Return to top

Return to top

Return to top

 

MAY 2008

In May, the emerald green hillsides begin fading to the golden color of a lion's back and are covered in California Poppies, Lupine, and a variety of other wildflowers. The perfect month for a hike and a picnic. For information on hiking in the Ventana Wilderness call the Big Sur Station (831) 667-2315 The Ventana Wilderness Alliance maintains an On-Line Trail Conditions Report of most, if not all, trails in the Ventana Wilderness Area. This is the place to check for the most current online information about trails. Big Sur Softball is played in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park and is very entertaining. State Parks begins the annual Campfire Program Saturday, May 27, 2006.
May	Big Sur River Inn 1pm - 5pm	(831) 667-2700 Sunday afternoon music on the deck overlooking the Big Sur River: 5/4 Realtime 5/11 Kenny Stahl and Friends 5/18 Andrea's Fault 5/25 Cachagua Playboys
May	Fernwood Resort 9:00 pm - midnight	(831) 667-2422 Weekend music series 5/16 Izabella 5/17 Green Machine 5/23 CLUSTER after party DJ: Live Set 5/24 La fin du Monde, Moab, & a DJ 5/31 Ashers Satori
May 10	Henry Miller Library	(831) 667-2574 Henry Miller Library A day of music at the library featuring: Ex Reverie, Winter Flowers, Fern Knight, Mariee Sioux, Matt Baldwin Electric Band and The Entrance Band
May 10	Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve Open House!	(831) 667-2543 Protected by the Santa Lucia Mountains and rocky cliffs, the Big Sur coast includes the largest and most pristine coastal wildlands in central and southern California. In the center of this area, the University of California Natural Reserve System and the University of California at Santa Cruz operates the Landels-Hill Big Creek Reserve. Directly adjacent to the terrestrial reserve are two state marine protected areas: the Big Creek State Marine Reserve and the Big Creek State Conservation Area, which are administered by the California Department of Fish and Game.
May 11	Henry Miller Library	(831) 667-2574 Henry Miller Library Eric Taylor in concert. Eric Taylor is a sage musician, a lyrical genius and a master of the guitar. If you're familiar with the intricate Texas singer/ songwriter jigsaw puzzle, you probably already know a lot about Taylor. If you're not familiar with Taylor by name, you've probably heard his songs performed by people such as Nanci Griffith and Lyle Lovett. He has created a multitude of fans and devotees that are legends themselves in the singer/songwriter realm, artists who have long considered Taylor to be a teacher and a lantern bearer whose time is long overdue.
May 11	Ventana Wildlife Society	(831) 445-9514 California Condor Viewing Tour. Join Ventana Wildlife Society for a California Condor viewing tour on the Big Sur Coast.
May 11	Friends of the River & the Ventana Wilderness Alliance	San Clemente Trail Join biologist Ed Mercurio for a scenic hike along the long-forgotten San Clemente Trail.  We’ll start out in the White Rock drainage, climb over ridge into the Black Rock drainage and along Black Rock Creek, over Ponciano Ridge and then into Pine Creek drainage. Finally we’ll ascend Skinner ridge.  Don’t miss this 12-mile hike to one of the few areas in the Ventana that has not burned in the last century.  Call (831) 755-6889 or email ed_mercurio@yahoo.com for time and meeting place. **(Not a River Hike.)
May 17	Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade Noon - 4:00 PM	2nd Annual benefit/BBQ Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park Delicious Tri-Tip, BBQ Chicken, Hollly's famous cake, Muster Games, CHP's Helicopter H70, Smokey Bear. $12 Adults, $6 kids under 12 years
May 18	Friends of the River & the Ventana Wilderness Alliance	Carmel River Hike Join hike leader Meade Fischer for a hike up the Carmel River. We'll walk over the damn and will soon find ourselves in wilderness. We'll follow the river canyon as far as Bluff Camp where we'll stop for lunch. There will be some outstanding views up the canyon at the high places along the trail. There will also be some creek crossings that will probably be easy considering the time of year. Bring good shoes, water and snacks or lunch. Approx 8 miles total with only a couple of short, steep climbs. Call (831) 763-2660 or meade@scshop.com for time and meeting place.
May 21	Henry Miller Library	(831) 667-2574 Henry Miller Library Open Mic begins for the summer season.
May 22	Henry Miller Library	(831) 667-2574 Henry Miller Library Philip DeGruy in "Happy Hour." -one of themost astounding talents to ever touch strings...
May 23	Henry Miller Library	(831) 667-2574 Henry Miller Library (((folkYEAH!))) Presents an evening of music: Cluster and Friends Wooden Ships ARP
May 24, 25, 26	Book and Bake Sale 10am - 4pm Sat-Mon Memorial Day weekend	Ripplewood Resort Book and bake sale to benefit the Big Sur Library and Grange Hall.
May 25	Friends of the River & the Ventana Wilderness Alliance	Church Creek Hike Join Ed Mercurio as we hike from China Camp to Church Creek until we end up at Wild Cat Camp.  Beautiful scenery, black oak woodland, and a visit to the historic Church Creek rock shelters.  Strenuous hike with substantial elevation gain, approximately 13 miles.  We’ll need to arrange a car shuttle. Call (831) 755-6889 or email ed_mercurio@yahoo.com for time and meeting place.
May 26	Fernwood Resort	(831) 667-2130 Sofanya's Gallery and Fernwood Resort present "Spring Blossoms" Eclectic expressions of Spring by Lorena del Camp, Darlene S. Boyd, Dan cronin, Jan Scott, David Allan, Adonna, Sofanya, and Helga Brown Scarlett. Reception and spring party with music, food and dancing. For more information contact Sofanya at art@sofanya.com
May 31	Friends of the River & the Ventana Wilderness Alliance	Arroyo Seco River and the Santa Lucia Adobe Join us for a tour of another section of the Arroyo Seco River where we’ll hike along the Gorge and explore tributaries like Tassajara Creek. Added bonus is a tour of the forest’s oldest adobe guard station, the Santa Lucia Adobe, and lots of other interesting historic tid-bits from Hike Leader Dennis Palm. This moderate hike will be approximately 6-8 miles. For meeting place and time, please contact dennis@ventanawild.org or 805-238-3725.

Return to top

Return to top

Return to top

SEPTEMBER 2008

September winds down the tourist season in Big Sur yet the weather is still some of the best of the year. Summer and Fall bring us the largest mammals on earth, the Blue Whales. In addition, the Humpback Whales and Orcas are swimming in our coastal waters at this time of the year. Soon to be replaced by the spectacular annual migration of the Gray Whales whose total population swims by our coastline twice every year. Once when going to the lagoons of Mexico to birth and breed, and once when returning to the Alaskan waters to feed for the summer. Enjoy these amazing adaptations to life on the blue, watery planet conveniently from the roadside turnouts. Bring binoculars. Some of the best theater in town! Dates and times of these events are deemed to be accurate but check out the event you're interested in attending with the venue.
September ~	Ventana Wildlife Society	(831) 455-9514 or info@ventanaws.org The Ventana Wildlife Society is located in Andrew Molera State Park. Naturalists are available Tuesday - Saturday during the summer months to describe the Big Sur Ornithology Lab's songbird banding and monitoring program and the California Condor Reintroduction Program.
September 6	Audi Best Buddies Challenge	The Audi Best Buddies Challenge: Hearst Castle, a five-star charity ride on September 6 in support of people with intellectual disabilities.
September 26	Big Sur Lodge 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM	(831) 647-7755 Big Sur Multi Agency Advisory Council Meeting

Return to top

Return to top

Return to top

Return to top