Exploring the Coast - by Ruth Ann Angus
2009 Columns
December, 2009 Christmas in the Adobes
This year marks the 25th Anniversary of Monterey State Historic Park's Christmas in the Adobes. It may also be one of the only ways the public will get to tour the insides of most of the historic buildings for quite a while. Thanks to the cutbacks in the state budget all free public tours of most of these structures have been cancelled. But on the nights of December 10th and 12th, they will all be open and glowing with Christmas cheer.
November, 2009 Fall Color in California?
We yearned for color – those of us who originally hail from the shores of the Atlantic missed the yearly autumn display. We wanted to see trees of lemon yellow and crimson red. But we live in Central California and what leaf changes we have here never live up to those memories we hold of the splashy show of the northeast trees. What to do? Take a bus trip north to Plumas County.
October, 2009 As the Stones Turn
How many of you remember crystal radios? I know. I'm reaching way back in time. It's even before my time, but I remember my mother telling us how her brother used to build crystal radio sets. Now it never occurred to me when I grew up and took an interest in stones that the crystals growing in the depths of the earth had anything to do with those radio sets. But you know what? They did.
September, 2009 In Tune with Harmony
If you are cruising Highway 1 north of Cayucos, you can't miss the official highway census sign for the town of Harmony, claiming population 18. A visit to this tiny settlement is a step back in time.
The first building on your right as you drive into town is a small red clapboard house. Aarika Wells, who lived there for several years with her cat, serves as historian of Harmony and an afternoon touring with her will give you a wealth of area history. The old outhouse structure behind Aarika's house sets off the flavor of the town and puts you in the mood to go back in time to the 1800s at the birth of the town.
August, 2009 Birds of the Night -
I spied it out of the corner of my eye -
July, 2009 Tidepooling
The Central Coast is a great place to start an exploration of tidepools and San Luis Obispo County has some prime spots. From Piedras Blancas to Montana de Oro, the rocky outcroppings of the coast offer us a glimpse into the marvelous wilderness of the underwater world.