COVID-19: California's Roadmap to Modify...

California's Roadmap to Modify the Stay-at-Home Order.pdf

April 14, 2020 -- (Excerpt) "Governor unveils six key indicators that will be considered before modifying state’s stay-at-home order [see link above]...

The Governor said there is not a precise timeline for modifying the stay-at-home order, but that these six indicators will serve as the framework for making that decision.

He also noted that things will look different as California makes modifications. For example, restaurants will have fewer tables and classrooms will be reconfigured."

MEDIA CREDIT: Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 309

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Calif. High Sierra: Isolate-at-(Snow-Covered)-Cabin?

The California High Sierra Mountains are beautiful in all seasons. In the winter, from the high elevation forested areas on up to beyond the tree line can be very deeply snow-covered. Intrepid skiers sometimes can rent cabins in the Big Trees Village area with names inspired by the fabled "Bigfoot" legend: the "Hairy Knuckle Forest," the "Big Foot Circle," and "The Big Toe."

The following paraphrased report from a local business in that forested mountain area provides an antidotal glimpse of recent local weather conditions:

(Excerpt) "...there were many power lines, trees, branches etc. down with the storm last week. We went up, but there were too many detours everywhere that we headed back down the hill. Plan to try again driving by more of the cabins once the weather clears..."

More Seriously Isolated-at-Home

MEDIA CREDIT: PG&E

CALAVERAS COUNTY – Two PG&E workers rescued an elderly man who was trapped in his home in Calaveras County for five days due to snow.

Stockon-based PG&E troublemen Adam Gossett and Ean Collins were in the area of Big Trees Village... working on restoring power impacted by a heavy storm when they said they heard a faint scream coming from a nearby home covered almost completely in snow, the utility said in a news release.

“He was saying ‘Help me’ and ‘I’m hungry,’ so we grabbed our bagged lunches and some water and made our way to him,” Collins said.

The utility said the man had blown a whistle for two days as a call for help and placed “Please help!” signs in his windows with no luck.

PG&E said the workers found that the 74-year-old man had been trapped in his home for nearly a week and was without food, power, heat, or a phone.

“He was shivering and clearly in distress,” Gossett said.

Gossett and Collins called 911, PG&E said, and responders found the man was a diabetic and in need of additional care.

“He said he had been praying for someone to help him. I told him, ‘God answered your prayers today,’” Gossett said.

MEDIA CREDIT: CBS13, 3.22.2020

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Post No. 305

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Dunites: secret dune living in circa 1920s utopia?

MEDIA CREDIT: Title Insurance and Trust Company (Los Angeles)

Collection of Historical Photographs

Back of photo penciled inscription:
“John BellÑOld hermit of Pismo Beach 1901"

The sands of Oceano Dunes today

MEDIA CREDIT: Joe Johnston

"The most amazing vibrations on earth could be found ... in the middle of the Oceano Dunes ... That’s where we are. A vortex, kinda like Sedona Arizona, just a magnificent energy center."

Source: John Reid, Environmentalist

When did the Dunites arrive?

(Excerpt)"The shacks of the Dunites have long disintegrated or been buried under the sands of the Oceano Dunes.

The exact timeframe isn’t clear, but the Dunites started coming to the Oceano Dunes, located south of Pismo Beach [California] ... around the 1910s.

The assortment in the early 20th century consisted generally of moonshiners, hobos who took refuge in the dunes during the winter and people who just needed a break from the world — such as Hugo Seelig, who sought refuge in the dunes due to his distress over the United States entering World War I, according to Hammond’s 1992 book, 'The Dunites.'

Economic problems, especially during the Great Depression, also made the Dunes an attractive option, Hammond said.

'There were no jobs and no money and you could go there and do just fine,' Hammond said. 'A lot easier than you could in the city.'

In the 1930s, Chester A. Arthur’s grandson, Gavin Arthur, started a utopian commune in the Dunes called Moy Mell — 'pastures of honey' in Gaelic — which served as a magnet for artists and intellectuals.

