I am fighting very hard to hold back tears as I constantly follow the news, pray for the miracle of heavy rains in July, and a cessation of wind and, well, here is the story from the last 2.5 hours ago . . .
Here is the link for the full story by Gina Keating, since what I've given below is partial:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080704/ts_nm/california_fires_dc;_ylt=ApD5iP828EjQg4jxQEC4rUis0NUE
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"LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - California firefighters held the line overnight on two wildfires burning along the California coast that threatened more than 4,000 homes and other structures, fire officials said on Friday morning . . . .
"Our firefighters made some pretty heroic stands last night," he said . . . .
County health officials issued face masks to residents who planned vigorous outdoor activities to protect them from heavy smoke, Boyer said.
While Goleta residents will miss their annual Independence Day fireworks display this year, the neighboring city of Santa Barbara plans to go forward with its display, he said . . . .
The fire is burning in the foothills above the scenic coastal community of Big Sur, where 1,800 homes and businesses had been evacuated and 25 miles of coastal highway shut down. Big Sur is about 140 miles south of San Francisco . . . ."
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As a child, I had the pleasure of having Big Sur -- which I then called "Big Sewer" -- as a private, exclusive, playground. My father was on a construction project there, and would return Fridays to collect us, and we would spend the weekends there, playing on the cordoned off beach, having it all to ourselves. They were some of the best memories of my life, as "Big Sewer" is one of the most beautiful beaches I've even seen, easily rivalling its neighbor, Carmel, California. That was then; just look at it now:
NOW 
and
THEN
There is somewhat a difference, don't you think?
Here are some other images of the Big Sur that I remember from times past:
Everytime I travel this road, and I look DOWN, I get a little nervous. There is no reason to get nervous, but in a vehicle, it seems to be a long ways down, and the vehicle seems to be so close to the edge. I love the trip going TO Big Sur, but the journey leaving seems much safer (against the mountain).
So, you think this panorama of colours does the place justice? Wrong! Big Sur cannot be captured on film. It is a place that may only be experienced firsthand. The smells, the feel of the air, the wind, the sounds and the whole experience connecting to you -- aaah! This is something one must attend to on a firsthand basis. Have you ever visited Carmel? Big Sur has Carmel beat. Sorry, Clint.
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I don't recall, and maybe another writer would say if Jack London ever wrote about Big Sur? Probably not, though.
This next image?
There are no words for this . . . .
Indeed, the sun sets in the West, and THIS . . . is how the sun sets . . . in Big Sur, seeming pouring into the Pacific Ocean.
And then finally,
. . . and in about 3 or 4 minutes, there shall be but remnants of a star -- OUR star -- of golds, oranges, and of red lights, where there was once a brilliant towering sun, shutting down, as it were for the night; an incredible sight, presented by California's Big Sur.
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I do want to wish all a Happy 4th of July, but more than that, beyond that.
July represents the month of Independence for the United States. God knows that every region of this country has seen its troubles and natural disasters in 2008 -- and then some -- but by working together, we have made it through. I know California shall do it, as well. America has much to be hopeful for, and even more to be proud of, so then -- BEYOND the 4th -- let us never forget, despite her troubles, inspite of her troubles, that today, and every day, that we still are Citizens of the GREATEST COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH!
That's MY GIRL: Liberty!
An Awesome gift. Thank you, France.
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Comments: 47
:=)
What a beautiful place
i'm praying for all our California friends and relatives...
how sad... God bless you Nee... i love you...
BabiTag Comments - Sassy Trendy Sexy
the erosion on the second shot really bothered me--how the sea has cut at the territory, inexorable.
nature.
it is neither friend nor foe: it merely IS.
(i hope to see the Sur one day--or maybe of an evening. if i get to that side of the continent before the sea swallows it, i'll look you up. you can take me there, and we'll talk of many things.
and maybe, if we're lucky...we'll laugh.
a lot.)
Lovely take on Lady Neeetah o' !!!
inspite of her troubles, that today, and every day,
that we still are Citizens of the GREATEST COUNTRY ON THE FACE OF THIS EARTH!"
That winning words I love of you most . . speaks of unconditional love for the country !!
Thank you greatly dear Lady for sharing this day's best !!!
today that 'Feel Greatness' makes the difference dear !!!
