Month: July 2021

Love of the Wilderness

“But the love of wilderness is more than a hunger for what is always beyond reach; it is also an expression of loyalty to the earth, the earth which bore us and sustains us, the only home we shall ever know, the only paradise we ever need- if only we had the eyes to see. Original sin, the true original sin, is the blind destruction for the sake of greed of this natural paradise which lies all around us – if only we were worthy of it.”
Edward Abbey (thanks for the quote, Barbara Woyt)

That is why my heart hurts when I see so much of this:

A once beautiful wildflower meadow gone forever
Where have all the flowers gone?
Notice the “No vehicles” sign they drove around? People don’t realize what flowers and plants they destroy when they go off road and the erosion they cause.
If people could just stay on the road….the view is the same and so much damage could be avoided. Each year more and more wilderness is being destroyed.

These are just a few examples through photos taken this past Saturday. I took dozens more that same day — over 100 cars in 5 miles. If only we could see. We are not worthy of the beauty. We miss so much while thinking we are enjoying the wilderness, when we are in fact destroying it.

Bixby Bridge — overnight closures canceled

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGHWAY 1 AT BIXBY BRIDGE FULLY REOPENED 

ALL OVERNIGHT CLOSURES CANCELLED

MONTEREY COUNTY – Highway 1 at the Bixby Bridge has been fully reopened and overnight closures previously scheduled to continue into next week have been cancelled.

Highway 1 at the Bixby Bridge reopened today Friday July 23 at 6:30 am and will remain open at this location without any daytime or nighttime restrictions for travelers.

Contracted maintenance crews were able to perform repairs and complete inspections of the bridge ahead of schedule.

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, travelers may contact Caltrans District 5 Public Affairs at 805-549-3318 or can visit the District 5 website at: https://dot.ca.gov/caltrans-near-me/district-5

Contracted Maintenance Teams work on arches below the Bixby Bridge, July 20, 2021.

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Kevin Drabinski

Public Information Officer

Caltrans District 5

Cal Fire Photo

Another photo that epitomizes what California and her fire fighters are facing this year. I do not know for sure which fire this is, or the exact date it was taken, but I believe it was taken in the last few days and it is probably the Dixie Fire up north, but I am not certain. Dixie is a monster.

Remember to support our local fire fighters at the annual Muster this Saturday at the State Park.

The Dixie Fire from Chico, CA from Rose Welch yesterday:

Red Flag Warning issued

Red Flag Warning for dry lightning, in effect from 11 AM Sunday to 5 PM PDT Monday for Monterey County, CA. The Fire Weather Watch is no longer in effect. Affected Areas: Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, and Interior Monterey County Including Pinnacles National Park. https://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/a/a.php?i=59783626