Half Moon Bay Memories & El Granada Observer

Pillar Point, top, 1986-87, bottom, 1978

Photos courtesy UCSC Map Room

with artist Michael Bowen
accompanied by Svante Henryson on cello.

Notice how Ron Duarte never changes? What’s his secret? Here he is with his super-creative daughter, Kathy.

I ordered artichoke ravioli, delicious–but did you know they serve “farmed” abalone? Next time I’ll try that.

Instead we went to Pescadero and visited the goat at the Phipps Ranch, east of Pescadero. Great place to take the kids. And there’s plenty of berries to pick.

copyright Yukako Karr

“Coast Hills: Yukako saw the hills above Half Moon Bay as these figures she had shot and not yet named.”

“Big Sur Coast Californiaâ€?, oil on canvas by Michael Bowen, copyright RW Bruch. Painted on Bowen’s way from the Coastside to Mexico in 1963. In the early 1960s artist Michael Bowen lived in the Abalone Factory at Princeton.

“Hikers Scoff At Law While Climbing Steep Cliffs in Devil’s Slide Area”
By Ed Bauer, Half Moon Bay Review, circa 1965

“The late Prof. Dan Reichel of the College of San Mateo often recommended that geology students study the Devil’s Slide area although he never advocated cliff-climbing. Reichel, a graduate of the Hearst School of Mines at the University of California, declared that Devil’s Slide was a result of the ‘block fault action.’

“In spite of the county ordinance against trespassing on the dangerous cliffs, the thrill-seekers still can be seen picking their ways on the narrow trails and slippery rocks.

“Even today, the gravel from the cliffside falls on the highway between Half Moon Bay and Pacifica. In 1962, a 15-ton boulder blocked traffic. The road has been closed from time to time for repairs.

“The proposed new highway [ed. this is circa 1960s] route will bypass Devil’s Slide. It will go over the top of Pedro Mountain, acording to Alan Hart, district highway engineer.”

(Photo: In the 1960s Ed Bauer was the editor/publisher of the Half Moon Bay Review)

“Hikers Scoff At Law While Climbing Steep Cliffs in Devil’s Slide Area”
By Ed Bauer, Half Moon Bay Review, circa 1965

“The history of the ill-fated Ocean Shore Railroad tells of the problems that the slide caused. The line was blocked and heavy cost problems came as a result of locating the route through the area. Old pioneers said that the line should ‘have gone over the top of Pedro Mountain’ as did the original coast highway.

“Former Supervisor Alvin S. Hatch declares that the Devil’s Slide has been a problem in many ways. ‘To keep the Devil’s Slide open cost many thousands of dollars. The gravel and rocks keep sliding down on the highway. It was a problem for Highway District 9,’ said Hatch.

“Geologists who have studied the Devil’s Slide claim that it is a result of ‘Block Faulting’ which occurred millions of years ago. At one time there was no Golden Gate. The interior of California was a gigantic lake surrounded by tropical forests. Dinosaurs and Dugongs (sea-cows) were in what is now San Francisco Bay.”

…to be continued…

“Hikers Scoff At Law While Climbing Steep Cliffs in Devil’s Slide Area”
By Ed Bauer, Half Moon Bay Review, circa 1965

“Despite many warning signs, hikers and would-be cliff climbers can be seen attempting to scale parts of Devil’s Slide on most any weekend.

“More than 13 persons have died in one way or another at the treacherous cliff area located just north of Montara. The county board of supervisors, after receiving complaints, ordered that warning signs be posted.

“The warning signs are chopped down almost as fast as they can be replaced. It is believed that the ‘night party’ crowds hack down the wooden signs for firewood.

“Tourists and newcomers to the area are struck with the rugged beauty of the ocean and cliff area. They often stop to obtain a better view and fail to notice the ‘No Parking Except In An Emergency’ signs that have been posted in the area.

“There are small trails leading to the steep cliffs and there are remains of an old railroad roadbed in the Devil’s Slide area. The would-be-cliff-climbers say that it is a thrill to walk on the steep cliff and peer down on the swirling breakers hundreds of feet below.”

…to be continued…

that the County of San Mateo purchased historic Romeo’s pier and has left it to rot, not making any repairs. Our Coastside’s history of the colorful cannery era, left to rot…What a pity!