World War I Memorial Oak Trees on US-101

Posted on September 9, 2011 by Jack Elliott

Memorial Oaks between Summerland and Carpinteria.

“A column of young eight-foot-high live oaks stands on either side of the highway, memorials to Santa Barbarans who met death in active service in World War I. The columns are continuous to the western boundary of the Fleischmann Polo Field.”

—Santa Barbara: A Guide to the Channel City and Its Environs (1941)

In 1928, as a memorial to local combat soldiers that died in World War I, the American Legion Post 49 and the Boy Scouts planted 71 coast live oak trees along the 101 freeway between Summerland and Carpinteria.

The trees were aligned in two columns on either side of the narrow cement road. The one lane ribbon of concrete through the country turned into the four lane speedway of today, and a number of the oak trees now grow in the center median between opposing lanes of traffic. About 35 of the original 71 trees still stand today.

Bibliography:

Santa Barbara County Historic Landmarks Advisory Commission

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Midday at the Oasis

Posted on September 8, 2011 by Jack Elliott

I spent Labor Day Monday hiking around a hot and windy Caliente Canyon and lounging poolside under the willow and cottonwood trees to escape the midday swelter. Although many long sections of the creek were bone dry, there was still just enough water trickling over the sandstone ledge and into the swimming hole to keep it from going stagnant. And although it was only waist to chest deep, there was still room to swim around a bit underwater and cool down. I wasted no time jumping in as soon as I got there.

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19 Inch Halibut

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Jack Elliott

A few bites yesterday afternoon, a 19-incher today, maybe a keeper tomorrow.

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Surf Fishing For Halibut

Posted on September 6, 2011 by Jack Elliott

Throwin’ lures for flatties on a late afternoon rising tide.


Related Posts:

Halibut

48 Pound White Seabass

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Southern Hemi Scraps at Malibu

Posted on September 4, 2011 by Jack Elliott

The tail end of the swell that exploded against the California coast this week working through Malibu yesterday afternoon.

Uni to go.

We weren’t the only ones stoked by the surf. The powerful long period swell had rolled urchins ashore up and down the beach. Between sets I watched seagulls fight over the food delivered by waves born some 11,000 miles away. It’s alive!

In idle musings I’ve wondered in jest how big wave surfers are physically able to lay on a board and paddle with such big balls. I now have new material to ponder in my downtime. How does a guy paddle after swallowing a mooring buoy?

I’ve actually crossed paths with this crusty ‘ol beach loc many times over the years. I tend to see him during big wave events it seems, usually at Rincon wielding his massive board around the cobblestones or down the trail. That’s not to say I’ve ever seen him catch a wave. But he’s at the beach.

His unkempt appearance and filthy clothes match the look of his van. It’s the look of neglect not need. Indifference. I’d hazard a guess that he probably has a decent share of free time, although it seems he doesn’t afford many minutes on his outward appearance and other such trivial matters. His attention is focused on something else. He surfs. He’s always there.

I was walking back along the water’s edge at the lagoon when the still surface rippled like a bow wave. For a split second I thought it was a cormorant swimming underwater fishing. I had seen one snatch a fish earlier.

Then nothing surfaced. Again, more ripples. Something was definitely swimming just below the surface of the shallow pool. I stood there for longer than anything could possibly hold it’s breath and nothing ever surfaced.

I never caught a glimpse of what it was, but it looked like whatever caused the ripples was a decent sized fish of some sort. Probably washed in during the high tide and big surf. I can’t imagine what else it could of been, because it was something alive and it wasn’t a bird.

Streaking home along the PCH.

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