Sunset from Goleta Beach

Sunset from Goleta Beach

After I took this photo today at Goleta Beach, I got in my car and drove to the store. While I was paying I noticed that my camera wasn't in my purse and figured that it must be in my car. I walked out to the parking lot and there was my camera - sitting on the roof. And to think.. I could have easily lost this nice photo!

Tangerine Falls, Santa Barbara, CA

Walking through clouds of mist at Tangerine Falls

I often hike up the East Fork of the Cold Springs trail, which goes up to my favorite swimming hole as well as an incredible view of Montecito and Santa Barbara below. Beyond that is Montecito Peak. This time around, though, I went up the West Fork, which goes to Tangerine Falls. You can take a trail to the top of the falls or the bottom - we choose the bottom of the falls to get a good view. Plus there have been a few people in the past few months who had to get rescued from the upper path because they didn't leave enough time to get back down.

Tangerine Falls

The weather was very moist. If it was warmer I could have mistaken myself in a tropical rainforest. Everything was green and beautiful - and wet and slippery! After taking a few wrong turns and crossing over the rain swollen creek, we found our way to Tangerine Falls and Russell took a dive into the freezing water! He went right under the waterfall and disappeared behind it. The other hikers went wild for that, cheering him on.

After his waterfall shower, Russ and I headed back down to the car. Very nice after work hike, although I still prefer the East Fork (nothing can beat our secluded swimming hole and water slide!)

More photos: Tangerine Falls Hike

Southern California Nuclear Radiation Monitoring Station

EnviroReporter has set up a nuclear radiation monitoring station in their Santa Monica office. They take reading every ten minutes and have it streaming live online. Current levels are normal.

This is just one reason why the internet can be so good - transparency. You better believe that I don't trust on the US government to give me accurate information. There is much too much corporate involvement and private interest in government. The people with a vested interest in nuclear power will do everything they can to keep the general public unaware of the dangers of nuclear radiation. If people know radiation is coming to California from Japan then there may be calls to halt our own nuclear endeavors (which there obviously should be), which is why industry will do anything it can to silence concerns - including flat out lying. But alas, now we have an independent, non government related website to monitor radiation levels for us. This is the beauty of the internet (for now).

Santa Barbara, California Tidal Wave

Russell and I just got back from the beach and the tide is very high and the waves are unusually large. The updated warning say that these sea conditions will continue throughout the day and we may even see an increase - but really no big deal.

On another note, I want to point out that the current Republican budget proposal gives MAJOR cuts to the federal organizations that monitor, issue alerts, and prepare for tsunamis (as well as other natural disasters and natural disaster relief). If the budget were to go through 12 warning centers throughout the US would be shut down, with each warning center serving 2.5 million people. No good.

Also, a nuclear reactor in Japan is serious condition after the earthquake. Thousands of people are being evacuated and the US military has sent over an emergency supply of coolant because the reactor is overheating, which could lead to a meltdown. This is why nuclear power, especially in California, is not a good option.

Tsunami in Santa Barbara, California

This morning I woke up at 3 am to an emergency text message from UCSB warning me of an impending tsunami. According to Noozhawk, tsunami waves of up to 1½ feet reached the Santa Barbara Harbor about 8:15 a.m., and elevated swells could continue for several hours and subsequent swells or waves can be larger than ones that came before them. The beaches have been shut down.

If I hadn't received that text or read the news this morning I would have been none the wiser -- well except for the phone calls and text messages from my family telling me not to go to the beach this morning like I usually do.

Via Noozhawk:

According to the National Weather Service, tsunami warnings mean a tsunami with significant widespread inundation is expected, along with dangerous coastal flooding. Powerful currents are possible and may continue for several hours after the initial wave. Coastal residents are asked to move inland to higher ground, and boats and ships should be repositioned to deep water when there is time to safely do so.

Tsunami advisories mean a tsunami capable of producing strong currents and waves is expected, and currents may be hazardous to swimmers, surfers, boats and coastal structures. Authorities said significant widespread inundation is not expected in advisory areas but unsettled conditions could continue for several hours afterward.