After I republished a “memory” on FB and had numerous questions re the Rain Rocks Rock Shed, I realized there are a lot of people who don’t know how it got here, nor why. Here are a few of the photos I took during the building of the rock shed as I drove through it or around it. I also have photos of the land bridge they constructed at the same time to allow Pitkin’s Curve to slide under the bridge. I will create another slide show of that Pitkin’s Curve bridge. Be kind, the quality of my “videos” and you tube uploads can use improvement. I am still learning how to do this stuff.

Harry Harris, I and one or two others, were on the design committee that Caltrans set up for this project. We agreed on the general design of making it look natural, like rock, and being open on the ocean side so that people would be able to see the ocean. However, we had suggested a sloped roof so that the rocks that rained down from above did not collect one he roof top. That was not implemented. I still think it turned out beautiful. The original paint of the shed was rather garish and not natural looking and had to be redone. Now, I think they nailed it.

Date:	Thursday January 20, 2022
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DETOUR SET FOR SATURDAY ON HIGHWAY 1 IN CARMEL

BETWEEN RIO RD AND CARMEL VALLEY RD

MONTEREY COUNTY – Maintenance electrical work to replace a signal light pole will result in a detour that will be in place on Highway 1 in Carmel between Rio Rd. and Carmel Rd. on Saturday Jan. 22 from 6:30 am to 2 pm.

Travelers in both the north and southbound direction will be detoured off of Hwy. 1 and directed through surface streets east of the highway before returning to Hwy. 1.

CHP will be on hand to assist with traffic control.

Travelers can expect a delay of up to 5 minutes.

Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers.

Please allow extra time for your commute through the area.

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

                           | #BeWorkZoneAlert | Twitter | Facebook | YouTube

###

Kevin Drabinski

Public Information Officer

Caltrans District 5

50 Higuera St.

San Luis Obispo CA 93401

Office: 805.549.3138

Cell: 805.748.1858

TTY 711

Once the tunnel systems were complete tons of dynamite and black powder was packed into all of the tunnels (coyote holes was the term used for the tunnels). The explosives were trucked in on a flat bed truck (called the “candy wagon”) driven by a Mr. Truesdale (a free-man) to the end of the work road where the tunnel system had been created. Convicts unloaded the truck and carried boxes of dynamite and cans of black powder into the tunnel for placement by the blast specialist who was named Tom Carlson (a free man). The dynamite came in four different strengths 20%. 40%, 60% and 80%. It came from the manufacturer in wooden boxes in two different sizes (30 lb. and 50 lb.). The black powder came in granular form packed in black metal cans which weighed 30 lbs each. The dynamite percentage indicated how much nitroglycerine was used in relationship to the inert ingredients in the manufacture of that particular batch. The higher percentage gave a “quicker” explosion and was used primarily to break up rock. The lower percentages and the black powder were somewhat slower burning and were used for “lifting” the mass of rock and soil up and away from the proposed road bed. The blast specialist supervised the placement of each kind of explosive and also placed electrical igniters (caps) at desired locations within the mass of explosives. After many days of placing truckloads of explosives the blasting wires were connected and the dynamite and black powder mixture was discharged in one massive explosion. According to a paper written by the Federal Writers’ Project sponsored by the Federal Government—“163,000 cubic yards of solid rock had to be excavated in a lineal distance of 1,000 feet; One blast of 70,000 pounds of dynamite moved 95,000 cubic yards, blowing 75,000 yards into the sea”.

I, along with my mother and father and Donald, observed the Lime Kiln Point discharge from our ranch atop Lopez Point. The first image was that of rapid escaping dust from each of the tunnel branch outlets, followed by the slow lifting of the whole rocky point (mountainous in size) upward and outward over the ocean to disappear into the offshore waters nearly a half mile away. When the mass of rock reached its zenith (highest point) we experienced the tremendous blast of sound which then had reached us. We were told that the proposed roadbed was nearly negotiable after the blast. Gene and my uncle Fred Harlan had walked over to Point 16 and observed the blast from there.