Thank you ever so much. Rain in July is not an impossibility, but would be a rarity and nearly a miracle. Yet, I remain hopeful; I'll never give up hope that SOMETHING shall occur to put an end to drought and fire.
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CyberGwen,
Do take care, and I mean that with all sobriety. Each time I go outdoors, my chest feels it, although the skies are deceptively blue now. Yet, when looked upon from afar, there it is -- the smoke, so the skies ARE deceptive. I am troubled that my own friends are not taking this situation very seriously at all. As the article states, we are miles from the fires (not as far as you might think though), and yet it affects us here in the Bay Area, just to give you the scope of the situation.
A couple of weeks ago, a friend and I went on an excursion trip to Carmel, and had dinner there. It was not a long trip at all. It may sound far off, but it isn't. We returned that evening, like it was nothing, because the distance IS nothing; doesn't the travelling smoke prove it, too.
Please take great care Gwen.
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Lawrence,
That is the way the Bay Area was nearly looking for awhile when I thought it to be fog, and I do know about the Central Valley. Everything seems to fall down into the Valley. Fresno County is number 1 in the worst air quality in the Country already, and now THIS. Please, please -- how I wish my people would wear masks all of the time, and to think they THOUGHT I would go there for the holiday? NO WAY.
Is the photo of San Diego?
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Ron,
You know I must meddle: next time you take that Highway 1 trip, let me know. Don't bring Valerie; I know the area like the back of my hand; I'll show it to you in a way that you have NEVER see it . . . heh, heh, heh . . . and I'll even serve up bacon and eggs . . . turkey bacon and eggs. How DO you like your eggs, Ron? Sunny side up?
Oooooh Ronbo!
Here's wishing you much rain.
What is most disturbing is that I probably know some of those firefighters, as often the Bay Area firefighters are called in to help other areas in emergency situations such as this. I'm not making any phone calls to find out though, because I don't want to know this time. They are brave men and women, to be sure; I only hope that there are NO casualties as a result of this dangerous disaster. We do need to keep them in our prayers. It is one thing to see this on T.V., and quite another to BE THERE.
One reason that I refused to participate in 4th of July festivities this year was due to a 4th of July fire I was involved in, as a result of fireworks in Fresno one year. It isn't hard to confirm, as it made national television news. We (the residents) fought that thing all night long, but mostly tried to stay out of the way of the brave firefighters doing their job. The job of law enforcement was to not allow anyone in the area (it was cordoned off) unless they had identification proving they lived in the area. What a mess it all was. Well THAT ugly memory, along with the wildfires did it for me; I have this image in my head, this dread, of some idiot being careless and starting an UNNECESSARY fire, when the firefighters already have their hands full with natural wildfires, so I (hopefully graciously) declined 4th of July invitations for this year.
What is sad is how California firefighters are spending THEIR Independence Day.
Necee,
and
Judi
Thank you so much! You words mean more than I can ever express, especially regarding our friends and relatives, and most of all , the firefighters. I think of one (I want to call him a nut, but he isn't a nut) friend who is so daring. I met him while working at the phone company, and after I left to go to another position he went on to become a firefighter, captain, and so forth. We were the best of friends, and he has been acknowledged for doing some daring things, made the news for doing some daring things. I just HOPE he does NOT do anything daring -- if he is there -- in this thing. As I said before, I won't phone, don't want to know.
I had actually planned to include Big Sur in a July photo essay -- a surprise -- for my groups, and this is a sorry substitute for it. But I'm pleased you like this. I do wonder, if I go ahead at a later date and still do it, what I'll come to find after the fires are out.
Maybe I won't want to even know.
But again, I thank you for some sweet and loving wishes and thoughts!
I'm am merely a good ole country girl who now lives in the city. I'm always astonished when someone says to me, "I never thought that someone like you would ever talk to me?"
Isn't that goofy, thomas?
Think of the relationships missed out on with that type of thinking. Me? I'll talk to anyone, which probably gets me into trouble, but oh well.
Come on down! Big Sur, and San Francisco (especially San Francisco) is at its best from August through October, although the merchants would have you believe otherwise.
From what I recall, you are quite a good writer. The compliments you've bestowed are received with humility and thanks.
