AFTER THE WINDS

GETTING BACK INTO THE 21st CENTURY

 The moon was the brightest thing on Main Street last

night during what was supposed to be the annual

village "Hospitality Night."

 Revelers were either detoured by or working at

sites like this.

 No official count yet, but many trees were felled

by the highest winds in more than a decade. Some say

more trees than any time they can recall.

 This is a block from our home. The scene was repeated through out Cambria.

 I can't tell you how many times in the last day and half

that I've walked into a room and flipped the switch.

We are dependent on that convenience aren't we?

 I read by lantern light, we used the fireplace for 

heat and hoped the refrigerator would hold it's cold.

 All evening we waited to be surprised by the return of

of power.  But when it was time for the

festivities to begin on Main Street, we were all

in the dark.  Merchants provide treats and snacks as 

the locals stroll through the stores.  It is a village 

tradition to kick off the gift buying and party season.

 But the combination reunion, party, social event

was illuminated only by headlights.

 As always when there is a power outage,

there was one place, powered by their huge

emergency generator-The Main Street Grill.

 You've surmised where people headed.  It was said several

times last night, if we sit here long enough we'll see 

everyone in town.  That was almost a literal truth.

 TODAY, BACK UP IN THE AIR

 Some were lucky to get power last night, but many

woke without toasters, coffee makers, radio, TV

and the Internet. It was also chilly in unheated homes.

 These signs were all over the village.

Ice for powerless refrigerators was flying out of the Cookie Crock Supermarket.

 PG&E guys told me they had been at it 30 hours

non-stop and have a 4AM call to head to Santa Cruz

tomorrow. I'm not sure the overtime pay is enough. 

 These scenes will explain why I'm at Mike and Jacque Griffin's sending this post.  That stuff you see on the downed line is the Charter gear.  Looks like cable, phone and the Internet will down a while.  

Great idea of "bundling" the services eh? 

Wondering now why I bought it. 

 This is a bundle of another sort.

Once the PG&E crews depart, the Charter guys

will have to jump it.

 WE LOVE OUR TREES, BUT

 Cambria is one of only a handful of places in the world

where the Monterey Pine grows naturally. They are a

unique tree and as you can see very shallow rooted.

 It doesn't take much to send them over.

Cambria in the Pines is one of the historic names

for our village.  Our friend Robert quipped today

we should change it to Cambria in the Pains or the Monterey Pain tree.

After 30 hours the power came on at our home on the 

ridge.  Nice to have lights at the flip of a switch, 

heat, a washing machine.  And soon, I hope, Internet and 

cable.  Spoiled aren't we?

Oh, and if you are out this way, the Hospitality night

will apparently be re-staged as a Friday night

sigh of relief.  The historic winds are gone but

so are some of the trees.

See you down the trail.

THE SANTA ANNA WINDS

HISTORIC WINDS RAKE CAMBRIA

The strongest blast of the infamous Santa Anna winds in more than a decade has complicated life from

this idyllic village of Cambria to Los Angeles and beyond.

Winds from 60 to 140 miles per hour have knocked out

power to hundreds of thousands.  This post is coming

from a hot spot in the village as we wait for power

to be restored at home.

High wind warnings are posted from Southern California north and into Utah, Nevada, Arizona and New Mexico.
The Santa Anna's are extremely dry and gusty blasts
that come from off shore in Southern California and 
the Baja. They create a significant fire hazard and mental
health officials says the hot and dry winds can have
and adverse affect on some.
Most roads, drives, sidewalks, decks and roofs are 
littered with Monterey Pine needles and
other debris.

People talk of hearing trees groan and whip in the high winds.

Several of the shallow rooted and rare Monterey Pines were downed in the winds. 

In several instances the falling trees took out power lines in their tumble.

 A lot of sweeping will be underway.

Flags and banners needed to be well mounted or they too took a ride on the wind.

 Workers at the Community Presbyterian Church of Cambria
battled the winds as they set up for the annual
December Thrift Shop sale.  They spent a lot of time
chasing merchandise across the parking lot.

If your power is on, appreciate it!
See you down the trail.

SETTING STANDARDS

EXCELLENCE
The Maritime College football team from the Bronx New York did something extraordinary this year.
Instead of player names on the back of the uniform the 
team displayed words like FAMILY, RESPECT,
ACCOUNTABILITY and CHARACTER.
It was the concept of Coach Clayton Kendrick-Holmes
who told his players to be mindful of those qualities as 
they competed.
Coach Kendrick-Holmes is an amazing story in his own right.
This video demonstrates not only excellence, but 
commitment and courage.

Excellence and
Classy Seats
Camp Ocean Pines in Cambria is
another place of excellence.
Link here to learn of the many opportunities for youth and adults. We've watched as they have build a new
amphitheatre.  Recently we visited for a progress
report and were amazed and charmed by the 
artistic detail in the seats.

That attention to detail and style underscores

the idea and practice of excellence and artistic appreciation.

Salutes to the Maritime football team, coach Kendrick-Holmes and to Camp Ocean Pines.

See you down the trail.

VISUAL PLEASURE

TREES, SHADOWS AND LIGHT

It's like Yogi Berra said

"you can observe a lot just by watching."

 An appealing virtue of San Luis Obispo

is the beauty of the trees lining

the streets.  Though, as I looked

at the one above, I wondered how the 

trimmer would proceed.

 In the quiet of this early morning, I was 

smitten by the shadow play along Monterey Street.

 The buildings provide a ready palate for the

shadow art.

San Luis Obispo lives up to its reputation of being a

town of Mediterranean temperament.

Rare is the day when the sun is not

a presence in San Luis Obispo. The

official stats indicate 315 days of sun each year.

It seems like more than that.

See you down the trail.

AN OLD METHOD COULD BE BETTER

WHERE RAIL TRAVEL IS A GREAT OPTION

I had never traveled by train until our first

trip to the Europe in the 60's.  Since then

I have gladly taken trains there and

elsewhere in the world whenever it

was a viable option.

I had never traveled by train in the US

until we moved to California.  Now it is

my preferred route to Southern California from

here on the Central Coast.  Those who travel

north from here, speak highly of that journey.

The ongoing debate about building high speed rail service

in California prompts fervent attitude.  I'm all for

it, here and across the US.  Rail travel is more relaxed,

easier and enjoyable that air.  If the US had 

trains like those in Europe and Asia I suspect

the more expensive and hassle laden air travel

industry would change.  I suspect more people would

opt for rail.

None the less, we look forward to the train

and have become fond of "our home station," San Luis Obispo.  Friendly and efficient, it is picturesque 

and enjoys a beautiful setting.

Trips to San Diego or LA are only slightly longer

than by car and of course you don't need to drive

the freeways. You can enjoy the scenery along the way,

read, snooze, enjoy a meal and arrive much more

rested than by driving or flying.  

This tried and true old method of travel should be

given new life in the US, as it has been abroad.

See you down the trail.