Yesterday, I had both doctors and dentists appointments in Monterey. These appointments were made MONTHS ago. Hmmm …

I left my house at 5:30 am to get to Ft. Ord in time, and as it turned out, it only took 4 hours, when I gave myself 5. I watched the sun come up from the South Coast Ridge Rd. I can’t remember the last time I did that. I drove only the back side of Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. I heard later (see post below and comment by Dave Allen) that the “front side” of N-F was blocked by a downed tree. The back side was smooth sailing.I have photos of the drive, of course, which I will post in a bit (I left my camera in the car).

While driving 4 hours one-way to go to the grocery store is not most people’s idea of “fun” – this drive is so beautiful it is hard to get too upset about it. Obviously a one day round trip is out of the question, given all I must do here in town, but I got a room at the Carmel Mission Inn, met a friend for drinks at Rio Grill, and generally turned it into a party.

I arrived to find my photo and Larry Parson’s article about this blog on the front page of the Monterey Herald. Of course, I knew it was coming. I just was surprised it made the front page, along with the article about the coast behind the slide. Did most of my important errands in town yesterday, but have a few left to do before I can head on home today.

Eight hours of driving for a town trip is a long way to go, but turn it into a party, and you are a true Big Surian!

Here are photos of the Rocky Creek site taken yesterday by Ken Cowen. Thanks again Ken for keeping us all informed! Nothing does it like photos!

It is an absolutely gorgeous day in paradise, and you can get there during the day 7 am to 7 pm. I remember in 1983 when the road was closed to the north. I was coming from the south, and loved the fact there were fewer visitors. So come and enjoy the day with us, but be past Ragged Point, or on Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd. by 7 pm or plan on spending the night with us!

These signs are up all the way up the coast from Morro Bay. I got a kick out of them, as it sounds as if the streets get rolled up after 7 pm – and, I guess, in a way they do! But in Big Sur Valley, once you get there, as always, there is plenty to do. Just plan on spending the night. It is a great time to be here.

When I first heard about this, while still down in LA, it made no sense to me, and I couldn’t figure out why the road would be closed each night at Lucia to the north, and Ragged Point to the south.

Today, on the way home, I drove that entire length to see what was what. Now I understand why that entire length is closed at night. It is moving – just about everywhere. Besides the original Chimney Slide at Limekiln, there is Paul’s slide north of there, two more Limekiln slides south of there, and that is all BEFORE one gets to N-F Rd. which is beyond the closed point for either north or south closures, so only those of us BETWEEN the closures have access to N-F after dark. Mud Creek is a freaking mess, Alder Creek is cleared but moving, Soda Springs is a mess, Elephant’s Trunk is in a constant state of patch. There are just too many places creating potential problems to count. Most of the pull offs are now filed with debris waiting to be hauled off.

The bottom line is patience, everyone, while Mother Nature finishes doing as she wills. When night time travel is safe again, it will open up, and then Big Sur won’t be rolling up her streets!

REMEMBER – YOU CANNOT GET TO NACIMIENTO-FERGUSSON BETWEEN 7 PM AND 7 AM. ALL TRAFFIC INTO OR OUT OF BIG SUR IS CLOSED AT NIGHT. SO PLAN TO SPEND THE NIGHT.

Lots to catch up on. I’ve been gone dealing with my mother’s estate, the memorial for her best friend, and other emotional issues.

First, regular trash pick up for Big Sur resumes today and every Saturday thereafter until access thru Rocky Creek is regained.

Second, southern portion of road is closed from Lucia to Ragged point from 7 pm to 7 am until deemed safe for night time travel.

Third, MST has arranged bus service to coincide with the pedestrian crossings at 7 am and again at 4 pm.

Fourth, rumor has it that repairs are on track for an April 16th single lane weight restricted opening at Rocky Creek.

Fifth, bigsurkate is back to more regular reporting now that she is back home. Thanks for your understanding.

From 1 pm until 7 pm and again at 7 am tomorrow

1. No update from CT on Alder until Fri so it remains closed on Thursday it sounds like.

2. Don McQueen tells me that the cribbing on the Rocky Creek actually replaced the original redwood cribbing used by the convict crew, and that Wally Hinkle put that cribbing in in the 60s. Rock Knocker is my primary source for information about the road, with 30 years experience, but he admits he had a brain fart here. I’ve arranged for Rock Knocker and I to go interview Don McQueen in the next couple of weeks.

