100% and Defining Local

contained

photo by Cal Fire

     The good news came from Cal Fire, The Chimney Fire is now 100% contained.

     Started August 13 the blaze destroyed 49 residences, 21  buildings, more than 46 thousand acres and for a week threatened the historic Hearst Castle.

      At its peak nearly 4,000 firefighters were on the scene augmented by 7 air tankers and 16 helicopters.  Cal Fire has released and re-deployed all but a few hundred firefighters.

       Local command will now supervise weeks of mop up, repair of roads, fire breaks, work to prevent erosion and stream run off.

      In the communities of Lake Nacimiento, Paso Robles, San Simeon, Cambria and in the adjoining wine country are signs and posters thanking the fire fighters. Heroes they are.

      Now they move to another fire or if lucky get a break and some time at home.

normal?

photo by Jacque Griffin

      Summer vacation season ends with Labor Day weekend and many California central coast residents are waiting to see an end to this. Midwest refugee Jacque Griffin captured this image noting it was "news worthy."  Traffic jams are a rarity, unless tourists flood the town as they do over the Pinedorado Weekend.

    The evidence of this photo is a touchstone in a community "discussion" in villages like ours. What is the balance between the quality of life of residents and the tourist hoards that are good for the hospitality industry?"  What is that balance? It's tricky.

     In the decade we have resided here we've witnessed an uptick in visitors. Friends who have been here for up to 30 years have seen a larger change, in size and character of the village as well as the tourist influx. 

    People came to Cambria because of its village quality and size. The quiet, natural character and location away from dense population was a draw. Some growth is inevitable but what remains with in the parameters of sustainability and resource use. How do you retain the character that makes a village unique and appealing? Would the restaurants we enjoy be here if there were not the seasonal visitors? What about some of those store fronts? What is reasonable?

     Opinions vary. In this village there are those who like its authentic, creative, funky and genuine nature. But there are some who prefer to see it more upscale, more like Carmel.

      This gets worked out by the coming and going of those who live here or who move on.

   Water is a friction point of course. Residents have reduced use by 20% to 40% but watch as thousands of out owners come and tap into our limited resource. And many tourists think nothing about dumping trash, leaving dog waste unattended, carelessly flicking cigarette butts, or ash trays and of course one of the most grievous offenses, take our parking spaces!

     In some ways, we are all tourists. California is a state where we drive. There is so much to see and do and so in our personal patterns we become visitors in another village or city.

   Though we note the end of summer often opens vistas and space.

   And it is hard to visit Morro Bay without an obligatory stop at Ruddells SmokeHouse where his fish Tacos have earned world wide acclaim. Deservedly.  But here I go only encouraging more tourist hoards.

    See you down the trail.

    

Close to Home

proud hubby

    The big weekend in Cambria got a little bigger when Lana won first place in the annual 927 Unconventional Art Show.

    Her WADING FOR EQUALITY is a paper mache sculpture featuring faces of women- family, friends, rights pioneers and powerful women. She is wearing boots and wading on a sea of issues; body image, under representation, reproductive rights, rape, sexual harassment, glass ceiling, equal pay and pregnancy leave.

     Judge Sam Peck called it "highly topical feminist art."

You can link here to see other award winners in the 927 Show.  It was begun in this art colony back in the early 70's as a place for wacky, ironic, zany and satirical art, often with an edge or political note.

     Doubly proud of Lana this weekend because she was also

a "biker chick" in Cambria's annual Pinedorado Weekend Parade.

      Frequent readers may recall that our parade is homegrown. There are traditional marching units and then there are some that are organic in a uniquely Cambrian way. In some cases there is no explanation.

      You may remember it begins and ends with the Calliope.

   The Cambria Garden Club Unit got my attention.  Lana is reprising one of their earlier presentations-The Blooming Biker Babes!

    One of the day's highlights was this little dear who simply could not stop dancing to the passing music. This little princess belongs to the local Gowdy family.

   We know for a fact that the pilot here, Glen, has put this machine through the paces on some high performance tracks.

 A crowd favorite is the Slabtown Rollers who stop along the route to serenade the crowd.

   Sometimes it is a family thing. Everyone in the act.

  An historical note to the frame below. The PCWT is the Pacific Coast Wine Trail and is on the path to becoming one of the world's most unique appellations. All of these vineyards are within a few miles of the Pacific Ocean.

   As noted previously, sometimes there is no explanation.

   This Cal Fire unit drew applause and cheers along the entire route. With the Chimney Fire fresh in mind everyone wanted to celebrate this representative of the "heroes."

    The Post Scripts

     Have  great labor day holiday.  

      See you down the trail.

The Heart of Summer

   An artist ponders a picturesque setting and strikes a pose.

   Accompanied by sunshine and blue sky the La Familigia picnic and bocce tourney at the Stolo Family Winery farmhouse was a gentle day.

gentle calm, welcomed

    The day was a transition for many on the central California coast. The Chimney fire is now 75% contained. 46 thousand acres were ravaged and 49 homes and 21 other buildings were destroyed. Almost 4,000 California firefighters battled the blaze that began August 13. They have been received as heroes in this area. The cause is still under investigation. In our near 10 years in California I have come to learn arson investigators are experts and thoroughly diligent. It sometimes takes a while but they generally find the cause and in some cases it leads to prosecution. Fighting fire in California is a multi million dollar proposition and is tantamount to going to war.

    Thanks to so many of you for your concern and words of encouragement. While Cambria was never directly threatened, the blaze was only a few miles away.  When you can see fire from your home, your concern level rises. People here are grateful. We get back to summer joy.

     See you down the trail.