THE OLD 14-ROOM PIEDRAS BLANCAS MOTEL is the only building for miles along the expanse of coastal bluffs north of San Simeon. The continual wind and salt air have taken their toll. The sign is long gone. The Trust for Public Land purchased the motel in 2005 for $5.1 million and gave it to the State of California, which had recently acquired 18 miles of this windswept coastline from the Hearst Corporation.

There was a State Parks truck out front when I pulled in. A park maintenance person by the name of Tamara – the only maintenance person for the whole vast property – was busy painting the manager’s apartment. The old landmark’s future is uncertain, she explained, but it may emerge as a hostel.

Changes along the scenic north San Luis Obispo County coast are gradual and subtle. To the casual tourist passing south to Hearst Castle or north to Big Sur, this seemingly wild stretch from San Simeon to San Carpoforo Beach looks much like it did when it was still part of the Hearst Ranch and nominally closed to the public. A fence still runs along the west side of Highway One, and the coastal bluffs are still mostly deserted, undeveloped and crossed by old foot paths created by generations of fence-hopping hikers, surfers and beach lovers.

On the view from Bartlett Mountain, blueberries, vertical-log construction, and modern-day can-and-string communication.

by Monica Prelle

"THE 1915 CRIBBEN AND SEXTON (CHICAGO) gas and wood-burning stove is the focal point of the kitchen. There’s an antique copper sink and an antique icebox. The cabin light that hangs on the wall came off an old ship, and there’s an oil lamp that used to hang around a horse’s neck..."

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Kathie Morgan with guide Pat Young.

“I CAUGHT THE LAST LARGEMOUTH BASS TAKEN FROM LAKE SHASTA,” I told Barbara back at the dock. It was a true enough statement when I made it. Others were catching spotted bass, but locals told me that my little largemouth was “rare” in a lake where the more aggressive spotted bass are successfully competing against their meeker cousins.

Memories of Shasta Past merge easily with those I brought home in October.

It can take some time (in this case, about a year and a half) for conference-related work to filter through to mainstream publications. But here, better late than never, in the largest-circulation inflight mag in the biz, we get OWAC's David Page floating in a kayak in the Sea of Cortez, considering the distance between Isla Espiritu Santo and La Paz. (nb. the individual pictured above is not the author.)

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Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC) 2011 Fall Conference

[A Report by the Staff of the Tuolomne County Visitors Bureau]

Media relationships continue to be an important part of what we do at the Visitors Bureau. Marketing Manager Sandy Gordon attended the 25th Anniversary of the OWAC fall conference in Redding with activities in various locations around the Shasta Cascades. The Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau (TCVB) has been a member of OWAC for over 5 years and Sandy has represented TCVB at many past conferences.

 
It was a very productive event for us in a number of ways.

The show airs over the three NPR affiliates serving the Central Coast (KNBX, KCBX, KSBX), from Southern Monterey County to Santa Barbara and Ventura County.

Click on any of the following podcast links to listen to the show in the comfort of your own device:

• Podcast: Reporter and environmental activist Patricia Lawrence shares her insights about the negative effects of clear-cutting and tree farm operations (from Redding, California).
• Podcast: Join Tom in Redding California as he visits with Frank Galusha, editor/publisher of MyOutdoorBuddy.com a one stop shop for finding out about great places to fish, hunt kayak and much more.
• Podcast: Join Tom as he visits with Ann McSilver, Editor of VIA Magazine, the publication of AAA for Northern California.
• Podcast: Anders Halverson Ph.D, author of An Entirely Synthetic Fish, discusses the 150 fifty year history of manipulating the Rainbow Trout species.
• Podcast: Ann Garner shares her insights into Lake County California, one of the most pristine counties in the State.
• Podcast: Tom visits with award-winning adventurer and author, David Page as he shares insights into  New Media, his bike ride across California and his award-winning book about the Southern Sierra.
• Podcast: Tom discovers the cool things to do and see in Redding, California, as he visits with Laurie Baker from the Redding visitors bureau.

"You've likely heard it said, or perhaps you've said it: Why Redding? After all, it's considered a central valley town, too hot in summer, too rainy in winter. So, why would you want to travel there, rather than to some other California destination?"

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Ailanthus and Manzanita, Sacramento River Trail. © 2011 John Poimiroo

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(Dude, autumn happens here too.)

Beringer Vineyard, on the way to Cobb Mountain. 3DViewMax

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PHOTO COURTESY TERRY GOWAN

"We paddled out on day two of a long-awaited warming trend, under sunny skies and in shirt sleeves and board shorts.."

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