UPDATE: On September 11, the Dolan Fire is is 113,486 acres and only 26% contained. 14 firefighters were injured in a burnover incident. Thankfully, the last one will be leaving the hospital this week. The fire has been burning for over 3 weeks with no end in sight at this time. For anyone who loves Big Sur, please consider donating to Big Sur Fire , an all volunteer brigade made up of 22 men and women who do more than…
The days, weeks, and months are running together. I can’t believe June is almost here and we are still in lockdown in this part of California. I try not to focus on all the things that I can’t do, but instead on the things I can. While I can’t hike any of the trails or visit the beaches, I can hike our very steep road and enjoy its beautiful vistas. And I’ve enjoyed watching the change of wildflowers with each…
I honestly don’t know where the time has gone. The first month of the pandemic, I was numb and unmotivated. But something kicked in during the month of April (yes, I am a month behind!). After the parks and trails in Big Sur (along with most of California) were closed, I turned my attention to home. Heaven knows that with 3 acres of untamed property, there was plenty to do. I’m still knee deep in poison oak and mud (I…
In March of 2020, our lives changed virtually overnight. The shock of it has sunk in and the new “normal” for the moment involves long lines at grocery stores, working from home, wearing masks, and apparently a toilet paper shortage. I’ve been extremely fortunate on the TP front, as I always stock between 20-30 rolls…it’s something I never want to run out of…especially in Big Sur where the closest market is 45 minutes away and there are constant road closures.…
Pfeiffer Beach in Big Sur, California is two miles down a mostly one lane road. As you might imagine, during the summer it can be a frightening proposition. It also is one of the windiest spot with sand that buffets your face…nature’s idea of dermabrasion! All this aside, it is the beach made famous in the iconic Elizabeth Taylor/Richard Burton movie, The Sandpiper. When the crowds are gone, it can actually take your breath away with its sheer beauty. On…
When I can combine two of the things I love, Big Sur and hiking, it’s a good day! Just to clarify, while I truly enjoy hiking with friends and family, there is something meditative and restorative about going solo. Much to the consternation of my family, I know there are risks going it alone…but I’m not talking about hiking for days…three to four hours tops! I always tell someone where I’m going and let them know when I return. This…
Big Sur has become a popular destination and is on many bucket lists. It’s beauty is dramatic and pristine. With more and more tourists, it’s fragile environment is at risk…so much so that there is a Big Sur Pledge which I highly recommend taking. We are all stewards of this magnificent place and it is sad to see people disregard the rules either blatantly or unknowingly. After reading and taking the pledge, here are a few tips that I’ve found…
After visiting Big Sur for 15 years, and now a happy home owner, I am still in awe of the incredible scenery to be found just off of Highway 1. It’s been a wet and wild winter with over 10″ of rain at a time. Don’t get me wrong, California still needs the rain and we are appreciative of every drop…just not all at once. When we do get a few dry days, I head up to our home in…
A few months ago I was contacted by Country Home magazine to see if my parents would be interested in sharing their Vermont farmhouse for the Winter 2019 issue. They were on board, a date was set, and so I traveled to Vermont for the photo shoot. Vermont hadn’t had any snow since December but the day before the shoot, several inches of wet snow fell turning Vermont into a winter wonderland. While I tried to prepare my parents for…
There is so much beauty in Big Sur, it can hardly be contained in a single blog post! This is part 2 of a series of winter photos I took. Many of these were taken at Garrapata State Park. It is almost 3,000 acres and can be reached by numerous turnouts along Highway 1. The word ‘garrapata’ means tick in Spanish and the park is aptly named! Ticks are numerous in Big Sur and one should always check themselves carefully…