is sponsoring this new header photo contest. She has donated a $100 gift certificate to Local Color, a wonderful shop full of local art, jewelry, and clothing in the Village Shopping Center.

You can submit up to two photographs of Big Sur. remember, they must be attached to an email to me, at kwnovoa@mac.com, in jpg format, and be sized to fit the header, 760 x 151 pixels.
The deadline for submissions is midnight, 3/30. Out of all submissions, I will pick somewhere between 5-10 entries to post on my blog, and readers will pick the final winner. I would prefer a Spring or Summer theme, but all entries considered.

Rocky Creek Road Closures

** UPDATE #22 **
HIGHWAY 1/ROCKY CREEK VIADUCT PROJECT CONTINUES WITH DAYTIME ROADWORK AND INTERMITTENT OVERNIGHT CLOSURES

Daytime roadwork on Highway 1 continues next week from 7 am to 5 pm Monday, March 18 through Friday, March 22.

Overnight closures next week are as follows:
· Sunday, March 17 through Thursday, March 21—9 pm to 7am—full closure each night; details are as follows:
o Sunday, March 17 through Monday, 18 (7 am)—full closure will be the usual project limits;
o Monday, March 18 through Thursday, March 21 (Friday 7am)—EXTENDED full closure will begin just north of Rocky Point Restaurant to the usual project limits;
Bridge work being done on Sunday night is girder prep work. Monday through Thursday overnight work is girder installation. The 90-ft long girder delivery trucks need to back up to install girders—therefore necessitating the extended full closure from just north of Rocky Point Restaurant to the project limits.

NOTE: Residents will be allowed to get through the 2-mile section between Rocky Point Restaurant and the project limits during the overnight full closures from Monday through Thursday night (Friday am)

Highway 1 at Rocky Creek has one-way signalized traffic control 24/7. Traffic will be stopped for 10 minutes at a time during daytime roadwork. Full overnight closures will be scheduled five nights a week Sundays through Thursdays, unless otherwise indicated. No overnight closures will occur on Friday/ Saturday nights.

The project to construct a permanent viaduct about 15 miles south of Carmel near the Rocky Creek Bridge began on Sept. 4. Completion is scheduled by Labor Day, weather permitting. Daily roadwork schedules are subject to change due to weather conditions and other factors so stay tuned for regular updates.

Comet Pa-STARRs

Kate,

I just got my first glimpse of Comet Pan-STARRs this evening a bit before sunset — no binoculars needed! And I of course thought how spectacular it would be to see from the Santa Lucias out over the Pacific.

So do try to take a look if you have a moment. It was just to the left (south) of the Sun approx 15 mins bef sunset. At first glance it looks kind of like a jet contrail — except that unlike a contrail, it isn’t moving. Tomorrow (sunday) eve, it will be slghtly higher in the sky, so one will be able to see it longer into the dusk. And judging by its tail this evening, it could really turn into an impressive sight by monday/tue when it will appear close to the new crescant Moon. So, be sure to get out and look for it! (And binoculars won’t be required, but are a very good idea)

Here is an article on where to look:
http://www.skyandtelescope.com/observing/home/Spot-Comet-PanSTARRS-in-Twilight-196688441.html
article
best
-p (Paul Saffo)

Here is what one can expect to see – okay, having trouble uploading a photo! Grrrr…) I photographed it with my iPhoto, but tomorrow night, I will make sure and have my Nikon available. As you can see, I found it slightly to the right, or north of sunset tonight.

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Coastal Trail Meeting

IMPORTANT MEETING – SAVE THE DATE – MARCH 16TH

California Coastal Trail meeting for those who reside and/or own land near the coast, from the Carmel River in Monterey County to San Carpóforo Creek in San Luis Obispo County.

WILL BIG SUR HAVE A VOICE IN DETERMINING THE TRAIL CREATION PROCESS?

A diverse group of coastal residents have worked since 2007 to develop a local, community-based process as a way to enable our community to participate in the planning of the Big Sur segment of the government mandated California Coastal Trail. It is this process that community members would like to share for consideration as the preferred planning process. Download and read the process document here – Coastal Trail Process

CPOA will host a discussion on this Community-based Trail Planning Process with State Senator Bill Monning, participants of the working group and all our neighbors.

