MORE ON THE 101 MESS!!!

I was heading south this morning, towards Ventura.. Everything was completely backed-up going north as usual. Poor suckers. Maybe, if they just staggered their work hours that would help. Opps, that won't work.. State Law says everyone shall live at least thirty miles from their place of employment, and such employment shall begin between 8:00am and 9:00am.. Anyway, I was flying along getting dang close to 60, top speed for this slight climb up to Rincon, in the westy. Rounding Rincon, I found these guys just stopping right in the middle of the road??? WTF people? I know this is the section of the highway, which is not a freeway, but, please folks, at least pull all the way to the side, before jumping out and throwing on your wettie.



Something wierd about La Conchita today but, I think I see a good one coming in a Indicator!

SHARK ATTACK!!!

It's really hard to come up with a better title than that...

On Thursday, March, 16th, after driving the kids to school, in Oxnard, therefore, getting a good look at the 'con in both directions. I made the call. “Mike, Rincon’s looking good, not too many people out” “Or at least pretty good.. Head high, with plus sets, and probably better than it looks.” His response.. "What about the sharks??" WhaT? "How close is that Seal Sanctuary to Rincon?" he asks. I answer in one word... "Close" I still wanted to surf with the added thrill of being really close to a Big Shark, but unfortunately… I had an emergency plumbing call, and went to Jenny's to try and fix her clogged up sink instead. Plumbing is dirty work. Not to be confused with the pleasure of fixing her fence which I rather enjoy... After two hours of dirty plumbing work, I decided, I would still, really, rather fix her fence, any day!

On March, 9th, according to Carpinteria City Officials.. Not to mention a Seal Watch Volunteer, and New Carp Local via Lake Tahoe, Vic Hypes, who both witnessed the brutal attacks, yes plural, Two Harbor Seals were killed by at least one GREAT WHITE SHARK! The volunteer I spoke to, said she had been seeing larger dolphins swimming through the line up, hmm.. well, seal sanctuary actually, at least the day, if not a couple days before. Not regular looking dolphins, she said, but darker, bigger, scarier looking dolphins, which were probably just BIG SHARKS pretending to be dolphins, knowing full well, that anyone who saw them, would never think twice about their dolphin costumes, since everyone knows.. Big sharks always stay way north of Point Conception..

It's also a bit unnerving that the attacks took place at 10:55am and 11:20am! These times fall right in the middle of the “Gentleman’s Hour” at the Indicator. A time where the dawn patrol has left for work, kids are at school, and the heavy drinkers are still asleep. A time when the seemingly unemployed, like myself, show up and check the surf almost daily. A time when you can get the occasional head high day with a half a dozen people out. I only mention the time because... Basic Shark Attack 101 states to worry about shark attacks at Dusk and Dawn.. Not right smack in the middle of the Gentleman’s Hour!!

Sidenote: The sanctuary is also home to a seldom surfed break just south of the pier smack dab in the middle of the attack zone. Check out my Archives for BIG WEDNESDAY and you can see the Buoy in Question. Even worse... The Sanctuary is just a stones throw from Jelly Bowls and Tar Pits in the State Park.. Anyway, this shark was too close for comfort. Period. I guess if I had seen this shark from the bluffs myself, my story would be even more scary and descriptive....

Here's a description of the attack by Vic, taken from the Carp's Local Paper, The Coastal View. "A bunch of birds took off out of the water, making a bunch of noise.. I turned and saw blood in the water and a shark fin." "I yelled SharK! Shark!" and most of the seals took off for the beach.. The attack took place at one of the buoys, which were put in place last year, warning to stay out of the protected sanctuary. Of course, sharks don't read, so this doesn't apply..