Novelist John Steinbeck and photographer Ansel Adams were just a few of the notable guests at Moy Mell.

Hammond said some of the mystics out in the Dunes resented the intrusion of the more moneyed Dunites like Arthur.

'Gavin Arthur built his utopian colony and that changed everything — not for the worst,' Hammond said.

Arthur 'brought in a lot of intellectualism' and started the Dune Forum, a magazine that aimed to be a sort of New Yorker of the West.

In his book, Hammond notes that Time Magazine said the Dune Forum was 'hoping to direct the creative thought of America away from Europe and toward the West.'”

Read more here by Gabby Ferreira.


ON TOPIC:
SCPR audio (09:40)

Read more here: https://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/news-columns-blogs/slo-weird/article232802212.html#storylink=cpy

"rough and ready"
The LORD gives us many gifts, not all are kept or applied perfectly. One may too often doubt their ability, focus, and fervor to find pragmatic solutions. There also is divine compassion. Stay rough and ready.

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 298

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Life's Been Good: what one wishes?

"Life's Been Good" by Joe Walsh (Duration - 8:56 min.)
Satirical classic rock song with a type of insightfulness; comedically shrewd cultural commentary that shows a value beyond entertainment. It may in fact be a lifestyle anthem that wisely sums up what some righteously do NOT wish for.

A cut from the 1978 album: "But Seriously, Folks..."

MEDIA CREDIT: Youtube.com

Song lyrics for "Life's Been Good:"

I have a mansion, forget the price
Ain't never been there, they tell me it's nice
I live in hotels, tear out the walls
I have accountants pay for it all

They say I'm crazy but I have a good time
I'm just looking for clues at the scene of the crime
Life's been good to me so far

My Maserati does one-eighty-five
I lost my license, now I don't drive
I have a limo, ride in the back
I lock the doors in case I'm attacked

I make hit records, my fans they can't wait
They write me letters, tell me I'm great
So I got me an office, gold records on the wall
Just leave a message, maybe I'll call

Lucky I'm sane after all I've been through...
I can't complain but sometimes I still do
Life's been good to me so far

I go to parties, sometimes until four
It's hard to leave when you can't find the door
It's tough to handle this fortune and fame
Everybody's so different, I haven't changed

They say I'm lazy but it takes all my time...
I keep on going, guess I'll never know why
Life's been good to me so far
Yeah, yeah, yeah

Source: AZLyrics.com

ON TOPIC:

Joe Walsh (Clown Prince of Rock, Average Joe, 1947- )


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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 295

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"Unscientific" Bay Area Map

Mapped Urban Dictionary "data" current cica 2016

Source: Sasha Trubetskoy

Mr. Trubetskoy may be available for hire

(Excerpt) "Originally this was supposed to be the start of a line of posters, but it failed to gain traction...

I was really inspired by all the positive reactions and support that I got for the original Bay Area Map (unfortunately, the Kickstarter failed.) Below is the story from the Kickstarter page:

...We’ve all tried typing our hometown or neighborhood into Urban Dictionary. Personally, I was excited at how much information was on that site, and others like it all over the Internet. I saw this abundance of data as something that could be used to create an interesting map.

Mapping today is dominated by data freaks, obsessed with being scientifically rigorous and statistically significant. But as a data freak, I’ve come to realize that not all maps have to involve equations. I want to take a break, be a little unscientific, and put the human element back on the map. Ultimately, cities and neighborhoods are collections of people, and I wanted to map their experiences. As it turns out, these unscientific maps are just as charming, thorough and thought-provoking as any other."

Source: S. Trubetskoy, cartographer, designer, artist. Contact info

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 293

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TOD Silicon Valley: transit oriented development

Source: GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

"Living [with a short commute to] where you work is important to maintaining a strong economy for the entire Bay Area,” said Juliana Bunim, senior vice president at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce. She added, “Everyday we hear from our members how their employees can’t afford to live here and are being forced to leave. It’s time to talk about what real solutions are for housing and not get distracted by a couple of loud voices that can drown out what people actually want... .”