You are very perceptive, too. Yes, I do love my country, much more than people realize, and its why I take such a strong stand when its so-called leaders attempt to exploit, rape, abuse her, and abuse her people. It makes me very annoyed. I believe the Framers of this Country did a brilliant job in establishing an unshakeable foundation for posterity, but that the current generation needs a CHANGE, as well as a shaking up, an awakening, perhaps a Prince's kiss or SOMETHING to shake out that poisonous apple bit. (I am referring to the story of Sleeping Beauty, manonmano).
I am pleased you enjoyed the photos as well, was delighted to receive the request; I look forward to future contact with you. Let's do stay in touch!
~~Namaste
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Rosa,
What a nice sight -- RAIN!!!
Wow! Thank you, and thank you!
I do believe if ANY Californian were to complain about rain right now, we would send them OUT OF CALIFORNIA on a rail, first class AMTRAK rail.
(that one was for YOU, AMTRAK!)
Thanks, Rosa!
. . . don't forget about Berkeley when you come out here. You would love the Berkeley -- especially the Cal Berkeley crowd!
Lady Nalita has provided some spectacular photos of the Big Sur coastline, but the magnificent beauty of the area cannot be captured by a camera or any artist. One must experience the views of the Pacific and the breathtaking power of such beauty in person.
The western wind has come up again this evening. This will make it even more difficult for our firefighters, National Guardsmen and Women and the hundreds of volunteers to do their job.
Say a little prayer for all of the Californians that are suffering from the tragedy of these fires. Pray for rain.
I'm glad you've weighed in, because knowing that you are right in the thick of it, I have been thinking of you.
You have said it all FAR, FAR better than I, but of course -- you are an eyewitness to all of it.
Frankly, I wish you would leave the area for a time, and return when it's safe, but I do understand; this is your home, and you want to stay and be there to support. I would do the same thing; we did the same thing with the fire in Fresno, even with firefighters were telling us to leave to safety.
I was in Carmel a couple of weeks ago, and I didn't see the impact then -- I don't understand HOW I could have missed it, but that being said,
Let me know if there is anything I might do
Hugs and prayers to you.
But, our dear California, M'Lady, has a long and eventful history of fire and smoke... From the deck of his ship, Sir Francis Drake could see the smoke of the oak woodlands of Marin County and he named this place "Land of Smoke" because of it. The native Pomos, Miwoks and other tribes increased the yields of acorns by deliberately setting fires here long before the "white man" ever came...
Some of the seeds of native California plants can ONLY germinate AFTER they have been burned... THAT'S how "ingrained" this "fire thing" IS with our land...
So, know that new plants will grow -- the animals will return to the devasted areas and, in a dozen years, it will difficult to tell just which parts of our Golden State were burned this year...
Fire & Smoke: It's in our blood...
Jean - Thanks for weighing in. I never really knew. I thought the fires we are newer thing.
The group: We Comment Back
I've got to address you first, Jean.
Having been born right here in California [Fresno], and having lived here all my life, I must say that I have NEVER seen fires on this scale
HEAVENS TO MURGATROID!!!
since I can ever remember. Now that being said,
I know that there are yearly fires, and I also know that the Park Rangers even set controlled fires, as well as the firefighters,
but these are controlled fires,
so then we are in agreement,
that there are yearly wildfires
and
controlled fires,
but this THING????
I've not seen this thing before, Jean.
Tell me if you have seen something like this before, or on this scale; I have not.
That being said, I'm relieved about Napa/Sonoma.
It was my plan to be up there this weekend, but no -- not now.
Another breathtakingly beautiful area; I don't want to be depressed
Yes, I have relatives there, and had planned to visit, as well as the
[big smile] wineries.
Another day, perhaps.
Just happy to know that you are okay.
I know that my cousins Ann, and Brian are okay because my family would have been on the HOT LINE -- they are GOOD for that -- if they were not.
There's been no word about the whereabouts of the animals, but the good thing about the Monterey/Carmel area, which Aunt Boni H might verify, is that the residents are not brutal animal haters, but rather, are animal lovers, who, upon seeing these frightened and desperate creatures are going to understand and appreciate their plight, then try to do whatever is necessary to help them.
My sister talks too, too much to me about how humankind has infringed/trespassed on nature's [animals'] territory, and pushed them to the limit; she is a wildlife biologist. We need to show compassion here. They are not running out of the forests to attack or out of aggression; they were forced out. We need to help them. I've confidence in the "Clint Eastwood" crowd.
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Lawrence,
I thought it was San Diego. Another beautiful area looking like THAT! Thanks for the photo, Lawrence.