Sidenote 2: I have heard that they killed a great white already, though I don't have confirmation of this, since I just quit getting the News Press. I also prefer to write without checking all the facts out first and make corrections later. So… this is how I heard it! But, for the record, I am definitely against killing the shark, unless it is during hand or head in mouth combat! Of course Amity, and Carpinteria City officials didn't see it this way. Signs were erected, shark fins were spray painted on billboards... Wait, we don't have any billboards.. With the upcoming Summer Tourist season coming, something had to be done to save "The World's Safest Beach"

Vic took off on his bike to City Hall and reported the attack to Sheriff Brody.. By the time Vic returned to the Bluffs... The second attack had occurred.. Retired Dept of Fish and Game Biologist, Bob Lea said "Great White" A zoologist from the Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History confirmed it. This was the work of a FIFTEEN FOOT GREAT WHITE! The identity was made though the bite marks on the remains of one on the headless seals that washed up on the beach.


This Is No Boating Accident!

I hate to sensationalize something as gruesome as a shark attack. But, according to a seal watch volunteer, I interviewed, this shark violently bit the heads off these Harbor Seals. Something they apparently don't do with Sea Lions??? Anyway, this shark or sharks swam by, really, really, close too home. In fact, from where I am sitting right now, in my comfy bed. This Shark was only about a mile from me. I paddle my skinny, flimsy, carbon fiber, outrigger right through there sometimes. You can see the attack location from the place, I surf more than anywhere these days, Rincon's Indicator. I can easily jog from the attack location up to the Indicator, so I estimate it to be only about two miles from Rincon. Unfortunately, I was in Mammoth during the time of the attack, so that nagging question of mine.. Just how close have I been to a Great White Shark will remain, for now, unanswered…

CHECK IT - NEW CONDO CAM

It's Bluebird For Sure...

Good morning blog world.. The weather here in Mammoth today is looking like absolutly perfect bluebird conditions.. No kidding, I don't no where the storm is but, it is not here! Got about 8" of fresh on the ground in town and more than a foot, I would guess on the Mountain.... Here's the link to the new CONDO CAM This thing is aimed right at the my condo and you can see me hitting the slopes bright and early... like before 10:00 today. HaHA. Really, it is so perfect over here, I think we are heading to June, to avoid the masses... Listening to the weather right now and they are calling for more tonight, but, it looks pretty blue out there right now!

FIX THE 101? I SAY NO WAY!!!

DISCLAIMER: I have done absolutely no research on anything written below but believe it to be accurate, and true, to the best of my knowledge. So feel free comment on my lack of fact checking, and off the cuff commentary. Thank You!

What makes them think that they can even fix the 101, anyhow? And, why do they think that Santa Barbara, Montecito, and Carpinteria, should put the money up for it? The best four or five days of my life was when the 101 was closed last year. The people who absolutely had to get to SB, took boats. (light bulbs goes off above head) Three lanes is not going to do anything... Anything at all...

Here's what three lanes is going to do for you... "Ahhhhhh 3 lines hmmm finally moving huuhh.. "why don't I just get a job back in Ventura or Oxnard and ride my bike to work" yes, hmmm, oooh, this is great were moving now... screeccchchhch!!!! ah, oh, that was close! What the hell? Oh... I forgot, we are converging back to two lanes now." Repeat several more times before getting to SB.

THAT IS THE PROBLEM VOLKS! (German for Folks, and the preferred method of slow travel worldwide) It's not how many lanes you have, It is how many convergences into less lanes you have, that kills the flow of traffic...

They have six lanes and more, down in LA and, the OC, plus a Carpool Lane.. and you know what? They are all stopped right now.. 7:00am on a Friday! Trying to converge into five lanes. They are all stopped, and in all directions. East, West, North, South, Up, Down, and Sideways.. Of course there are quite a few smart souls taking a little more time to get there but... enjoying the morning paper and a good cup of coffee on the metro rail. Smart!

LA, the OC... Down there.. really, there is no hope. Sorry, you are all going to have to start walking again soon. There is no water for boats, the metro rail really only works for some people who work and live in the right location. My only sugggestion here is that if you have to go through there, leave after midnight!

