Lots going on in the month of May. The Henry Miller Library schedule for May is posted on the Announcements Page, including the Big BIG Sur Fashion Show this Thursday, the 13th.
Don’t forget the Annual BSVFB Muster coming up this Saturday, May 15th, at the State Park.
I’m sure I’ve missed something, and will add it here and/or on the announcement page when I find out what it is.
Later today, or tomorrow, I will post some photos of the Pitkins Curve/Rain Rocks project as could only be obtained by Cal-Trans … or Rock Knocker!
I was reading through the online version of the Monterey County Weekly, when I came across a story about one of our own, down here on the South Coast – Feynner Arias. Feynner is the steward at Big Creek Reserve, having come here from the jungles of Costa Rica.
I’ve known Feynner for a long time – since he came to Big Creek, I think, and know lots of stories. My most vivid memory is from the Plaskett II Fire of 2000. Feynner was the second person to arrive at my place, right behind Steven Gay. Feynner was driving the South Coast BSVFB truck — a very welcome sight.
The Monterey County Weekly describes some of the stories Feynner tells in his authobiography, and the article can be found here: Feynner article
Current nexrad indicates another short squall heading this direction.
The good news is that after this one passes, sometime tonight, the rest of the week is progged to be dry and warmer. I need that, as my blood is still thin from the tropics!
4:30 pm – moderate rain fell at 3:30 pm, and is falling again now. So far, only 1/10th of an inch, but if the current rate keeps up for any period of time, will be up to 1/4 of an inch before sunset.
10:30 am – the rain has begun. We are not supposed to get much, but it has begun very lightly up here already.
4:00 pm – cold, windy, and damp, but only drizzle down here. Did run into significant rain, in pockets, on the way back from SFO today, but not really as far south as Monterey. Let’s see what tomorrow brings.
Yes, I am back on the California Coast, and back to regular reporting. Will try to add additional photos from Kauai either under photographs and/or travel over the next weeks, but in the mean time, watching weather and events (lots to catch up on there!) here in Big Sur.
For today, there is a slight possibility of showers and thunderstorms this afternoon, and a better chance tomorrow afternoon. Cooler temps, too.
Looks like light rain on Sunday, per NOAA discussion. I will be back by then, too.
“AN UPPER LEVEL LOW WILL DIVE IN FROM THE NW ON SUNDAY AND BRING CLOUDS TO ALL PORTIONS OF THE CWA ALONG WITH COOLER TEMPERATURES AND A FEW SHOWERS. PRECIP FORECASTS CONTINUE TO LOOK LIGHT — IN FACT THE 5 DAY QPF NUMBERS FROM HPC SHOW LESS THAN A TENTH OF AN INCH EVEN FOR HIGHER ELEVATION LOCATIONS.”
The search for the missing kayaker has been called off.
“As promised, here are some healing photos from above the Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. Darci surveys the barren land on August 28, 2008. Back to the same spot today, May 4, 2010.
Life finds a way.”
No, I am not yet back in Big Sur, but will be in a few days. I wanted to post these uplifting photos sent to me today by Cameron Douglas. Yes, there is damage that even Mother Nature can’t repair, but it is still wonderful to see so much green covering the hillsides today.
Also, when I get back, I’ll be updating the Announcements page – so many wonderful events coming up, including the BSVFB muster on May 15th, the Big Sur Fashion Show at the HML, and so many more pre-summer events, I am bound to forget one or two! Aloha!
All the local media are reporting a missing kayaker who had been camping at Plaskett Creek Campground. His vehicle was found at the campground, but his kayak and gear was gone. He went camping last Wednesday, but was reported missing when he did not return home Sunday around noon as intended. He is 51 year-old Randall Young of Morro Bay.
“Monterey Sherriffs are investigating whether a white kayak, found on Sand Dollar Beach by a local resident, is that of Randall Young.
The Coast Guard is searching the waters with an 87-foot patrol boat, while an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter from Air Station San Francisco is searching the coastal areas of Big Sur.
