Tag Archive for: Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara – Shipwrecks

Santa Barbara, California - Beached sailboat after el nino winter storm, January 2010

After nearly one week the storms have finally departed as Saturday started off with a perfectly blue sky (probably the nicest day I’ve had since I left California in September).  Santa Barbara’s East beach was littered with numerous beached boats which were torn loose from mooring just off the coast; where the sea is normally calm and placid.  Some of the boats might be salvageable while others seem to be a complete loss, unfortunately.

Santa Barbara, California - Beached sailboat after el nino winter storm, January 2010

Santa Barbara, California - Beached sailboat after el nino winter storm, January 2010

Santa Barbara, California - Beached sailboat after el nino winter storm, January 2010

Shipwreck – Santa Barbara

Santa Barbara, California: January 2009 winter storm, Shipwreck, East Beach

Several big storms have been blowing through southern California over the last days causing quite a bit of chaos to a place that is normally used to sunshine.  High seas have torn several sailboats loose from their moorings and washed them ashore on East Beach near the Cabrillo Bath house.  Went down to the beach early this morning in a brief pause in the rain to take a few photos.  Now back at the house at 8:00 am, rain is pounding the windows and low rumbles of thunder can be heard every few minutes.

Winter storm 2009, East Beach Shipwreck, Santa Barbara California

Santa Barbara Fiesta Parade 2009

Today (Friday) at noon was the annual Fiesta parade here in Santa Barbara.  It is mostly an equestrian parade riders from different organizations from around the area taking part, many dressed in traditional Spanish or Mexican costumes.  Only a couple photos for now.  I’ve made a Fiesta photo gallery: HERE, which I’ll add photos to during the next days.

Fiesta parade 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Fiesta parade 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Fiesta parade 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Fiesta parade 2009, Santa Barbara, California

La Fiesta Pequeña – Santa Barbara Fiesta 2009

La Fiesta Pequeña ( the little Fiesta) On Wednesday night marks the beginning of Santa Barbara’s Old Spanish Days, otherwise known simply as ‘Fiesta.’  Fiesta occurs every August here in Santa Barbara and is the biggest festival of the year.  Traditional music and dancing combined with open air markets and parades attract thousands of people from the world over.  I’ll be out and about taking photos during the next days…

Images from tonight of dancers on the steps of the Santa Barbara mission at La Fiesta Pequeña:

Dancers, La Fiesta Pequena, 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Dancers, La Fiesta Pequena, 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Dancers, La Fiesta Pequena, 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Dancers, La Fiesta Pequena, 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Dancers, La Fiesta Pequena, 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Dancers, La Fiesta Pequena, 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Dancers, La Fiesta Pequena, 2009, Santa Barbara, California

Fourth

Santa Barbara, California - 4th of July fireworks over harbor

4th of July fireworks over Santa Barbara Harbor.

Santa Barbara Summer Solstice Parade

Today (Saturday) was the annual summer solstice parade here in Santa Barbara.  This was the first time I’ve gone in years and years so I thought I might go and take some photos.  Definitely a lot more colorful and sunny compared to how they celebrate midsummer in Germany, but I don’t think we could get away with huge bonfires here in Southern California.

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Santa Barbara, California, USA - Annual summer solstice parade. June 20, 2009

Lots and lots of colorful costumes: some cool looking, some funny, some strange and some just a little bizarre.  But hey, it’s summer now…

Click here for a gallery of more photos

CLose

We were allowed back onto my brother’s street this morning (Sunday).  The fire burned to my brother’s fence in the back yard, which backs up to a mostly wild and grassy hillside that rises above.  It looks like it was more of a small ‘spot fire’ caused by flying embers, while the ‘main’ front of the fire was stopped about 50-100 feet above at a small road.  Definitely too close for comfort.

damage from Jesusita fire, Santa Barbara, California

damage from Jesusita fire, Santa Barbara, California

damage from Jesusita fire, Santa Barbara, California

damage from Jesusita fire, Santa Barbara, California

damage from Jesusita fire, Santa Barbara, California

Jesusita fire: Thursday Night

If Wednesday night was bad, tonight is a thousand times worse.  As I type this just after midnight ash is raining all across the city as if a volcano had exploded.  The foothills above town are completely ablaze with flames going nearly all the way to the mountain ridge at the top.  The temperature is still 80˚ (26 c) and winds gusts up to 40mph.  Huge sections of the city are now under evacuation and the fire is moving so fast.  I crossed highway 154 just prior to its closing, and an hour later, the fire had already crossed it to the west and towards Goleta.  Homes are burning.  Simply awful out there; devastating.

Jesusita fire burns in foothills above Santa Barbara, California. Thursday night, May 7, 2009

Jesusita fire burns in foothills above Santa Barbara, California. Thursday night, May 7, 2009

Jesusita fire burns in foothills above Santa Barbara, California. Thursday night, May 7, 2009

Jesusita fire burns in foothills above Santa Barbara, California. Thursday night, May 7, 2009

Jesusita Fire pics: Wednesday afternoon

Here’s a few more pics of the Jesusita fire from Wednesday afternoon while still at my brother’s house.  We had been evacauated on Tuesday afternoon, but managed to get back in on Wednesday to try and keep an eye on things.  By late afternoon, the fire was getting perilously close and most of the neighborhood had cleared out.   From or estimates looking at aerial photos and from driving around today, we estimate the fire got within about 200 meters.  The only traffic was from fire crews driving down Foothill road and police driving through the neighborhoods telling people to leave immediately.  The Mandatory evacuation zone had been moved down to State street, so we were well behind the lines.  The Temperature was somewhere near 100 degrees (37 C), as the “sundowner winds” were constantly changing directions, but mostly keeping the smoke just to the east of our location.  At times the sky was as black as night.

First few photos are with a 14mm lens.  It was that close…

First pic: Looking east.

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: Thick clouds of smoke and ash fill sky over neighborhood

Corner of Foothill and Calle Laureles, looking towards Mission Canyon

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: Dark smoke fill sky over Mission canyon as seen from Foothill

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: Fire engine drives down Foothill road towards Mission Canyon

Fire crews driving east along Foothill towards Mission Canyon

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: Fire crews drive down Foothill road towards Alamar in late afternoon on wednesday, May 6, 2009

jesusita fire santa barbara, California: helicopter flies against sky black with smoke

Schwarzenegger comes to Santa Barbara

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (I think everyone knows who he is) came to Santa Barbara this morning to give a press conference in regards to the Jesusita fire, which he declared a “state of emergency” on Wednesday evening.  The press conference was held at Earl Warren showgrounds, which is currently one of the main staging areas for firefighters who have come to the area to assist is the effort.

Thursday May 7, 2009: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger press conference on Jesusita Fire, Santa Barbara, California

Thursday May 7, 2009: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger press conference on Jesusita Fire, Santa Barbara, California

Thursday May 7, 2009: Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger press conference on Jesusita Fire, Santa Barbara, California