Here's a good theme for a LA based reality show. Let's take people stuck in traffic going north, and have them trade jobs with the people stuck in traffic going south.. Watch how much happier everyone gets as they spend more time at home with the wife and kids, those special pets, or just doing something they like... How will they use those two, three, extra hours a day?? And.. if you don't like the wife and kids, well... maybe you are really better off stuck in traffic, so quit complaining.




Alien Casinos as seen from the 101 below Rincon..

Back to our little stretch of heaven along the 101... The problem seems to be one-sided. Meaning... Most of the time, only one side of the highway is f#&ked up! Solution # 1... Always plan your trips to go in the opposite direction of traffic... This would be a good time to point out that between Ventura and Santa Barbara, is at least one section, where, IT IS NOT A FREEWAY!!! This means... You have people stopping to surf, check the surf, getting out car to surf. You have the residents, and visitors, of the beautiful communities of La Conchita, and Mussel Shoals, needing to make turns into their enclaves. So... Next time you are driving north into SB take note of the sign that says "END FREEWAY" and kindly slow down, hang up the phone, and watch for cross traffic and parked cars...

Why am I even reporting on this you might ask?? I am sick of these FIX 101 Stickers!!! Even though I barely work, at all, consider myself to be semi-retired, I travel this 101 from Oxnard to SB pretty much daily. My kids live in the "NARD", and my girlfriend, Jenny, lives on the Westside. You really didn't think I was going to make it through a whole blog without mentioning Jenny... Come on.. I know when all peak traffic periods are, and I really do my best, to avoid them. If I do get caught in one of these traffic jams.. I slow down and check out just how cool it is to live in beautiful Santa Barbara. I check out the birds and trees and rocks and things. Na NaNaNaNA NA... I think about how lucky I was to find such a perfect girlfriend, like Jenny.. What makes her so perfect??? I could tell you, but then I would have to shoot you!



Photograghed going 60 on the 101 in Carpinteria, I love this Highway!
Leave the 101 alone...


Anyway... Fixing the 101 is a complete waste of time and resources.. An unecessary destruction of one of the most beautiful sections of highways in California. Ripping out trees, please... I noticed them coming right up to the back of some peoples houses just north of Carp. WTF?

As far as I can tell we are fixing it for the citizens of Ventura, Oxnard, Camarillo, etc.. I honestly don't believe three lanes is going to fix anything, and is more likely to cause more stoppages until they can get it to be three lanes all the way with no convergences.

Here are some of my Ideas...

Stop work on the 101, and quit tearing up peoples houses and trees.. Thank You.

There are a lot of jobs, probably more, in "Ventura County" Get one there, and spend more free time at home, in the water, or with the kids...

I noticed that there is a train track that runs all along the 101 from Camarillo to Goleta. I notice it 'cuz.. It is is plain sight, and I can hear it every night. (I don't even need a light bulb going off in my head for this) WTF People? Why doesn't a metro system already exist?? Downtown SB is an easy walk from the train station, so that would work for an awful lot of people.. The more adventurous could bring bikes or take a taxi the rest of the way to work. We don't need everyone off the Highway, just some..

OK... Sunday summer afternoon traffic. I have no idea what to do about that but, you are going to need a whole lot more than three lanes.

Personally I would take the Ferry.. Get out on the ocean early, check the surf, and wind conditions... You may just decide, that the day would be far more productive spent in the water with friends. Now... a car ferry, that would be fun! I would think far cheaper than the third lane plan.. I am sure they sell used ferries somewhere in Seattle... I just went to fix101.org and I couldn't find any numbers as to how much? (Charlie says somewhere around $500 Million Dollars!!!) Not to mention, how long this is all going to take but... I am sure we will be "COMPLETELY OUT OF OIL" before they begin their We need to add a forth lane NOW! Campaign begins...



Now.. this is stuck!!!