Anyone with information about Randall Young, a 6′ 3″ white male, is asked to contact either the Monetery Sherriff’s office at 831-647-7702, or the Coast Guard at 510-437-3701.”
Being temporarily out of the loop, I have no information beyond that carried by local media. This is the second visitor to the South Coast who has gone missing this year – actually, George Carpenter originally went missing around Christmas of 2009, but a full scale search was not conducted until after the New Year. Our prayers go out to Mr. Young’s family and friends.
Because I am watching two fronts – weather and road, I have divided this post into 2 sections, one for road updates, and one for weather updates. I will add information to the appropriate section as information comes my way.
WEATHER
9:30 pm – it is 34.9 degrees outside, and still dropping. It is going to hit the upper 20’s tonight — I just KNOW it. Brrr…
7:30 pm – currently down to 36.7 and still dropping.
5:30 pm – currently down to 37.4 degrees, and still dropping. Looks like a freeze tonight. I just hope it doesn’t get down into the 20’s. I have a brand-new, unopened package of silk long-johns I have misplaced. Tonight would be the night for them! (Can you tell I got my temperature gauge set up, again?)
5:00 pm – currently down to 38.0 degrees, and still dropping.
3:00 pm – 40 degrees, currently, and still dropping, after a day of mostly sunny skies. (I mistakenly put 44 degrees earlier.) It feels much colder due to wind chill factor. Windy up here, and white caps visible on the ocean.
9:30 am – NOAA’s NWS is predicting another chance of precipitation tonight, although amounts should be low, and light snow above 3K ft. No accumulation expected. Wednesday and Thursday should be dry, with a stronger system arriving on Friday.
8:00 am – First, everything is frozen up here. Hail and ice cover the deck, so I cannot safely go out on it, quite yet. It was 45 inside, when I woke this morning. However, the sun is shining. I will try to post photos later. Dave Allen reported very large hail at the mouth of the Valley. Here is one: Hail, by Jana Allen
ROAD
11:00 am – Cal-Trans JUST NOW issued this report:
MONTEREY COUNTY –The closure just south of Gorda (Alder Creek Slide) that reopened yesterday morning continues with one-way traffic control with flaggers from 7 am to 6 pm with up to 1-hour delays. The road will close again overnight tonight from 6 pm to 7 am.
Caltrans will reassess the slide conditions each morning and provide updates accordingly.
9:00 am – This is Dave Allen’s report from his commute this morning: “The road was clean, except for the Lucia slip-out. That is gowing lower fast…the drop was about a foot.Looks like the “sag” rate is about a foot a day…not bad for a slip-out! CALTRANS, though, is there with a foot of fill each day…’sorry, slip-out!’.”
8:00 am -Please see Suzi’s comment from last night under Road Conditions, 3/8, for her first hand report of going through the Alder Creek slide around 5:30 last night. I have yet to receive anything “official” from Cal-Trans, but that normally doesn’t come in until 9 am.
There were so many great cars in Cambria. Thank goodness I have learned never to leave home without my camera — forget American Express (although I didn’t)
Mostly, town runs are necessary. They can be drudgery. They can go smoothly. They are rarely “fun” when done alone. Today’s was fun. In every sense.
Yesterday, all day, my one and only neighbor went out to clear Plaskett Ridge Rd. This guy is an master with a chainsaw. I cannot and will not operator one. I am totally at his mercy. If he doesn’t clear it, I don’t go out. He has to work at Lucia tomorrow, so … he went out. What a guy.
This was the big stuff he cleared. There was a bunch of little stuff, too.
Then, when I am almost down to the coast, I see this.
Does it get any better than this? Well, actually, it does.
Do I live in a beautiful place, or what?
I continue my way down the coast, and stop at a beach I like. Two great photo ops present themselves…one human, and one not.
Critters of all sorts come out to play on a beautiful fall day, after the storm no one will forget.
I make my way to Cambria, for lunch at the most wonderful restaurant – Robin’s. It is like our Big Sur Bakery, in that it is full of fresh, organic, locally grown food, but it has an international flair. And what is happening there? A classic car club has shown up for lunch.
That’s the grille close-up. Here’s the car:
