LOCAL: Carrot Fest at Montana de Oro State Park June 1 & 2, 2013

*****UPDATE 6/3/2013: Sue and I did the cccmb.org trail work day at Montana de Oro on 6/1/2013. It was incredibly HOT, and we were with Bill and John's crew on the East Boundary trail. Our 2 crews, along with 2 other crews starting from the opposite end of the trail, brushed the entire trail from end to end. Sue and I lopped the large branches, running in front of our crew, then John came along with the gas-powered commercial hedge trimmers and cut back the dense poison-oak covered foliage. Sue and I then hiked out from East Boundary near the MDO Campground all the way back to horse camp, where the crew was treated to Veggie, Chicken or Carne Asada burritos - delicious! Thanks guys.

Jason and I did a mountain bike ride on Sunday 6/2 out at MDO, where the weather was much cooler. We did a pretty easy ride, as Jason is getting back into shape. If you want to join us on a Mountain Bike Ride in the SLO area, email me at Waag Diver at gmail dot com. It was my first ride in more than a month, and it was good to get back on the trail.

*****UPDATE 6/1/2013: cccmb.org received this from a serious mountain biker who works at Poly. I don't think any of us are going to stop riding on West Cuesta and Poly property because of lion sightings  However, I think it is important that we all know that the possibility of being attacked is real (if not likely) and that each of us has a plan for dealing with the situation  Be safe.  Thanks  Greg

Subject: FW: Safety Advisory- mountain lion sighting  You might want to pass this notice along.  Last fall we had two deer killed by mountain lions at the entrance to Poly Canyon. I came across a cub on the railroad tracks as well.Subject: Safety Advisory- mountain lion sighting  The University Police Department is issuing this safety advisory due to a mountain lion sighting on the Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo campus.

In May, 2013, a mountain lion was seen near Stenner Creek Road, approximately one mile east of Highway 1, near the bridge. Although mountain lions are secretive and human attacks are rare they still may occur. For additional information please visit the University Police website. Text any anonymous tips or information to calpoly@tipnow.org
www.police.calpoly.edu or click on this link.


*****UPDATE 5/30/2013: Carrot Fest is coming to Montaña de Oro State Park on Saturday June 1 and Sunday June 2, 2013, cosponsored by CCCMB and SLOPOST. See cccmb.org for more details.

Mountain bikers, trail runners, equestrians, and hikers will feed carrots to horses to get them more comfortable with us sharing the trails, and for ALL of us trail lovers to get to know one another, by doing trail work on Saturday and a group ride / run / hike on Sunday.  We encourage everyone to participate both days, work and ride / hike.  Food and drinks after both events, courtesy of SLOPOST.

On Saturday meet at the top of Horse Camp Road at 10:00 am, work to 1:00 pm then have food and drinks.  We will be brushing trails, removing and mulching the trimmings.  Long pants, shirts, gloves, boots, hats are highly recommended.  Bring water.  CCCMB will have tools and crew leaders to guide you.

On Sunday meet down at the Horse Camp ready to ride/walk/run at 9:00 am, park at the top of Horse Camp if you are coming in for the event and have not camped overnight.  Come prepared to have fun in your normal recreational clothing.

*****UPDATE 3/3/2013: Montana de Oro hike on New Trail

Tom and I did a training hike on the new trail just completed. We did Valencia Peak, Oats Peak, Alan Peak, and crossed over to the Coon Creek Trail, then back along the road to our cars at the trailhead. Waiting for a google earth map of our route from Tom, and will post it here. In the meantime, a few photos from the hike. BTW, at least at Montana de Oro, it looks to be a good to great wildflower season, especially with the expected rains in the next few days.

Above (click to enlarge): That's me with my training pack stuffed with Scuba diving lead shot bags, and extra water bottles, plus jackets to till out the air spaces in the pack. In the background is Valencia Peak. (Comment: yes, my hat looks goofy, and no, its not sunny nor summer, yet I still wear it for as much sun protection as possible).

Above (click to enlarge): the poppys are coming out in force at Montana de Oro!

Above (click to enlarge): some of the new trail built by CCCMB. Note that the new trails are  open right now to hikers ONLY, but will be open to Mountain Bikers and Equestrians in Spring 2014 - I can't wait!

Above (click to enlarge):  A large turkey vulture soars along the ridgeline just above us, while menacing clouds loom in the background.

Above (click to enlarge): incredible, ancient oaks loom above us as we hike the connector trail from Oats Peak trail to the Coon Creek trail.

Above (click to enlarge): remnants from a large containment fire that jumped its line in November of 2012. You can read about it here: Fire in Montana de Oro 100% Contained. The fire ended up costing $500,000 and required a total of 450 firefighting personnel to contain the fire after offshore winds grew out of control.

*****UPDATE 3/1/2013 from CCCMB.org:  From: Greg and Mary Bettencourt, gmbett@charter.net

Subject: [CCCMB] We ARE Done!!!

Date:  March 1, 2013 6:59:42 PM PST

To:  CCCMB List <cccmb@googlegroups.com>

Zachi and the crew finished up at 6:00 tonight. So if you were planning on coming out tomorrow you can take a nap or a ride instead.

Thanks everyone.

Greg

*****UPDATE 2/11/2013 from CCCMB.org: Read about the new and amazing Oats Peak Trail at Montana de Oro at CCCMB.org. Zachi will be here to construct the rest of Oates Peak at Montana de Oro in about two weeks!  He will arrive on February 22, 2013 and begin work on Saturday February 23, 2013.  Zachi has committed to being working until we have finished the construction project.  We guestimate that he will be building trail from Saturday the 23rd thru at least Sunday, March 3rd. Below: New Oats Peak trail - hikers and bikers should be excited. 

Available to HIKERS NOW! 

But not bikers and equestrians until Spring 2014 (sigh).

CCCMB really needs your help on any of those days - but particularly on the weekends February 23 & 24, 2013 and March 2 & 3, 2013.  We start at 8:00am and work till late afternoon.  BUT shorter days work just fine, an 8 hour commitment is NOT necessary.  Come at whatever times work for you.

Good news: this time we will be working much closer to the bottom of the trail so the walk in and out is only about a 1/2 mile. Not the best news: there is poison oak BUT folks can focus entirely on finishing dirt work and avoid contact. Wearing long pants, sleeves and gloves is always wise however.

Please let me know if you think you might be able to help out.  I need to keep track of how many volunteers we will have on each day. We are within striking distance after all these years!  Hope to hear from you. Thanks Greg

Tom and I did some trail work on Saturday 2/23/2013, we we BOTH got some major Poison Oak action, unfortunately. Tom had to get a steroid shot because his face got so swollen - mine was mostly on my legs and it STILL itches today (3/2/2013).

*****Update 2/4/2013: A few upcoming CCCMB.org work days are coming up quickly, in case you missed the Superbowl Sunday workday, or just because you want to do more:

- Sunday 2/17/2013 at 9:30am: Morning Glory trail (see CCCMB.org for more details)

- Sunday 3/17/2013 at 9am: Santa Margarita Lake (meet inside park at White Oak Picnic Area or see CCCMB.org for more details). 

*****Update 2/3/2013: We had our 26th Annual Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers (CCCMB.org) Super Bowl Sunday Trailwerks Day - hope you could make it. The groups primary function is building and maintaining Hiking, Biking and Equestrian Trails throughout SLO County. A few photos (click to enlarge) that I took from the event - enjoy!

 Above: Lots of free prizes donated by sponsors for the work crew volunteers.

 Above: the happy sign-in crew.

 Above: everybody gets to help - kind of!

 Above: My Trail Crew Leader for the day at FAR RIGHT - Bill! Nice work, guys.

 Above: a couple more of our trail section crew enjoy working with an Ocean View on the Hazard Peak trail.

 Above: Volunteers receive introductory instructions before the volunteer day begins. There's always plenty of food, including coffee, donuts etc. on the work days. Hope you can make it out next time!

*****ORIGINAL POST BELOW

You are Invited to Participate in the 26th Annual Super Bowl Sunday "Trailwerks" on Sunday, February 3, 2013

Disclaimer: This is NOT an official CCCMB web posting; I took this info off of their web site and their email to me announcing the event; I am solely responsible for any errors on this blog post. I am encouraging you to volunteer to help at this event, however!

Location: Montana  de Oro State Park, SLO County. Meet at Park Headquarters above Spooners Cove for breakfast and sign in.

When: Sunday, February 3, 2013 from 8am to Noon (you'll be done in plenty of time to watch the Super Bowl game, and drink as much beer as you want - guilt free, because you just got in a TON of exercise!)

Description: CCCMB.org (Central Coast Concerned Mountain Bikers) will be taking care of almost all the multi-use trails in the park.  Its our 26th annual Super Bowl Sunday workday and its always fun.  Show up on time as we might turn late arrivals away this year, as CCCMB had 240 volunteers show up at this event in 2012!

Why?: The work day is GREAT exercise, and you get to add new trails to our already AMAZING mountain bike trail network!

Personal: I will be there at 7:30am to work the Crew Assignment Table, then head out with my crew to do our assigned trail work!

Donations: are always needed for the raffle at this event. If you would like to make a donation or know of a business that would be interested  please contact: willy.ed@gmail.com. This is a good way to show your support even if you can't be there .

For more information: Go to cccmb.org or see the Google Plus Calendar entry.

Above: Tim and Rubi at Montana de Oro recently (at the bottom of the Ridge Trail)

Above: The Sign In and Crew Assignment Table from the 11/3/2012 trail work day. You can come out and join these FUN and HEALTHY people on Sunday 2/3/2013 - get some great exercise and maintain and add to our already GREAT Montana de Oro Mountain Bike Trails!

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PERSONAL: Good-Bye, Virgil - R.I.P.

My hospice client and friend, Virgil B., passed away last week while I was away on a backpacking trip. He was my hospice client since June, 2011, and we spent many wonderful hours together. Although confidentiality prevents me from saying or showing much here, I loved taking Virgil out of his group home to see the local sights. I have reproduced 2 of them here, with his face blurred out for privacy reasons.

Virgil loved the outdoors and I took him almost everywhere he wanted to go (and then some). Most memorable was the time I took him up Highway 1, all the way to Ragged Point. Previously, he consistently told me he wanted to go up highway 1, which was farther than I was comfortable taking him. However, his persistence finally paid off. I checked with his kin and the group home, and got permission to take him away for 4 hours - now I'm glad that I did.

Virgil absolutely LOVED ice cream, so I had to include a photo of him wolfing some down! He wasn't really supposed to have any, but I kept an eye on him and made sure he didn't choke on it, though he did scare me a few times!

Virgil loved his wife, Loree, more than life itself, and thought of her (and mentioned her) often. It was devastating to him when she passed away (a few years before I met him). A huge "Jesus Hug" goes out to Pastor Scott and his wife Joy, and their entire SLO congregation at Assembly of God (AoG) Church. I began taking Virgil to AOG church in September of 2011. He loved to attend the church and he loved God. The congregation at AOG was absolutely wonderful, both to Virgil and to me. Thanks and many blessings to the wonderful AOG congregation, from Ken and Anthony the greeters at the door every Sunday, to Ernie and Donah (sp?), Lisa, Jimmy and Erica, Big Bob, Candy, Giff, Flo, Forrest, Ryan, Frank, Diane and the rest of the AOG crew.

Many thanks also go out to the fine staff, primarily Jep and Erma, at the group home on Royal Way where Virgil lived during the time that I knew him. The staff has kind hearts, and treats the clients with great warmth under difficult circumstances - God Bless you both.

Virgil, I will miss you, brother, and I mourn your passing. Thanks for all the good times. Rest in Peace. Oh, and Go! Dodgers! (he was a big fan, just like my Dad is).

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PERSONAL: Goodbye to the Memories

Yes, they are only things, but they are possessions attached to memories. Besides, we had a lot of fun with those things! It is, of course, the memories we shall miss. With oldest son Andrew graduating from UCDavis in June 2012, and James a junior at UC Santa Barbara, we are pretty much empty nesters. Sigh. 

