January 2, 2005 - Celebrate the Return of the Wintering Birds in Morro Bay
Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival
January 14 - 17, 2005 (Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend)Here's your chance to enjoy the scenery and the wildlife along one of the loveliest sections of the California coast. The Festival offers quite a variety of field trips, cruises, lectures, workshops and socializing.
Field trips include such things as:
- exploring the San Simeon coast
- a birding cruise on Morro Bay
- a Botanical Garden Tour
- Birding from Kayak
- exploring Sea Otters and the Kelp Forest in Cayucos
- Ocean Trips, and
- Dune Ecology and Snowy Plovers.
There's even a behind the scenes tour of Hearst Castle, where you can learn about the bats that live there.
Morro Bay is located pretty much smack dab in the center of the California coast. The area boasts a variety of habitats, including the bay, estuaries, dunes, and oak woodland. And, of course, there's the famous Morro Rock. (You can't miss it!)
This is also the time of year when the gray whales are migrating, so maybe you'll get lucky and spot a few.
Click here to visit the Morro Bay Winter Bird Festival web site, and download a brochure.
Click here for more information about the amazing Pismo Dunes.
January 11, 2005 - California's Nasty Weather Starting to Wind Down
After being pummeled by rain, snow, flooding and mudslides, California is finally getting a break in the weather. The National Weather Service is forecasting that the storm will taper off by late Tuesday or early Wednesday. No new system is expected through the coming Martin Luther King Jr. holiday weekend.Let's hope they're right!
Virtually every part of California has been effected by these storms, though some areas have been harder hit than others. So if you're planning to travel anywhere within California in the near future, play it safe and check the weather and road conditions first.
Here are some helpful web sites for your travel planning:
See Interactive Map of Current Advisories from the National Weather Service
Get Current California Weather Information from the Interactive Weather Information Network (National Weather Service).
Check California Highway Conditions
January 15, 2005 - When Will It Be Safe To Go Back To The Beach?
Many California beaches were closed immediately after the recent storms. The heavy runoff and flooding resulted in water contamination. So before you head to the beach, check to see if the water's safe. The Beach Report Card from Heal the Bay reports on bacterial contamination, and beach closures and advisories.
Of course, if all you want to do is take a stroll along the beach, there should be no problem. But if you plan on getting into the water at all, check the Beach Report Card first.
If you're planning on doing any boating or sailing, check with the National Weather Service for small craft advisories. You can also click on their interactive map to get weather forecasts. Currently, the only small craft advisories posted are for northern California around Eureka.
January 19, 2005 - Fall in Love With Laguna Beach
Laguna Beach is one of my favorite places along the California coast. Back when I lived in Orange County, I spent a lot of time there, gallery hopping and going to the Festival of the Arts and the Sawdust Festival (They're just down the road from each other.) Heisler Park and Picnic Beach were my favorite spots.
It's an absolutely gorgeous slice of coastline. Very artsy-fartsy, utterly charming - and also popular with the tanned and the toned.
But beware the squirrels!
You see, the squirrels ate my pants. Yes, they did.
I left my pants lying on the beach so I wouldn't get them wet. Then I went for a stroll and splashed about in the surf. When I returned, there was a cluster of squirrels where my pants should have been Alas, I was too late. My favorite trousers, the ones that were oh so comfy, the ones I wore every day, were shot full of holes from nibbling squirrels.
You never know what kind of dangers you'll find at the beach.
Yet, in spite of that traumatic experience, I still love Laguna. I have long since replaced the pants, but the memories of sunshine and sand still linger. I've created some web pages with detailed information and photos to help you fall in love with Laguna too:
Laguna Beach General Information
Northern Laguna Beaches
Central Laguna Beaches
Southern Laguna Beaches
Laguna Beach Picture Page
January 31, 2005 - California Beaches Go Wi-Fi
At first, I thought, "Cool!" Then, I started thinking that the whole thing was silly. Now, I'm back firmly on the side of "Cool."
Wi-Fi (high-speed wireless internet access) is coming to the California State Park system. Soon, you'll be able to use your wireless laptop or PDA to access the internet within about 150 to 200 feet of a hot spot located in the park. The service is already available at San Elijo State Beach, north of San Diego. Over the next six months, 84 other California state parks will get Wi-Fi.
California State Parks is working with SBC Communications to create this system. SBC already has a network of more than 6,000 hot spots, one of the nation's largest Wi-Fi networks.
"We are living in a time when more and more people are communicating through the Internet," said State Parks Director Ruth Coleman. "I think our visitors will appreciate a new service that helps them stay in touch with family, friends, or even the workplace if need be, and so we are excited about launching this project with SBC."
And for travelers, ready access to Wi-Fi makes it easier to make your travel plans as you go (and check in with this blog and web site too!). While at the park, you'll be able to use your Wi-Fi enabled laptop to send e-mail and instant messages to family and friends, share digital pictures of your vacation, get driving directions or find hiking trails or nearby restaurants.
You'll also have free access to state operated web sites, including:
The Wi-Fi network equipment will be virtually invisible within the park system. The access points, or antennas, are about the size of a small plate and easily concealable. Other necessary equipment is about the size of a common stereo receiver, easily placed on a shelf within the existing park buildings.
If you want to access other web sites or send personal email, there will be fees involved. Park visitors who are not currently SBC Wi-Fi customers can purchase a 24-hour SBC Wi-Fi session for $7.95 or a monthly SBC membership for $19.95 and receive unlimited access to SBC hot spots nationwide.
Through April 15, 2005, SBC DSL customers can receive unlimited access to the more than 6,000 FreedomLink hot spots at no charge, and pay just $1.99 a month with a one-year term commitment thereafter.
