Whiskey Richards

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Open for about a year before finally venturing in… We tried one Monday morning, but too early and settled for the James Joyce. On this particular Sunday however, we were in luck as the morning had started with Bloody Mary’s at the Boathouse, moved to Margarita’s at El Torito and a stagger into Whiskey Richards just around the corner down State Street. This is a dive, although located in the high rent district on State, plenty of room, pool, darts, and a cheap jukebox, it has to win the Independent Best Of for the worst of crappers. Not that I judge a bar by it bathrooms, they are merely a neccesity, but these rank with the grimiest I’ve ever been in, and that includes many along Decatur Street, New Orleans. However, our bartender that afternoon into the evening was Nancy, and she should absolutlety win Best Of Bartenders. I am writing the Independent next to suggest this category if it doesn’t yet exist and to submit my nomination. Between shots of Jager and other shots and toasts of unknown mix for reasons unknown, we rediscovered Pabst Blue Ribbon.

For those who care, the blue ribbon was attached to the neck of the bottle around 1882 representing the fact that the beer had won awards over it rivals, primarily Budweiser. Today Pabst is a virtual brewery, it’s 85 brands are brewed by Miller and Lion, and the list includes many recognized to us on the left side (yes,the West Coast); Colt45, Schiltz, Stroh’s, Olympia, Old Milwaukee, Ballantine, and when you’re driving South on the 10 from El Paso, a cold Lone Star or Pearl are both a part of the Pabst family. The last Pabst brewery closed its doors in Allentown, Pennsylvannia in 2001.

Two bucks a beer, and if not the coldest beer (in a can), they are second to the coldest beer sold in a bottle, just north off Glen Annie Rd. at Roundin’ Third Sportsbar.

Dive Bar,
Two Dollar Pabst,
Nancy,
Three songs for a buck,
oh, and did I mention Nancy?!

Paradise Store

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Not to be confused with the Paradise Cafe located downtown on Anacapa, the Paradise Store can be found just off Hwy 154 on Paradise Road. A go between Cold Spring Tavern just up Stagecoach Road, or a stop off when going or coming from the campgrounds, or swimming at Red or White Rock, or just going there directly for the music, beer, and maybe a tri-tip sandwich.

The Paradise Store has bands playing out back in the patio Wed. night and Saturday and Sunday. Sunday has been the day of choice lately, and it always includes a stop at Cold Spring as well. Beers are cheap, no draft, no bar, it is a store, but buy a couple beers and sit out front for the view or take them out back for the music. Far less crowded than Cold Spring Tavern and although it’s located only 4 minutes away, just over 2 miles from the tavern, it gives off a different feeling completely, quiet, more relaxed. A great view across the valley towards Cachuma Lake provides a great photo at sunset or anytime of the day. Got to go elsewhere for the bait and ammo, but stop here for the beer.

Nepenthe – Hwy 1, Big Sur

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Nepenthe is a drug of forgetfulness mentioned in Greek mythology.

The word “Nepenthe” first appears in the fourth book (vv. 220-221) of the Odyssey of Homer. Literally, it means “the one that chases away sorrow” (ne = not, penthos = grief, sorrow). In the Odyssey, “Nepenthes pharmakon” is a magical potion given to Helen by an Egyptian queen. It quells all sorrows with forgetfulness.

Many scholars think that nepenthe might have been an opium preparation, perhaps similar to laudanum. At any rate a visit to the Nepenthe Restaurant, on Hwy 1, Big Sur, will certainly create a feeling of calm and peacefulness.

The Nepenthe was built atop and along the cliff overlooking the Big Sur coast and the Pacific Ocean. The building was designed by architect Rowan Maiden,a student of Frank Lloyd Wright.

Nepenthe’s Verandah is like the prow of a ship. From this deck, visitors can enjoy a view of the early morning sunrise over the Santa Lucia Mountain Range, a relaxing afternoon, or a spectacular sunset over the Pacific Ocean. While there can be a wait for this small deck, it is worth it.

Dinner is not as high priced as you might think. The Ambrosiaburger lists at $13.50, and an 8 oz. Nepenthe Steak at $35.50. Beers run at $5, but a glass of California wine and view of the California Coast is priceless.

If you are driving Route 1 between Cambria and Carmel, make the stop.

Russian River Flood

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Why didn’t they build the steps ALL the down to the river? That’s what I asked myself after renting the five bedroom cabin which was built alongside the Russian River. That was in June… two years later in January I learned first hand the reason why.

On the 17th the river hit 39.5 feet, the Flood Stage is 32.0 feet. At 32 feet the Old Bohemian Highway at Monte Rio (Pink Elephant) is flooded. At 33 feet a couple of the intersections in Guerneville are flooded along with the Mirabel Trailer Park in Forestville. 34 feet floods Riverside Park, Johnson’s Resort, and the Creekside Resort. Add another foot and the list now includes Parker’s Resort. 36 feet floods the lower cabins in Fern Grove…and 39 feet begins to close the Hacienda Bridge and portions of River Road. Once that happens many residents are basically cut off from travel into Santa Rosa.

I worked in Santa Rosa along with another “river rat”. We’d monitor the flood reports to see if there was a need to head home early or if we could get home at all. She, (Shirley) lived in Rio Nido which was further out River Road than where I lived, but was at the same flood stage of 39 feet. Interesting how the river works; she lived back up in a canyon and I lived in a two story house on stilts at the rivers edge. However, when the river hit 39 feet, we both were stuck. Those who live or have lived in the area may be thinking they’ve seen worse…and rightly so. The river hit 48.8 feet in 1986 and has often hit flood stages of 45 feet or more. In January 1995 the river hit 48 feet only to recede and hit another high in March at 41.5 ft. But at 39.5 it had it’s exciting moments.

For the few of us who lived year long out in Summer Home Park, canoes had been left for us to use in order to get out to River Road. There was a fire road that traversed some of the canyons and acreage owned by Summer Home Park, but you had to have a four-wheel drive, some luck, and a pair of mudders. Walk along Summerhome Park Road as far as you could, grab a canoe to get across the flooded section, along Old River Road and you’re at River Road just before the Hacienda Bridge. The sound of the river rushing below the house is almost as incredible as the image of it during the day. From my living room windows I could look down at the river directly below. What was once a calm, slow move to the sea was now a torrent containing trees and assorted debris from lower cabins. I looked out once to watch a refrigerator bobbing up and down on it’s way to Bodega Bay. I even saw a kayaker, but can’t recall if he was ahead of or behind the refrigerator. Not that he was after it by any means, nor would he have been able to enjoy a cold beverage from it in the unlikely event that he could catch up with it.

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