We've been selling stuff that no longer fits our lifestyle, and buying stuff for the new world ahead. Yes, its harder than we expected to pad around our  quiet house. We moved into our current home when Andrew was barely 2 years old and James was just born. Now they are grown men and gone, and so is most of the big stuff (below) that we shared with them growing up. Even our dog, Shayna, is on her last legs (at 17 years of age). Another big sigh. ***Since this writing, our sweet Shayna Punim the Wonder Dog passed on to doggie heaven - RIP.

Its feels a bit like the end of one of our favorite movies, The Shawshank Redemption, where Morgan Freeman's elderly character utters this memorable quote while wistfully imaging a brighter sunset:

I find I'm so excited that I can barely sit still or hold a thought in my head. I think it's the excitement only a free man can feel. A free man at a start of a long journey whose conclusion is uncertain. I hope I can make it across the border. I hope to see my friend and shake his hand. I hope the pacific is as blue as it has been in my dreams. I hope. Click movie poster below to enlarge.

Below: Items that we have unloaded in the last year or two that we are going to miss, as well as a few trusty workhorses that we got rid of a few years further back. Here they are (in no particular order).

1991 Miata. We bought this 1991 Miata (built in September 1990, with 1990 being the first EVER year that the Miata was made by Mazda) from my Dad when he could no longer get in and out of it. We used it for a few years, then it became Andrew's car in high school and throughout his 4 years at UCDavis. We knew it was a death trap (2,200 pounds, about 2.5 feet off the ground) and it had to go when he graduated from Davis and took a job at Hulu in Santa Monica. He now drives a safer but definitely more boring Hyundai, but we feel better about Andrew driving a car with 6 air bags and weighs more than 3,300 pounds!

1979 Mako 21' Center Console with 200 Horsepower 1982 Mercury outboard. We are selling it this year, to be replaced by a 1997 26' Seaswirl Striper. In buying the Striper, our partnership goes from 3 guys (Tim, Anthony, Bill) to 4 guys (add Mark to the mix). Partners Rock! Favorite Mako photo: Tim and Andrew take the boat to Catalina for the first time in August, 2004. We have taken it to Catalina for 7 to 10 days nearly every summer since then. [Thanks to partner Bill for making the Mako happen!]

1997 Ford F350 Powerstroke Diesel 2WD Crew Cab Long Bed with Banks Power Pack, and 1996 Fleetwood Angler Camper (a two-fer). We bought the F350 in 2000 and the Angler a few months later, putting together our "Dream Camping Package". We ended up spending more than 180 days camping the Fleetwood, and used the truck to tow the Mako. The adventures were endless. We have replaced the truck with another diesel, this one a 2006 Dodge Cummins Diesel 4x4 Standard Cab Long Bed that only seats 3 people (2 comfortably) - the kids will have to find their own ride now! Favorite photo: Truck and Camper get snowed on in the Grand Canyon in January, 2004. We stayed at a South Rim campground - yes, we were the ONLY folks in the campground!

1997 Stray Puppy Dog Shayna. We got her as a stray that somebody brought into Sue's law firm one day. We believe that the dog finds you, and that's what happend. Her full name is Shayna Punim the Wonder Dog (Shayna Punim means Pretty Face in yiddish). Favorite photo: on the same Arizona trip as above, we stayed in a hotel one night and it was freezing cold, and Shayna had to stay in the camper (hotels didn't take dogs back then). It got down to about 15 degrees that night, and we wanted to make sure she stayed warm, so we wrapped her in a blanket a put Sue's fleece on her - she survived the freezing night!

1996 Toyota Landcruiser. Even Brian is getting into the act! With his fully tricked out 'Cruiser (roof rack, ARB lockers, rock sliders, 35" tires, winch, front and rear aftermarket bumpers, etc.), it was apparently time for the ol' gal to go. *****Update May 2013: Brian can't bear to part with the 1996 Landcruiser, so for now he is keeping both the old AND the new one. Favorite photo: legendary 'Cruiser from way back on that fateful day in Death Valley in 2004:

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