Coyote holes were used at Harlan Point and Indian Point to establish the “cuts” through the ridge tops in each case. These locations were closer to our ranch and during their construction we had the opportunity to inspect the process more closely. It was interesting to see the convicts gathered around a bonfire in the early morning coolness using dynamite for firewood. (To be continued)

this is a repeat of what I posted last year.

In his final speech, King addressed a church filled with striking sanitation workers who were protesting their low pay and working conditions. King emphasized the importance of unity and nonviolent protest in the fight for justice, no matter how painful the struggle.

“Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We’ve got some difficult days ahead. But it really doesn’t matter with me now, because I’ve been to the mountaintop… And I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people, will get to the Promised Land.”

Congressman John Lewis’s powerful words, “Do not get lost in a sea of despair. Be hopeful, be optimistic. Our struggle is not the struggle of a day, a week, a month, or a year, it is the struggle of a lifetime.”

Date:	Wednesday, January 12, 2022
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

WEEKDAY ONE-HOUR DELAYS AT SITE OF SLIDE ON HIGHWAY 1 NEAR RAGGED POINT TO END/ONE WAY REVERSING TRAFFIC CONTROL BEGINS TOMORROW

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Continued efforts to remove slide material from above the roadway on Highway 1 in northern San Luis Obispo County has progressed to the point that the one-hour delays for travelers which began last week will be suspended.

Beginning Thursday, Jan.13, travelers will encounter one-way reversing traffic control in the immediate vicinity of the Polar Star slide, one mile south of Ragged Pont at Post Mile 71.8 weekdays from 7 am to 5 pm with delays not expected to exceed 15 minutes.

This schedule is anticipated to be in effect until the end of next week.

Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers in the area. Please drive safely in this area due to the presence of highway workers.

For traffic updates on other state highways in San Luis Obispo 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

STORIES FROM BIG SUR HIGHWAY ONE CONSTRUCTION by Stan Harlan

It was the spring of 1933 that much activity occurred, in preparation for the construction of Highway One, on our property at Lopez Point. I was going on 6 years of age while Donald was already 8 and Gene was 12. At first, there was much activity by survey crews establishing where the highway was to actually be built. A convict crew then came through with hand tools building a trail on grade with the intended highway location. All of this activity originated from the south where we had already observed the blasting and heavy machinery advancing slowly up the coast for at least a year.

On a number of occasions we had walked down the coast on the Old Coast Trail and observed the techniques being used to create a roadway through some very rough country. Where there were rocky outcrops the convicts were assigned tunnel building for the placement of dynamite and black powder charges. I remember Lime Kiln Point in particular where the whole rock bluff was interlaced with man-sized 3 foot by 5 foot tunnels through the solid rock.

Tunnel construction was done with compressed air operated rock drills which were hand held and connected to a large engine operated air compressor located at the end of the work road with a long set of rubber hoses and steel pipe. The rock drills made holes in the rock approximately an inch and a quarter in diameter and sometimes were made many feet into the rock wall. The rock drill extensions came in different lengths, but they all had a bit or point threaded onto one end and the other end was forged to fit the business end of the rock drill. Some extensions were only 2 feet in length and others were 4 ft., 6 ft. 8 ft., etc. As the holes got deeper a longer drill rod extension was used. The drill rods had a small hole in the center extending their full length so compressed air ejected the rock flakes and dust out of the drilled hole and back into the face of the man holding the rock drill. After a number of holes had been drilled into the rock face of the tunnel the convicts would load them with dynamite and connect the igniters or (caps as we called them) electrically with a long piece of 2 conductor wire (blasting wire as we called it) to a hand operated blasting generator. When all personnel were evacuated from the tunnel a man pushed down hard on the plunger of the blast generator causing an electrical charge to ignite the caps and set off the dynamite charges.

Excavating the resulting rock rubble was done by hand by loading the pieces into a steel buggy that had four wheels riding on steel rail tracks. The loaded buggy was either pushed by hand or pulled with a rope to the tunnel outlet where it was dumped and then returned for another load. As the tunnel was extended the rail tracks were also extended. The convicts doing this kind of work seemed to accept the dangers and the unpleasantness of the job and even became quite proud of their special abilities. Some became true experts at placing the right quantity and type of explosives to accomplish the best result with the greatest efficiency. I was told that convicts on good behavior could have their sentences reduced by one day for each day they put in on projects like this. (Article also appeared in the January edition of the Big Sur Round-up. The Round-up is published monthly and can be sent to you for only $11 per year. Send your check to The Round-up, P.O. Box 234, Big Sur, CA 93920.)