Saturday, March 16th, 10 AM to noon
Big Sur Lodge Conference Room in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park.

This meeting marks the beginning of our community approval process. Come and share your thoughts on March 16th.

If you would like to receive updates by email – send a request to info@CPOABigSur.org

Fire Clearance

It isn’t too early to put this on your to-do list. I actually started today. Two wonderful men who helped last year, are here again this weekend, helping to make my place safer for me, my critters, and the firefighters who will come, if needed.

This year, a burn permit is required, for getting rid of those burn piles, and I have a few. One can apply for this permit online, or stop by the station house to pick one up. Once that is done, one still needs to call to find out whether it is a permissive burn day, or not, and then notify the BSFVB of the burn, as well as your neighbors, so that everyone is aware.

Our lack of real rain so far this season has heightened the danger we all face. It has been 5 years since we had a significant fire. Make sure you are prepared. Have a plan in place to stay or flee. Have a plan for your critters and important papers, photos, etc. One plan, is to make sure your home is prepared to withstand whatever comes your way.

I’ll have more on this in the upcoming weeks, but for now … START PLANNING!

Snow on Cone Peak

There IS snow on Cone Peak this morning, but it doesn’t go down very far, I’m guessing 4-4500′. None here, although it is very cold. I’m busy trying to stay warm. Have a great one, everyone, we are in for warmer weather next week.

Continuing Storm Report & Rocky Creek Closures

Noon – from the 9 am forecaster a winter weather advisory for the Santa Lucia Mts and the Los Padres National Forest.

THE BEST CHANCE FOR SNOW WILL BE OVER THE SANTA LUCIAS AS BOTH THE
ECMWF AND GFS CONTINUE TO KEEP A BULK OF THE PRECIPITATION OFF
SHORE. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THE SANTA LUCIA
MOUNTAINS AND LOS PADRES NATIONAL FOREST AS WELL AS THE MOUNTAINS
OF SAN BENITO COUNTY AND INTERIOR MONTEREY. THIS AREA WILL SEE THE
BEST INSTABILITY COMBINED WITH MOISTURE AND LIFT. THE LIMITING
FACTOR IS THAT WHEN THE BEST MOISTURE IS PRESENT THE WINDS WILL
ACTUALLY BE COMING FROM THE EAST…LIMITING THE OROGRAPHIC EFFECTS
SEEN WHEN MOIST WEST WINDS ARE PUSHING OVER THE MOUNTAINS. NON THE
LESS THESE CONDITIONS WILL SUPPORT THE WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY
WITH 5 TO 10 INCHES OF SNOW POSSIBLE ABOVE 3000 FEET AND 1 TO 4
INCHES AT ELEVATION OF 2500 TO 3000 FEET. THE WINTER WEATHER
ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FROM 1000 AM THURSDAY TO 1000 AM FRIDAY.

8:00 am, From NOAA’s 3:30 am forecast discussion –

RAIN WILL RETURN TONIGHT INTO THURSDAY MORNING AS THE UPPER AIR LOW DIVES TO THE SOUTH TOWARD OUR AREA. SHOWERS WILL SPREAD ACROSS THE ENTIRE CWA WITH THE MAIN FOCUS ALONG THE COAST…IN PARTICULAR MOUNTAINS IN MONTEREY AND SAN BENITO COUNTIES. SNOW LEVELS WILL DROP DOWN TO AS LOW AS 2500 FEET WITH A GOOD POSSIBILITY OF SUBSTANTIAL SNOWFALL OVER 3000 FEET. A WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IS IN EFFECT FOR THOSE AREAS.

They also mention the possibility of hail and lightning. Stay warm, everyone!

Also, Rocky Creek Road Closures:

Night closures next week are as follows:
· Sunday, March 10 through Thursday, March 14—9 pm to 11 pm with up to 10-minute delays;
· Sunday, March 10 through Thursday, March 14—11 pm to 7 am (Friday am) with up to 30-minute delays;
(Roadway will remain OPEN each night next week—no overnight hard closures)