Transit Oriented Development (TOD)

TOD creates densified, walkable, sustainable, mixed-use urban communities centered around existing or planned intermodal passenger train stations along rail lines -- above or below ground. This makes possible an everyday lifestyle with shorter commute times and less dependency on often already over-crowded automobile roadways. Perhaps even nearly complete independence from owning and driving an automobile, if one desires to not drive at all.

(Excerpt) "Transit oriented development is regional planning, city revitalization, suburban renewal, and walkable neighborhoods combined. TOD... [creates] exciting people places in city after city... [that often become] the most desirable places to live, work, and play. Real estate developers have quickly followed to meet the high demand for quality urban places served by rail systems."

Source: www.tod.org

Silicon Valley housing development by transit hubs

Public opinion in the cities of the Silicon Valley Region is shifting toward increasing density and building heights around transit hubs. Proponents have long held that this is essential for The City and Silicon Valley area that is tormented by increasingly difficult to find housing, unreasonable commute times, and almost ever present traffic congestion on all automobile roadways.

(Excerpt) "Though it wasn’t mentioned by name, ...[public opinion is about California legislation] SB50, a bill by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco."

In addition to increasing allowable building densities by transit hubs, the California SB50 legislation also:

(Excerpt) "...raises [building] height limits to 45 feet, about four stories, within a half-mile of the station, and 55 feet within a quarter mile. It also eliminates minimum parking requirements for new developments, which San Francisco’s Board of Supervisors voted to do back in December."

Source: San Francisco Chronicle, 2.11.2019

On Topic:
Silicon Valley Needs Some New Highs...
Desperate Commuters: Silicon Valley workers in one occupancy vehicles  

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 288

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Thankful for this Hotel

Tomorrow, this will be posted on a wire mesh "tree" in the lobby. It will be with many crowded together notes on paper. Not many will see it, less will actually read it, and maybe a few will think they might see some meaning from their own perspective -- it's about joy!

Thankful for:
The good health
time and type of wealth, to...

Enable
this visit to
this place to
this time to...

Share Christmastime
with pleasant doormen
circling pigeons
The City
you...

And most our family,
if for a moment
a short conversation
heartfelt in busy lives...

Being here
at Christmastime.


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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 273

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Electric Microbus: VW, Tesla, or... ?

VW Twinkie evolves. "Think different." Who will?

Source: unknown

Classic update or expensive boomer accessory?

MEDIA CREDIT: Outsideonline.com

Tesla tentatively teases...

MEDIA CREDIT: Tesla... may eat VW's lunch?

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 269

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2017 SF Giants Baseball Schedule

"FinancialForce Performance Player of the Game"
Listen after each San Francisco Giants baseball game to KNBR radio for the "Giants Postgame Wrap" show to learn the player selected as the "FinancialForce Performance Player of the Game."

 Source: FinancialForce

2017 SF Giants Baseball Schedule

Source: SF Giants

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 266

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Unstad Norway: Surfing above the Arctic Circle

 Surf Village on Norwegian Sea Beneath the Northern Lights

Source: Unstad Norway

International Location Map

Source Map: Archipelago of Lofoten

Arctic Surf: Wet suit design expands surfing destinations

Source: unknown poster seen in Reykjavik, Iceland

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 259

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Always Daylight Saving Time. End the time shifting

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Earth from space -- a new dawn

Extreme Time Shifting

"Because [in outerspace] we were orbiting the earth faster than earth spins on its axis, we went around the earth 16 times a day, an earth day, which meant 16 periods of lightness and 16 periods of darkness in 24 hours..."  -- Helen Sharman, scientist

Effort to roll back daylight saving time defeated in California Senate

(Excerpt) "The... [California] Senate on Tuesday rejected Assembly Bill 385, [by Assemblyman Kansen Chu, D-San Jose] which would have placed a measure on the ballot asking voters to dump the twice-annual changing of the clocks and keep California on... [Pacific Daylight Time] year-round...