News Release

For Immediate Release

January 11, 2022      

Media Contact: Andrew Madsen
(805) 895-0841
andrew.madsen@usda.gov

http://www.facebook.com/lpnf

Twitter: @LosPadresNF

Los Padres begins implementing prescribed fire activities

SOLVANG, Calif.— Los Padres National Forest officials today announced plans to begin implementing their annual prescribed burning operations. When favorable weather conditions are present, specific project locations and dates will be shared on the Forest’s Facebook and Twitter accounts.

The objectives of the projects are to reduce the risk of catastrophic wildfire to people and communities, create conditions which offer a safer and more effective wildfire response, foster more resilient ecosystems, and minimize the effects of large wildfires on the landscape.

When implementing these projects, fire managers follow a burn plan that outlines the “prescription” or environmental conditions such as temperature, wind, fuel moisture, ventilation and relative humidity that need to be present before the project begins. When the criteria are met, crews will implement, monitor, and patrol each burn project to ensure it meets the goals and objectives outlined by managers. The prescribed fire program will continue through the winter and spring months as permitted by weather and other environmental factors.

Prescribed fires including both understory and pile burning are intended to reduce the amount of vegetation, such as needles, small plants, brush, and small trees which can carry fire from the forest floor into the treetops. Studies and experience have shown that prescribed fires stimulate the growth of grasses, forbs and shrubs that provide food for deer, mountain quail and other wildlife.

The ignition of all prescribed burns is dependent on the availability of personnel, equipment, and conducive weather conditions. Prescribed burn planning and execution are closely coordinated with the National Weather Service and Air Quality Management Districts to manage smoke production and minimize impacts as much as possible.

When these burns occur, information signs will be posted along adjacent roadways to alert the public to the burn projects and visible smoke in the area.

For questions on the Los Padres National Forest prescribed fire program, please contact Kyle Kinports at (805) 961-5710.. For additional information, please visit the Forest website athttp://www.fs.usda.gov/lpnf.

Date:	Monday, January 10, 2022
District:	05 – Santa Barbara, San Luis Obispo, Monterey, San Benito, and Santa Cruz Counties
Contact:	Kevin Drabinski or Jim Shivers
Phone:	(805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3237

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGHWAY 1 IN NORTHERN SLO COUNTY SUBJECT TO

WEEKDAY ONE-HOUR DELAYS AT SITE OF STILL ACTIVE SLIDE THIS WEEK

SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – Continued efforts to remove slide material from above the roadway on Highway 1 in northern San Luis Obispo County will result in one-hour delays for travelers weekdays during daytime hours from Monday, Jan. 10 through Friday, Jan. 14 with traffic control in the immediate vicinity of the Polar Star slide, one mile south of Ragged Pont at Post Mile 71.8. Travelers will be subject to traffic control with up to one-hour delays from 7 am to 5 pm. The highway will be fully open on weekdays, without traffic control, from 5 pm to 7 am.

On weekends, Highway 1 will be fully open, without traffic control, from Friday at 5 pm until Monday at 7 am.

Crews with specialized equipment will remove remaining slide material from above the roadway. These weekday, one-hour traffic delays, are necessary for crews and equipment to dedicate the maximum amount of daylight hours to these efforts in advance of future weather events.

Message and directional signs will be in place to alert travelers in the area.

For traffic updates on other state highways in San Luis Obispo 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

This is the inside monitor for my new weather station with ambient. I can also monitor it on my iPhone/iPad when I am away.

The inside temperature is not accurate on this dashboard, and will not be available to me or others via internet. But the rest of it? There is now a link to the right at the very top of the 2021-2022 Weather & Road information — *bigsurkate’s weather station. I will also be including it during fire season so we can check the wind and humidity.