Sunday Photos, 8/21/2022

Song of Trees continued: These are the trees that planted themselves after the Wild Fire of 1996. This spot had been dozed for a fire break. I had never seen the view as the manzanita, ceanothus, and chemise was so tall and thick. After the clearing when I finally saw the view. That was it. That was where I would build my house.

My three self-planted Big Leaf Maples. I watered them the first year, but then weaned them off of supplemental water. Same with the oak below. They were so tiny when I first discovered them. I had to protect them against critters, weedeaters, etc. and now, so tall and strong and handsome. They are happy hee.
And this is the majestic Valley Oak (Quercus lobata) that doesn’t grow up this high, per the Oak Foundation. I have others that are at least 100 years old up here, so they do like this environment and are happy to have another in their group.

And for those of you not on social media, here is what Weds looked like while we waited to see if this was going to come with dry lightning.

Another Heat Advisory, 6/17/21

Advisory: Excessive Heat Warning

Excessive Heat Warning Location: Cities of Greenfield and King City, Interior Monterey County, Southern Salinas Valley, Arroyo Seco, Lake San Antonio, Santa Lucia Mountains, Los Padres National Forest, Pinnacles National Park Duration: 6/17/2021 11:00 AM to 6/18/2021 1:00 PM Description: Excessive Heat Warning means dangerously hot conditions with temperatures from 98 to 108 expected. More Info: https://inws.ncep.noaa.gov/a/a.php?i=58213407

Drone Footage by @CaltransD5 of Rat Creek

COVID-19 comes to Big Sur

***I have turned off comments for this post. It doesn’t matter which restaurant. Since this published, I have heard of several others, but not verified. Cars packed all parking lots and along both sides of the highway from Nepenthe to River Inn Saturday. Lots of out of state plates. Whichever businesses that did not have it before, will in the next few weeks. It will spread all up and down the coast as it has along every major artery along the east coast, thru the south and in the west and mid-west. As Sharen Carey says, “Assume it is here and act accordingly.” Now we know it is. Make your own choices for you, but always wear a mask for others.***

Big Sur went over three months without a single case of coronavirus. The quarantines, social distancing and masks had worked, but it couldn’t stay closed forever. The closure was taking its toll on businesses and employees. And so, like the rest of Monterey County, and the State of California, we opened in stages.

After restaurants were opened for indoors dining, a restaurant was informed by an employee that s/he had tested positive for the virus on Thursday. The restaurant immediately implemented all workplace exposure guidelines put out by the Monterey Health Department and notified them. The restaurant also told the employee to stay home until cleared by his/her health care provider.

Friday evening, a notice went out to all employees about the exposure. Testing was implemented on any employee who may have been within six feet of the employee for 15 minutes or more. Every guideline was met and implemented.

I contacted the manager of the restaurant for any further information early this morning, but he did not respond. I also contacted two other Big Sur businesses to see if the restaurant manager had provided any information to them, and neither was aware that COVID-19 had shown up in Big Sur.

I contacted Sharen Carey, Executive Director of the Big Sur Health Center who told me that there are currently two cases of COVID in Big Sur. Of course, due to privacy concerns, no further information is available about either case.

We will probably never know if this case was caught from a visitor outside the area, from a family or friend, or while in town. There are many variables that come into play. As Sharen Carey has been telling us for three months, assume it is here, and act accordingly. Implement social distancing, wear masks, and stay home if sick or high risk.

Sometimes, I have to wonder if I will ever get to visit my favorite Big Sur places again. I miss them, and my friends. I don’t think being a hermit becomes me.

For insight into other rural “gateway” communities facing this pandemic and the need to open to survive, see: https://apple.news/AbuEvWMmXRF6ojpYwSmK8fA\

 

Storm Waves…

29E2512E-6C93-4971-BE5E-5B0DDCE437B3I will be interested in seeing how the predicted storm waves of today will impact the sea wall at Mud Creek.

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The water you see above (shiny spot) is from waves pounding OVER the sea wall. The sea wall has taken a beating, even before this storm and today’s monster waves! Love to see it tomorrow.