Minutes later, the Assembly passed a resolution urging [United States] Congress to allow states to adopt daylight saving time year-round. That resolution cleared the Senate near-unanimously last week."

On Topic:

The radical plan to destroy time zones


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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 256

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No Daylight Saving Time (DST): more morning

MEDIA CREDIT: TERRI LAINE

Embrace those cooing sounds of the Mourning (read: Morning) Dove or risk the swooping capture by a Nighthawk. This metaphorically may be similiar to the often mentioned half-a-glass (full or empty); or the vacillating time standards that give us morning light or keep us in morning darkness.

Again yearlong, the morning daylight of Pacific Daylight Time (PDT) could dawn over California at a reasonable hour in the morning -- not leaving one with the inconvenient and cold morning darkness caused by the deceptively named 1949 voter initiative: Daylight Saving Time.

Pacific Daylight Time in California -- no time shift
A proposed California law would eliminate twice-a-year time shifting. This would be accompolished by establishing the time in California as: always PDT, Coordinated Universal Time (UTC) minus seven hours, or UTC-7.
(Excerpt) "That reality became more plausible Thursday with the vote by the [California State legislature’s] appropriations panel, which functions as a legislative gatekeeper capable of halting controversial bills. To land on the 2018 ballot, the bill [authored by Assemblyman Kansen Chu, D-San Jose] will still need to clear both houses and win the support of Gov. Jerry Brown." Note: At least until the 2018 election, twice-a-year time shifting is currently required.
Source: The Sacramento Bee, 8.11.2016

Alternative: 'Always DST' in California -- no time shift

"Neither Hawaii nor Arizona observe Daylight Saving Time. An alternate option of switching to Daylight Saving Time... yearlong could not happen in California without federal approval. A resolution calling on Congress and the president to authorize such a move has been advancing through the Legislature." Note: It's unclear if the 'Always DST' proponets are seeking support only in California.

Source: The Sacramento Bee, 8.11.2016

DST requires another time shift in late 2016
Regardless of any pending proposals, on Sunday November 6, 2016 we will again disruptively turn back all clocks and devices; thereby forcing the darkness of night to again extinguish the dawning sun's lighting and warmth until a later morning hour. Why do this intentionally, habitually, or even absent mindedly? A voter initiative in 2018 could make this not happen at all.

Environmental and social costs of the controversial DST twice-a-year time shift
(Excerpt) "...contrary to the policy's intent -- DST increases residential electricity demand. Estimates of the overall increase are approximately 1 percent, but we find that the effect is not constant throughout the DST period. DST causes the greatest increase in electricity consumption in the fall, when estimates range between 2 and 4 percent. These findings are consistent with simulation results that point to a tradeoff between reducing demand for lighting and increasing demand for heating and cooling. We estimate a cost of increased electricity bills to Indiana households of $9 million per year. We also estimate social costs of increased pollution emissions that range from $1.7 to $5.5 million per year. Finally, we argue that the effect is likely to be even stronger in other regions of the United States."

Source: NBER Working Paper No. 14429, October 2008.

On topic:

California: Pacific Daylight Time. Always.

Proper Timezone Acronym Usage - PT vs PDT or PST

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 255

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TOD Honolulu: transit oriented development

TOD planning concept in high-density rail corridor
Communities of higher density residences and services that are designed for walkablity and located near to a light rail transit station.

Source: What is TOD?  -- City and County of Honolulu

TOD Honolulu: neighborhood planning areas
(Excerpt) "It is easy to forget that at one time—over a half century ago— Oahu had street cars and trains... [before] the private automobile rose to prominence. The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) rail transit system is the newest phase of the ongoing evolution of our island-wide multimodal transportation system.

After more than three decades of planning, [light rail] rapid transit is finally nearing fruition. The rail system will not be isolated, but rather closely integrated with our buses and roadway system. The rail component will serve as the spine of an island-wide multimodal transportation network that... will change the way we get around.

