California Wildfires threatening many C&V members’ homes and property
 

Hey all, The California wildfires have been threatening significant portions of the Big Sur area, Santa Cruz mountains, and northern California. A lot of C&V members live in those areas and many have been evacuated already. Here’s hoping that everyone stays safe, heeds evacuation warnings, gets out safely with as much as they can take, or what is most important. Above all your health and safety is paramount. Thoughts, prayers and best wishes for all who are affected or threatened.

Safety for all C&V riders in the area as well, the air is heavily polluted with smoke and particulates so ride with a mask if you have to be out.

Bart

Thank you. My brother and his family, including middle son and grandkids, live in Windsor. His middle daughter-in-law's parents lost their home and mom-and-pop auto body repair business in Healdsburg a few years back

I managed to get 5 bikes out, including my 1987 Bianchi you folks helped me out with a few years ago. (Actually, I evacuated it twice. I returned it after an optimist very temporarily convinced me there was no immediate danger.) It is still in my office at UCSC, so it is not out of danger depending on what happens tonight. The house is still there for the moment, but surrounded by fire on 3 sides as of 4pm yesterday. New T-storms are moving in tonight, and I think that will be the end of it.


https://cimg3.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...9404b45cd1.png

I just realized it has been a week and 5 hours since this nightmare started. Power went out at 2:30 in the storm, and I could smell smoke within an hour, and started to pack later that morning. Everyone else thought I was paranoid, but in reality I should have gotten a U-haul up there when the getting out was good. My daughter went into the fire zone yesterday afternoon and managed to get one of our recalcitrant cats. We got the dogs and people out last week. More in Foo for the morbidly curious.

Amen

Stay safe, our best wishes are with you all

I have a sister-in-law near Petaluma and a niece, her husband, and daughter in the hills of San Mateo. The first time I saw my niece's house I was concerned about wild fires, and the road to evacuate is very steep and wooded. I hope they are using abundant caution.

Thanks Bart,
I am in Santa Cruz, right at the edge of the UCSC evacuation zone. Packed the trailer and ready to leave as soon as they give the evacuation warning, will not wait for actual evacuation. Your kind thoughts are so welcome.
Cheers,
Nubra

Our niece lives in Santa Cruz and as last we heard has not been evacuated yet. Then, over in Gilroy , my wife is staying in touch with a woman that runs a rescue center for horses and she managed to get 6 or so of her boarded horses relocated to safer grounds and I am not sure about the other three mares. We sent some food up for some of her other animals and as of 11pm she was still there and trying to get some rest. We have been praying for these folks and their animals , homes and belongings. The Thomas fire started right behind our house a few years ago and it was the first time having a raging fire THAT close to our home. We were evacuated at midnight and leaving our home without knowing what was going to happen was really frightening. I can empathize with these folks, it is real scary and unpredictable. My thoughts and prayers to all who may be facing this tragedy and hope you are OK . Thank you Bartly for putting the spotlight on this and I truly believe in the power of prayer, Joe

A bike pioneer who lost his home in Bonny Doon:
https://cyclingtips.com/2020/08/sant...huck-teixeira/

Good thoughts to anyone needing them. 😎

I’m right near Chico now, maybe/probably heading back towards Sacramento soon. It’s been really dark here, during the day, and smells like smoke, pretty bad at times. 😒

I think a few people chose to harvest their harvest now too. Homegrown is pretty plentiful, at good prices. 😁

Our property backs right onto wooded open space (i.e. wildfire country) and we were under an evacuation warning until this morning. It has felt a bit like armageddon, with heat wave, smoke, gusting winds and periodic lightning. Luckily the temperature dropped and the smoke mostly cleared by this afternoon so we are relaxing for the first time in days. Others are not so lucky.

Looks like we dodged a bullet this time, but too many friends and colleagues lost their homes to take any solace.

No harm in being lucky. 😉

I just got back into Sacramento this evening. The air quality is much better here. 👍

I’m blaming all that roadwork on 99, for the air quality. 🙄😉

Good and hopeful thoughts to all those affected. We've been in our house going on 46 years, thru countless fires, even seen flames from our front yard. Scarry deal. Last year it got within 1.5 miles of us, and we actually started packing up. Besides the cats and obvious paperwork and what photos I could grab, i took the Legnano that I've been riding and loving for 56 years. I also took the '73 Raleigh Super Course, my first build from a found bare frame. The brave firefighters stopped this one, but there will be more. So far so good here, hopefully it will spare you too this time. My brother, in Monterey, near Laguna Seca had to evacuate this past week, which included moving 9 motorcycles to "safe " storage somewhere. He's home now, fingers crossed. Hang in there. Stay safe! Couple of pictures from this season.

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...8c681e3b05.jpg
The view from our house of the Lake Hughes fire, not as as close as it looks, thankfully.
https://cimg7.ibsrv.net/gimg/bikefor...1112c1ed64.jpg
My nephew is an Atascadero firefighter/EMT. This is his 4WD ambulance, which he calls his "hot rod". He was working the Carmel Valley fire, last time we heard from him.