On Tuesday of last week, I left for thei northern climes of the Monterey Peninsula. I was overdue (by 3 months) for my annual physical…again…

I got a place to camp in my new Sprinter in town. Wonderful place.

And I pulled in on Tuesday for my Wednesday appointment. This was my view out the front window. Better yet, the host or ranger was an ex of a close friend, and he was super helpful to me. I made my appointment, had to go back on Thursday for labs, and other clinics and stayed another night so I could met with some of my long time friends, Cheryl Harris, Vilia Kakis Giles, and Rose Welch for lunch on Thursday. Even Elyse stopped by. Wonderful lunch. Then Friday was the annual Planned Parenthood Rowe v. Wade luncheon and I had a ticket.

Friday morning, I checked the weather, and it was deteriorating. Rock Knocker called and said I better get home. I sent emails, apologizing for canceling my attendance at the luncheon, and did a quick grocery shopping, gas, and headed south.,

That afternoon, I got through the northern proposed closure before it happened, and headed up Plaskett. I could not get through the clay pit of the “S” turns. I tried twice, but got stuck, so had to back down in clay, slipping and sliding for quite a ways. Finally was able to get down to the highway again around 3:30 pm.

I thought of heading up Naci to SCR Rd and home the back way, but there wasn’t time before dark, and Mud Creek was going to close at 5, so I made the spontaneous decision to go south, where there was cell service, and thus internet, and where I had friends.

I went south…(to be continued tomorrow – one each day this week)

In fact, very cold airmass w/origins over continental Canada will dive southward along West Coast tonight. Snow expected down to sea level in WA & OR, & perhaps even along North Coast of CA! Snow down to 500 ft poss. in Sacramento Valley, & below 1500 feet in SF Bay Area. (Weather West, aka Daniel Swain)

Photo wont load, and I’ve got other things on my mind, like this:

11:34 AM

[11] 1039 LOS PADRES THEY WILL CB IF THEY CAN GO

11:33 AM

[10] 1039 HUNTER LIGGETT THEY WILL CB IF THEY CAN HANDLE

11:32 AM

[9] A8-042 ENRT / REQ TO CALL HUNTER LIGGETT AND SEE IF FIRE CAN CUT TREE DOWN

11:29 AM

[4] SUBJ WAS IN VEH – NOT INJRD, BUT UNABLE TO LEAVE THE AREA DUE TO TREE BLOCKING

11:27 AM

[1] TREE 1125 ON NACIMIENTO FERGUSSON RD 7 MILES FM SR1

And Rock Knocker was/is? coming to run interference for me shortly, so I get to be there! I cannot catch a break. Tree down on Naci at 11:30 am. The R- could be RK.

Added later: Made it home by 4 pm, after Rock Knocker and my neighbor and friend, Peter, cut through all sorts of trees to get me home. Thank you both! Big Sur Men doing what they do best!

From Sander Koning, who reports people are walking up to the open restaurant via the delivery entry and the tree crew is on its way, so Meredith & Kirk, not to worry!

10 am – Adam Slawter took these in Big Sur Valley just now:

9:45 – From Cal Trans just now: “SigAlert: a 45-mile section of #Hwy1 south of #BigSur is CLOSED from Deetjen’s Inn to Ragged Pt due to down trees, wires so use Hwys 68, 46 & Nacimiento-Fergusson Rd as detour. Get our #QuickMap app for latest road conditions statewide.”

8:30 am – Insane is the best way to describe the winds & rains last night. 91 mph plus on the Big Sur Coast per Dann Cianca of KION weather. He didn’t get much sleep as many of us also. Widespread Power Outages in SLO Co., MoCo, and Santa Cruz Co. The CHP website this am was reporting too many hazards and problems to even recount here. What about rains down by the slides, you ask? This is as of 8 am. I will add to this report as needed today.

Today’s Date: February 1, 2019 at 2 PM

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                                                                                                                                                                         UPDATE

**TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

CALTRANS ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that a significant storm will reach the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area this evening. The Highway 1 closure, for traveler safety, will include the areas of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide, closing today, Friday, Feb. 1 at 5 pm until further notice. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.

The closure initiation process will begin at 3 PM with Electronic Message Signs activated and both sets of gates (Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide) closed by 5 pm today.  Storm activity is currently forecast through Monday, Feb. 4.

Businesses along the Big Sur Coast on Hwy. 1 remain open and are accessible via Hwy’s. 101, 68, and 46.

Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units are on call and prepared to inspect/clean up when the storm ends during the daylight hours and it is safe to be onsite again—we currently anticipate this to be Monday, Feb. 4th.  Caltrans’ goal is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7.

 

The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed and there will be no access to anyone, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.

 

NOTE: Both Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will close today. An update will be provided by mid-day Monday, Feb. 4th or sooner.  The boundaries of this closure are subject to change based on storm activity.

 

Today’s Date: February 1, 2019 at 10:15 am

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

**TRAFFIC ADVISORY**

CALTRANS ANNOUNCES TEMPORARY CLOSURE OF HWY. 1 AT MUD CREEK/PAUL’S SLIDE AT 5 PM TODAY

MONTEREY COUNTY — Caltrans has received confirmation from National Weather Service (NOAA) data that a significant storm will reach the areas of Mud Creek (PM 8.9) and Paul’s Slide (PM 21.6) on State Route 1 in the Big Sur area this evening. CHP has requested the southern closure limits to be at Ragged Point (SLO PM 72.87) and the northern limits just south of Deetjen’s/Fuller’s (MON PM 42). The Highway 1 closure, for traveler safety, will include the areas of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide, closing today, Friday, Feb. 1 at 5 pm until further notice. SEE ATTACHED CLOSURE MAP.

The closure initiation process will begin at 3 PM with Electronic Message Signs activated and both sets of gates (Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide) closed by 5 pm today.  Storm activity is currently forecast through Monday, Feb. 4th.

Businesses along the Big Sur Coast on Hwy. 1 remain open and are accessible via Hwys. 101, 68 and 46.

Caltrans’ Geotech, Maintenance and Construction units are on call and prepared to inspect/clean up when the storm ends during the daylight hours and it is safe to be onsite again—we currently anticipate this to be Monday, Feb. 4th.  Caltrans’ goal is to open the roadway as quickly and safely as possible and our staff remains on-call 24/7.

The gates on either side of Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will be key locked. These gates will not be manned when the highway is closed and there will be no access to anyone, including Emergency Services or Caltrans employees until a proper assessment can be made and any necessary cleanup has been completed.

NOTE: Both Mud Creek and Paul’s Slide will close today. CHP has requested the closure limits be Ragged Pt. and just south of Deetjens, until further notice. An update will be provided mid-day Monday, Feb. 4th or sooner.

Now for the weather: this one late tonight and tomorrow morning will pack a punch. Snow is expected to drop down to 2,000 feet by Monday am…photos if I can.

Here are some predictions by Dann Cianca: “A strong Pacific Storm will arrive late Friday and hammer us overnight with heavy rain and gusty winds. I think the biggest impact will be the wind with damage likely. With gusts of over 60mph possible, trees will fall, power lines will come…”