Rail transit and the concept of a high-density rail corridor are also part of the City’s strategy to manage and direct growth... [by]... channeling development pressure to rail station areas. This goal is possible through transit-oriented development (TOD) -- compact, mixed-use development within easy walking distance of a transit station. TOD is designed to encourage walking, biking and [light rail] transit... Since this type of urban development uses land more effciently, it will enable these [TOD] communities to accommodate growth [and preserve agricultural or environmentally sensitive land] for many generations."

Source: Neighborhood TOD Plans  -- City and County of Honolulu

Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
HART route map and travel times

Source: HonoluluTransit.org

Elevated Light Rail Project Progress
(Excerpt) "The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation [HART] has completed five miles of guideway for Oahu’s rail transit system, which accounts for 25 percent of the project’s elevated guideway work for the 20-mile system.

'This is an important milestone,' said Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell. '...As commuters drive by and look at the guideway, they know that an alternative to sitting in traffic is on the way.'

The five miles of guideway includes more than 215 spans. Each span, which is the portion of guideway between two columns, typically consists of 12 segments. And each segment weighs about 50 tons."

Source: HART Press Release, 12.4.2015

On Topic:
HART: Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation
Honolulu Transit photostream on flickr


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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 251

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California: Pacific Standard Time. Always.

By 1949 law, what's going to happen twice a year at 2:00 AM?

2016 voters may ultimately decide for in California...

MEDIA CREDIT: QwkDrw

Law's Author: Assemblyman Kansen Chu, D-San Jose
California Legislature -- 2015/16 Regular Session

Proposed law in California: AB 2496
(Excerpt) "It is the intent of the Legislature to enact legislation to establish United States Standard Pacific Time [PST] as the standard time within the state during the entire year."
Complete text: AB 2496

Okay then. It is about... time. It's TIME to stop the often ineffective, perhaps dangerous, and certainly disruptive biannual clock changes mandated by a practice too-long endured: spring forward/fall back for daylight savings time (DST).

Electorate approved inititive in 1949
that put DST into practice
(Excerpt) "...voters approved [DST] back 1949 via Proposition 12... Reversing the electorate of 1949 would mean going before today’s voters and asking them to make the change, assuming... [AB 2496] passes.

Assemblyman Chu said, 'This could be a very controversial one [AB 2496]... but when he informally polls constituents... the results are very positive.'"
Source: The Sacramento Bee, 2.24.2016

!!

On Topic:
Daylight Savings Time (DST)

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 249

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Disincentivize Easy Divorce

Choose to repair the current marriage

In some cases, it may be too easy to just call it a day and bail out — perhaps to a waiting co-adulterer. In settling the divorce proceedings in this type of case, the courts might consider removing some advantages of a divorce, so that people in that situation may no longer want to choose an easy divorce over kicking the extra-marital affair(s) to the curb.

In addition to other thoughts, the courts might consider rulings that require a newly divorced couple to continue living together in the same premises as before the divorce (excluding cases with abuse, of course) and require the same ownership of real properties, businesses, and other financial instruments to continue as before the divorce.

Removing some morally vacant and quick freedoms from a divorce may or may not also incentivize the emotionally hard work to repair a current relationship. But at least with these considerations there exists day-to-day opportunity in familiar surroundings.

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Post No. 240

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Pluto's Fresh Food Restaurant

FRESH FOOD for a Hungry Universe...
in the urban core of San Luis Obispo, California

MEDIA CREDIT: GIVE ME A MOMENT BLOG

(Excerpt) "Pluto’s, started in 1995, fills a much-needed niche in the vast nothingness between fast-food and full service restaurants.

Its mission is simply to offer great-quality, American-style fresh food at unparalleled value with friendly but efficient service in an inviting setting. Pluto’s has a special “neighborhoodly” quality and serves as an extension of your kitchen...

And, unlike fast-food establishments, Pluto’s is absolutely committed to wholesome fresh food, low fat ingredients where possible, and the use of the latest healthful cooking techniques in its food preparation, such as steaming, char-grilling and roasting. Pluto’s continues to grow in cities around the country hungry for our fresh food!"

