Category: Classic Big Sur

Two years ago today …

July 5, 2008, bigsurkate was born. Since that time, almost 220,000 “hits” have been received on this blog. I have uploaded 865 different posts; the blog has received over 2,000 comments; and my busiest day was September 30, 2008, when I started reporting twice a day on the Chalk Fire. This was my first entry:

“I began this blog, after 2 weeks of inundating everyone’s mailbox with news, links, editorials, and photos of the massive Big Sur Fire of 2008. [ed. note – I was talking about what became the Basin Complex Fire, which started as The Gallery Fire.] I decided a blog might be a better venue for us all to stay connected, share information, and remain informed. PLUS, I got totally frustrated when my email send function became so erratic. I can receive, but sending is completely hit and miss. I am hoping the email fairy visits me soon!

I will be posting some of my photographs, also, as and when I can.

Welcome! Once the fire is past, I will convert this to random musings, I suppose, or it will evolve into something else.”

Little did I know that I’d given birth to a new baby that needed so much attention! I have been lucky to connect with people from all over the world on these cyberpages, and have enjoyed every minute of those connections and this blog.

I report on road closures, road construction, floods, events, and many, many other happenings here on the coast during the last two years, but never deaths. Information like that is too personal to be received in this way. It happened to me, and I will never forget it.

I so look forward to the next two years, and to continuing forging relationships with people who love Big Sur as I do, wherever they may live.

Happy 4th of July

Let’s make this one a safe one, and may all our fires be safe backyard BBQs. Enjoy!



Thanks, Veterans!, originally uploaded by wind_dancer.

The Yellow HIlls of Big Sur

Many people, local and out-of-towners, have been commenting on our yellow hills. Dan Danbom sent me this photo of the phenomena today. It depicts the event beautifully.

Valley View by Daniel Danbom

I noted this “event” on my way home the other night, and slowed enough to identify four flowers that are contributing to this spectacular show, but there might be others. Currently in bloom are native sticky monkey flower, a native tansy, the padre-introduced mustard, and a amaranth-type flower that I have seen, but don’t know if it is native or not. Whatever the flowers, the show is outstanding right now. Enjoy!

Fourth of July Weekend has begun

Yes, I know, it is only Tuesday. Yes, I know, we have a 3-day weekend coming up, but based on what I witnessed today, it looks as if the weekend began a bit early.

As of this evening, around 7 pm, Kirk Creek Campground is full. Plaskett was almost full, and I suspect it will be by tomorrow. Frankly, I did not notice the Big Sur State Park. I did not even think to look, it being so early in the week. The other thing I noticed both yesterday and today, is that the gates to Limekiln State Park were open. it will “officially” open on Friday, July 2nd, but I imagine it will be full by then. No camping on the beach, as the bridge is still out, but the campground and redwood trails are open.

Also, the idiots are on the highway. Sorry, but there is no other word for them. The shoulder/pull-out at Rocky Creek was full, so, this car, an obvious idiot, just stopped on the highway. Never mind that there were four cars behind it speeding along at 55 mph. Sudden stops in the middle of the road are just plain idiotic. No one would even THINK of doing that on the freeways, but here? Oh, I know, the view is breath taking. But think about taking that next breath through a tube, or with a respirator, or other medical contraption to keep you alive. Just think. Please. The life you save might be MINE!

I have it on good authority that local patrols in the LPNF, at least here on the South Coast, will be stepped up in anticipation of this crazy weekend. I cannot tell you how grateful I am. I, too, will be out and about, probably several times. With my camera. Do something stupid, and you, too, could end up on my blog – memorialized for an eternity in cyberspace.

Oh, and the other great news? The two fire “rings” I featured in my “How NOT to build a campfire” article, are gone! I love you guys, as much as my dogs! Okay, let’s be real. Almost as much!

But what is a post without a photo? Trouble is, I was too busy trying to get home before dark to unload a fully packed Jeep, while at the same time, trying not to run over any idiots. But my friend Martha Diehl sent me a lovely summer roadside bouquet to brighten my day, and I’m going to pass it on, even though she doesn’t know! (She can flog me later.) Photo coming, when internet allows.

Special Upcoming Events

For those of you who know Gail Chambers, she has retired from teaching at Pacific Valley School. A special retirement BBQ/potluck is being held at the school, tomorrow, Saturday June 19th at 2 pm.

Gail has been with the school longer than I can remember. She was there 21 years ago, when I first started there, and has taught the children of the children she has taught over the years. Everyone who knows and loves Gail like we do, is welcome. Gail’s only request is that if you have old photographs, you bring those.

The following Saturday, June 26th, a special International “Hands Across the Sands” will be held at Pfeiffer Beach at 11 am.

“Now is the time for America and our leaders to join hands and steer our country’s energy policy away from our dependence on fossil fuels and into the light of clean energy and renewables.

Join hands with us and draw a line in the sand against offshore oil drilling

On Saturday, June 26th, millions will join hands on beaches across California, the nation and the GLOBE for “Hands Across the Sand”, a day of action opposing new offshore drilling while promoting safe and renewable alternatives.

Join the Sierra Club, the Audibon Society, Surfrider, Oceana, Greenpeace, Defenders of Wildlife,Alaska Wilderness League, Ocean Conservancy, Friends of the Earth, Energy Action Coalition, Rainforest Action Network, among others, to draw a literal and figurative line in the sand to tell our elected officials that our coastline is not for sale!”

And finally, a celebration of Kevin Share’s Life will be held on Sunday, July 11th.

“Come join us for a day of good memories and music….
Today’s celebration will be potluck and BYOB.
Shuttle service will be provided from the Pfieffer pull-out on highway #1 starting around 1:30ish. the Pfieffer pull-out is approx a 1/2 mile south of the entrance to Pfieffer state park on the east side of the highway please park and wait for the shuttle.” The shuttle will take you up to Jessie’s House on Pfieffer Ridge in Big Sur.

Nature’s Glory

My internet has been almost dial-up speed for a week. Verizon and I are working on that. We spent an hour on the phone, trying various things, then upgraded the current software, which is providing some assistance, but not as much as it should, so they are sending a new card.

in the meantime, I am testing my uploading capabilities by posting these two shots from Plaskett Ridge Rd. taken yesterday. it is an experiment in connection.

Yucca Bloom

Grace in Motion

Oh, and while I’m “experimenting” I have to add this quote I found on the NOAA discussion for today, just for grins. What do you think they were trying to say? “MOSTLY SUNNY SKIES PEE ACROSS THE BAY AREA THIS AFTERNOON.” Is this a new forecasting term with which I am unfamiliar? How does a sunny sky pee?

Highway One, Big Sur Road Conditions June-July 2010

Well, after a sending a note to Susana about the construction at Willow Creek, it is now included on the official release. Thank you Susana! BTW, she has no way of knowing this, but flagging is sporadic, depending on the work being done. There was none today. It *is* a VERY confusing realignment of the roadway and flagging situation, even for someone who has been driving it for over 20 years. And what I REALLY like about this news release, is we are given some warning about projects coming up next month. Way to go, Suzanne!

“Date: Wednesday, June 16, 2010
District: 5 – Santa Barbara, SLO, Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito Counties
Contact: Susana Z. Cruz (Bilingual) or Colin Jones
Phone: (805) 549-3138 or (805) 549-3189
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

HIGHWAY 1 CARMEL TO CAMBRIA PROJECT UPDATE

MONTEREY COUNTY:
• Roadwork continues on a retaining wall project near Gamboa Point, three miles north of Lucia. A temporary signal is in place with work expected to be complete in July. Work hours are Mondays through Fridays from 7 am to 5 pm.

• Traffic continues down to one lane just south of Lucia with a temporary signal in place to perform slide stabilization and exploratory drilling. Work hours are Mondays through Fridays from 7 am to 5 pm with completion at the end of summer. Plans are being developed for a retaining wall with construction of the wall scheduled to begin this fall.

• The temporary signal about two miles south of Lucia at Pitkins Curve/Rain Rocks for the bridge/rockshed project remains in operation 24/7 and the project is expected to be complete in winter
2012/2013.

• Construction of a crib wall and drainage improvements is taking place near Gorda at Willow Springs Creek. One-way reversing traffic control is in effect Mondays through Thursdays from 6 am to 4 pm and Fridays from 6 am to 1 pm. Work is expected to be complete in late July.

Upcoming work–
• Slide repairs at two locations near Big Sur just north of Big Sur River Bridge and 2 miles north of San Juan Higuera Creek Bridge is scheduled to begin in early July. More information on traffic control will follow. Work expected to be complete in September.

• Pavement overlay is scheduled to begin in early July about 12 miles south of Big Sur from just north of Burns Creek Bridge to south of Partington Ridge Road. One way traffic control will be in effect from 6 am to 4 pm Mondays through Thursdays and 6 am to 1 pm on Fridays. Work is expected to be complete in October.

• Construction of rock slope protection near Lucia at Limekiln Creek Bridge is scheduled to begin in early July and complete in September. Not much traffic control is anticipated but if needed, it will be in Conjunction with the Pitkins project. The traffic light at Pitkins will be turned off and motorists will be piloted Through both projects. More information will follow.”

Kudos to Cal-Trans and to Susana for keeping us all up-to-date, and particularly for giving us a “heads-up” on the upcoming projects for next month. Nice job!

Sunset Photography

These photos were taken Monday night, and I have been trying to upload them ever since. I am having undiagnosed internet connection problems, and it is frustrating beyond belief.

You know those days, when one notices the clouds are rather spectacular? You know, sort of like this:

And I knew, this is going to be one of those sunset nights. I mean, We have sunsets every night, and from up here, they are all pretty spectacular. But this one? I had a feeling, this one would be more spectacular than usual. Okay, maybe just simply spectacular. But I got my camera ready, kept an eye on the sky, and started shooting.

One of my challenges, in photographing a sunset series, is the changing light. I can barely keep up with it, changing the speed, the aperature, and the exposure compensation.

Until finally, the light has dimmed so sufficiently, that I must increase the ISO. I always do this last, as it increases the grain – err, the “noise” of the photograph, and that is difficult to address in a software program. Of course, one can always shoot into the sun to increase the light, but that presents its own set of problems.

Wretched lens flare! And yes, I have a hood, and a filter, but shooting directly into the sun is tricky! And I clearly haven’t gotten the hang of it. I sometimes use my hand to shade the lens, but did not, this time.
Of course, once the sun dips below the horizon, this is not a problem.

And finally the sun has slipped beneath the Pacific.

Highway One nightmares to return?

This next week, during the once-in-a-decade US Open, the TAMC is experimenting with allowing “free-flowing” right hand turns from CV Rd. unto Highway One, north. This “experiment” may continue for some time, up to a couple years, until a second lane is added between Rio Rd and Carmel Valley Rd.

While Carmel Valley residents are pleased with this idea, those who live (and work) in Big Sur or the Carmel Highlands, are not. Many of us remember the back-ups on Highway One going into town, that sometimes snaked all the way past Point Lobos, and through the Highlands. Big Sur’s concerns are primarily two-fold: One, is the delay in response times for emergency vehicles; the second is discouraging traffic down the coast, given the nightmare that can be the return trip.

One can read the full article from The Herald here.

You can express your views in several ways, one of which is writing the following people:
TAMC
55B Plaza Circle
Salinas, CA 93901-2902
info@TAMCMonterey.org

and copy Dave Potter, our County Supervisor
Monterey Courthouse
1200 Aguajito Rd., Ste. 1
Monterey, CA 93940
district5@co.monterey.ca.us

Call TAMC at 775-0903
Call Candace Ingram at 373-3609 – she really wants to hear from us
ingramgp@ix.netcom.com

There is a public meeting this Monday:
Carmel Valley Road Committee scheduled for Monday, June 14th 11-12:30. I think that meeting will be held at one of the Hacienda Carmel meeting rooms, but a call to TAMC can confirm the exact location.

Also, the “Question of the Day” on The Herald front page (at the bottom on the left) is about this plan. Do take the poll, as the “powers that be” do pay attention to these online newspaper polls. Find it here-Herald online poll Currently the poll is showing 20 to 14 in favor of allowing the “free” right hand turn, so vote, if it matters!

Photo Contest & Gideon

Today is the last day to submit your entry – until midnight tonight, so get those entries in. Photos and voting in a few days.

Gideon received his 3rd heart worm shot yesterday, his second the day before. He’s had to stay at the vets for the last few days. I go pick him up, shortly. He will have to stay quiet for a few weeks, but so far, he has come through this difficult treatment very well.

Of note: A fire was reported yesterday around 4:15 pm in the area of Prewitt Ridge and/or Wild Cattle. Follow-up reports from neighbors indicate this was a false alarm, nothing was located. WildCAD-LPNF does have a “wildfire” report listed on their site for 6:30 pm, but as I said, it appears to have been a false alarm.

A lot is going on with the traffic light at CV Rd and Highway One. Emails and postings have been provided by Pelican Network and the Chamber email systems. I will try to get a post up regarding this situation in the next few days. Gideon comes first.