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Sharon,
I keep looking up to the sky. I don't see rain clouds. I am still hopeful. I really do believe it all -- the drought, the lightning -- it's all a result of global warming. I didn't grow up in the Bay Area, but my friends did, and I ask THEM: has it ever been THIS hot in May and June. They stop to think . . . and then admit it . . . NO.
The Bay Area tends to become hot around, well maybe July, but more like August, September, even October. To have scorching temperatures in May is weird.
Thanks, Sharon.
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Thanks for commenting back, Amy.
I'll be leaving Minnesota, Land of 10,000 Lakes, for San Diego next week.
We can spare a lake or two, I'll see what I can fit in my bags and bring some water with me. After all, I am an Aquarius.
Do you prefer Pike or Walleye?
So, here it is:
Well, I dunno, Lady N...
Each different "area" of CA is so much like a whole "other state" and we pretty much treat them as such...
A disaster that might devastate, say, Sta. Barbara Cty., for us here in SoCo might just as well have happened in TX or someplace for as "non-connected" as we feel towards it... Same thing goes for the "Sierra Foothills/Sac'to" area... might as well be "Elko" for all we know... or SoCal (besides, we don't like them much anyway...) (just kiddin'...), extreme northern CA (we think "Yolo County" is in Oregon somewhere ferchrisesakes...) or the SoCal desert area/Palm Springs/Mojave (where's that? Arizona?).
I don't recall ever reading about a thousand fires being sparked by dry lightning in Mendo Cty. before, but, then again, they didn't even TRY to put out 99% of those... There's nothing UP there anybody's real "attached to", anyway... (again, KIDDING, I'm KIDDING...)
"Dry lightning" is pretty much of an unheard of phenomena for the whole darned state, though -- at least in MY lifetime...
For us here in Son Cty, the worst I remember was back in (I believe it was) 1967 (or thereabouts anyway) and the "Calistoga Fire" (that's what they were calling it back then anyway...)
It was actually THREE fires: One that came over the hills from Calistoga that joined one from the Russian River area and another from over toward Sonoma. They were headed towards each other and Santa Rosa was the only thing keeping them apart. We were surrounded on three sides by fire for DAYS...
I remember staying up all night with the AM radio news station on just waiting for the word to evacuate... Ashes falling CONSTANTLY -- all the cars coated with it -- nobody could hang out their wash to dry -- and the sun was a teeny tiny red "dot" in the sky.
The SoCal Malibu/Canyon area has had so many big ones, I can't even remember them all -- but so has Tahoe, Humboldt, East Bay and about 5 other areas of the Golden State that I could name... basically, wherever ya got TREES, ya got a conflagration just waiting to go up at a spark's notice...
As I said, Sir Francis Drake smelled the smoke before he even set FOOT here... So -- whaddaya gonna do?
Mike W. Yes! I was amazed at the number of lakes there in Minnesota, and especially to see it by plane -- Heavens to Murgatroid! If only you could bring rain due to being of the water sign, for we would surely welcome it. Your well wishes are sincerely appreciated, Mike!
You covered it all, and with such knowledge. What more could be added? As I said when I pinged you, if I get that passport in time, I shall get another chance to see just what effects global warming has done to Alaska. I already know there are additional effects since I was last there. I cannot wait to see old friends and not just that, but the indescribable beauty of Alaska, which has hopefully not been further compromised through global warning. I hope, I hope.
Thank you so much Jean!
Thank you for the gorgeous images!
Alison,
and
Cristina
I thank you for sharing your thoughts, feelings and well wishes.
The weather has turned so hot that I am now using my air conditioning. This is not good for the fires and definitely not for the firefighters.
Not a raincloud in the sky. Still better days are ahead.
Thank you to EVERYONE!
I am fighting back tears again, and it really takes a great deal to bring down my spirits. We lost one today, you know, and the the National Guard is there. I am thinking I should have headed for Nevada this weekend, but again, what's the point? On Monday, will anything have changed? The life will still be gone. I suppose I should not sound so morbid . . .
STIFF UPPER LIP
We Californians have faced worse than this, and we shall get through this.
We MUST accept and forge ahead, Mary; we MUST.
Love, hugs, prayers, and most of all, BLESSINGS to you and each person touched by this tragedy.
Safety to those fighting these dangerous fires.
Love back at you.