3. The teaser by MCWeekly on FB places the Rocky Creek closure on Marcy 17th. That is incorrect. It happened on March 16th.

Lastly, this from Monterey Communications:

Monterey Salinas Transit is prepared to run a shuttle from the north end of the Highway 1 slide to Carmel and Monterey. MST is seeking input from the Big Sur community on how frequently this would be needed. Please send your comments regarding the shuttle to the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce.

Here is the tentative shuttle schedule MST has developed:

7:30 a.m. Shuttle pick up from the northern end of the slide, coincides with pedestrian access time. Shuttle stops include:

Crossroads on Rio Road (at Blackbear)
CHOMP
Del Monte Center
Cass Street
Transit Plaza, Downtown Monterey

4:00 p.m. Shuttle returns to north end of the slide, coinciding with pedestrian access times.

From each of the shuttle stops, riders can access bus routes throughout the county. The ride back to Big Sur will repeat the stops in the reverse. The shuttle can carry 18 seated and 7 standing passengers. It can accommodate two wheelchairs, which would reduce seated capacity to 16.

Please forward your comments regarding the shuttle schedule to the Big Sur Chamber.

Information regarding garbage service:

Thursday 3/31/11 – Waste Management will send two trucks to Big Sur via Nacimiento Fergusson Road for garbage collection. The trucks will initially target commercial garbage needs. Should the trucks not be able to reach Big Sur using this route, the Monterey County Health Department will identify other means to handle solid waste.
Back tomorrow, maybe.

As most of you know, I took the day to go out and about in Big Sur. Beautiful day, little traffic, and with this weather, a perfect day to take in our lovely coast.

But before I get to that, here are some photos of the Alder Creek slide taken this morning by Rock Knocker:

Here are some of the photos I took yesterday. Now, with the iPhone, it takes me twice as long, since I have to grab my shots with both cameras, now!

From Wild Big Sur: “At the meeting CalTrans reported the Limekiln Creek slide area will take the “best part of the week” to clear, and the Rocky Creek collapse repair is “on schedule and should be done by the end of the month.” Also, they set a schedule for pedestrian crossings at the collapse site – 7 am and 4 pm, for all who are in line at that time to walk over from either side.
I am going over Nacimiento to “the other side” now and will take my laptop and iPhone (238 0865) to stay in contact. Everyone can continue posting here.
jack ”

For whatever reason, the vast majority of my comments/post to Wild Big Sur are not allowed, so, I will post here. There is a significant error – it is ALDER CREEK NOT LIMEKILN THAT WILL BE CLOSED FOR A WEEK. IF IT WAS LIMEKILN, JACK WOULDN’T BE ABLE TO GET TO NACIMIENTO-FERFUSSON TOMORROW.

1:45 pm – one report out of today’s meeting is Ped access starting tomorrow. 7:00 am and again at 4PM only until the last pedestrian in line AT THAT TIME is across. Escorted. The second important piece of information is that it is looking like a one lane opening will not happen in the middle of the month, closer to the end. Also, there will be a weight restriction of 5 tons, which will heavily impact the businesses and campgrounds. Further, this one lane with weight restriction could be in place for up to a year.

11 am – currently, the news continues to be that Alder Creek slide is a 2-7 day slide. Limekiln slid again last night, but Cal-Trans got one lane open this morning. Current reports are that Nacimiento-Fergusson is open.

Remember, just because I write something is open (or closed) at 11 am, doesn’t mean that it will be the same at noon. It was reported to me that one local expressed his dissatisfaction with my blog because road conditions were different than reported here. Conditions change much more rapidly than any one can possibly report on. I am only one – with help from Avis when she can – and the road and Mother Nature do not listen to me, at all, ever.

Don’t forget the helicopter ferry started yesterday. Email Stan Russell at info@bigsurcalifornia.org for arrangements.

I have some photos of all sorts of things slide-related I will get them up sometime this afternoon, I hope.

But here are some “views” from yesterday;