TROUBLE ON THE TRAIL & A FROSTY COURT

BREAKING TENNIS NEWS

It was a chipper 31 on the court as we 

commenced play at 7:30 AM.

Tennis gloves and even leg wear were needed.

First time since moving from the mid west that

our play was "periled" by weather! 

We prevailed however. :)

NOW BACK TO OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED PROGRAMMING-----

WASHBURN NEEDS CLEARING

The 3.3 mile Washburn hiking trail runs from

sea level up into the highlands of the Santa Lucia range

and encircles portions of the San Simeon Natural Preserve.

It crosses wetlands, riparian areas, passes through

several undisturbed native plant areas, Monterey

Pine forest, climbs, winds and descends into a canyon and

back up to scenic overlooks.

The tree above is typical of many of the old pines

along the 3.3 mile trail.

READER ALERT

This post is a 40 shot documentation of the trail

in the aftermath of the December Santa Ana windstorm that raked California.  The trail is littered with

many fallen trees and not a casual walk.

As you will see the Cambria Walking Bunch

found the going a bit rough at spots.

Still, it is beautiful hike.

A glimpse of blue sky before going into the forest and beginning a climb.

Even some of the saplings were uprooted. 

Limbs of some of the older pines were sheared.

A trail blockage and damaged bench.

Another blockage.

More damage.

A fallen tree makes for a low overhead.

Boughs make for a tangled path with difficult footing.

Yet more blocked trail and damage.

More tricky footing.

But the forest also held seasonal charm.

Fortunately none of the bridges or boardwalks were damaged.

The high-ground scenic overlooks were sun drenched.

After the climbing, squeezing under and crunching over the

Walking Bunch opted for the road from the campground

back to the parking lot. 

Surviving pines stand sentry over looking the big blue.

Hopefully rangers and volunteers will clear some

of the trees that did not survive the Santa Annas.

See you down the trail.

AFTER THE SUN & PLANET TEARS

TWILIGHT COLORS

Once the grandiloquence of 

the sun's evening departure is fixed

in our mind, in the hour of 

myth and dreams, the land becomes a 

subtle scape of texture and hues.

The summit of the pass over the Santa Lucia range is a portal.

 A place of exquisite subtlety.

HISTORY WILL CARRY THE VERDICT

Imagine December 2111.  Is it possible that humankind

will look back to us and say we had a choice between

money and life and we chose money?  Children born

between now and the next 10 years will be the elders of that humankind.  What will they endure, because of our

devotion to economic structure as we know it instead

of care for the planet?

I don't believe our science, as good as it is, fully understands the continual changes, shifts and evolutionary forces at work on our blue planet. But some of the maladies are man made.  Poisons in rivers, lakes and oceans. 

Trash and debris that takes generations to degrade and 

often leaves an altered earth and water supply behind.  Global climate changes may not all be man made, but there are apocalyptic warnings about changing temperatures, animal and insect migration changes, extreme weather changes.  It is also undeniable that carbon emissions are rising. Maybe they don't matter. But what if they do?

10 Thousand government ministers and experts from 194 nations are meeting in Durbin for a conference on our 

planet's future. From the most rational and reluctant to the most strident, there is a consensus things are changing

and those changes will force biological and botanical  reactive change.  How we live will change, in ways 

we can only speculate.

But, because the planet is gripped by economic fear,

there will be no agenda, no plan of action, no

muscle to try to change the course we are on.

Socialist, Capitalist, Communist, Feudal, Tribal-

no matter how the nations of the world practice

economics, this age is too wed to evaluating

life and human endeavor by those standards to 

instead put a value on the life of the planet we

inhabit or the lives of our descendants.

December 2111.  Will they regret the choices 

we have made?

See you down the trail.

REMEMBERING CHINESE ROCK PICKERS, GIVING TO CHARITIES & ACADEMIC SURF

RESPECT DUE

The striking sculpture in San Luis Obispo's

Rail Road Square pays respect to the Chinese

workers who made rail roads a reality.

Chinese influence on the American west coast has

been largely under appreciated.  Gavin Menzies book

1421 The Year China Discovered the World

claims Chinese sailors made it to the American west

before Europeans made their way to the east coast.

While that view is not universally accepted

it is clear that Chinese helped shape the

American west.

Chinese also worked in the Cinnabar mines of
the central coast. 

Generation of Chinese families harvested kelp on the

Central Coast.  The San Luis Obispo sculpture

is a beautiful reminder of what was back breaking

labor that helped develop the west.

SURFS UP

IN ACADEMIA

A San Diego State researcher and surfer has opened the world's first Center for Surf Research. Read the piece by Julie Watson of the Associated Press by linking here.

AND WHERE DOES THE MONEY GO?

Investigative reporter Will Evans of CALIFORNIA WATCH

is out with a timely and eye opening piece on 

Charitable fund raising.  

Before you respond to a phone or mail solicitation read the piece by linking here.

My own years of investigative reporting lead me to

find the charity's excuses a bit dubious.  When I contribute

I want to know the money is going for the said cause

instead of building a data base or brand recognition.

DECEMBER IN WINE COUNTRY & HUGO

A QUIET REST

An odd and even difficult year for

the Paso Robles appellation is nearing an end.

A late frost and bad weather conditions

has generally lowered the yield of

wine growers, but most say

the quality of the fruit and eventually

the wine will be very good.

But for now the vineyards offer

scenes of quiet, color and a meditative peace.

 Wine pick ups offer the beginning of seasonal feasts.

 A sunny afternoon and the honey display at 

Pipestone, made me feel like a kid.

 A noisy goose and quiet duck-

an animal variation of sweet and sour.  
No menu options intended!

Even vines deserve a rest.

REEL THOUGHTS

HUGO

We loved it from the first frame.  Full disclosure here-

I'm a Martin Scorsese fan.  Still this is a masterful work and in 3D-his first use of the tools.  It's a wonderful
story, perfect for the Christmas season and a very
old fashioned film in the best sense.
Ben Kingsley, Sacha Baron Cohen, Asa Butterfield as 
Hugo and Chloe Grace Mortez as his friend are all
superb. The visual look and texture is pure magic, and
enhanced by the 3D optics.  But there is even more
to this Scorsese cinema art, and it is a tribute to
film itself.  Without giving away too much,
there is a brilliant celebration of the films
of George Melies, an early and experimental French film maker.  For that that element of the film alone
Scorcese deserves the gratitude of all film fans everywhere.
It is marvelous and enchanting. Brian Selznick's book gave Scorsese a chance to go where he has never gone before as a film maker, and we are the beneficiaries. 
Want to enjoy a film like you did when younger
and less world wise?  This is the ticket.

See you down the trail.

THE WEEKENDER :) SWAN LAKE AND KITTENS

TIME FOR PLEASANT

Thanks to all of you who have posted comments,

sent e-mails or called to see how we are doing.

We are just fine and it was gorgeous day today.  I spent a lot of time with a broom and power blower and as I worked

I heard others joining the chorus along with chain saws.

We were lucky. All I had to do was go after pine needles and small twigs.  We've heard of a few cars and homes

that were damaged by the falling Monterey Pines.

Hats off to the PG&E, Charter Cable, and CCSD road crews for their great work during and in the aftermath 

of the historic winds. 

In keeping with our WEEKENDER :) attitude

here is a nice departure and something

spectacular.

DAY BOOK

KITTEN BREAK
They seemed "nervous" during the wind storm
finding places to hide, even inside. They
appreciate the sunshine.

See you down the trail.