Source: Pluto's Fresh Food

4.4.2015 Update:

It was a pleasant surprise to find such a heart-healthy meal for lunch; that can be a difficult search. Pluto’s Fresh Food Restaurant in San Luis Obispo is relatively new among several other longer established and also very good restaurants nearby in the downtown area.

At Pluto’s, we were able to get a meal size substantial fresh salad with grilled meat and seven other healthy toppings of our choice. The salad prep area is set up with a huge selection of foods and employees that assemble the customer’s choices into bowls using sanitary gloves behind a clear shield. Wholesome breads are also available.

The elevated window counter with tall stools was a wonderful sun-lit place to sit, eat our delicious salads, and watch the street’s activities outside the glass. There are many good tables with chairs on the floor, but next time as well, two of the available four stools at the window counter will be our preferred seating. A future meal alternative might be one of their freshly built sandwiches.

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 237

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Shoreline Beach Cafe

Santa Barbara, California
On Leadbetter Beach. Below is an artist's rendering with possibly a historical (if not fantastical) perspective view of a former building that, for me, resembles the Shoreline Beach Cafe as it may have existed at Leadbetter Beach sometime ago. City of Santa Barbara Parks Division present-day inactive map here.

Source: Limited quantity poster from proprietor.

Source: Shoreline Beach Cafe brochure

Source: Shoreline Beach Cafe brochure

Click image below for more regarding this restaurant:


Our visit to this delightful place to relax and have a meal was on a warm bright sunny day. Our perch was at a table slightly raised above the beach sand on a deck with a mostly glass partition/guardrail facing the Pacific Ocean and Leadbetter Beach. Multi-colored fabric covers the deck for sun protection and designed to allow cooling breezes. It was a great meal and wonderful time together that compelled us to favorably compare it with some similar restaurant locations in Honolulu, Hawaii.

On Topic:
Amtrak California Day Trip: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara Round-Trip
MTD Santa Barbara: Downtown & Waterfront Electric Shuttles

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GIVE ME A MOMENT a lifestyle

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Post No. 235

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Amtrak California Day Trip: San Luis Obispo to Santa Barbara Round-Trip

A one day round-trip. Simple, good times. Fun, in one...

A Casual Day Trip by Train
It's approximately 2-1/2 to 3 hours riding on the train down to Santa Barbara. Then there's seven to eight hours to explore Santa Barbara's downtown and waterfront areas. To end the day trip, it's approximately 2-1/2 to 3 hours again riding on the train back up to San Luis Obispo. This round-trip is fun and can be done in one day.

MEDIA CREDIT: GIVE ME A MOMENT BLOG

The Train Schedule
Check the website Amtrak California and source links shown below for published times, fares, and policies. To-the-minute accuracy of schedules may not always be relied upon, if timing is personally important during a casual day trip. One important note to mention: don't miss the train.

6:30AM -- San Luis Obispo Amtrak Station.
Get to station in time to assure boarding before the southbound train departs in the morning. Long term parking is available.

6:55AM -- Train departs from San Luis Obispo.
Source: Pacific Surfliner-Southbound, Train #774 (Daily)

9:24AM  -- Train arrives at Santa Barbara Amtrak Station.

5:15PM -- Santa Barbara Amtrak Station.
Return back to station in time to assure boarding before the northbound train departs in the evening.

5:43PM -- Train departs from Santa Barbara.
Source: Pacific Surfliner-Northbound, Train #777 (Daily)

8:30PM -- Train arrives at San Luis Obispo Amtrak Station.

Long Term Parking at San Luis Obispo Station (Lot B)
Several days before the trip, it is possible to visit the station to purchased tickets in-person and also be issued a free longterm parking pass. On the date of the day trip, this may somewhat simplify parking a personal vehicle and boarding the southbound train on that morning.

The Meals
There is a "Cafe" on the train attended by one crew member. It has a basic selection and there are a few tables. We wanted to have two meals (one each way) on the train and brought a "food bag" to our seats. We had planned and packed familiar breakfast items (coffee and milk were purchased from the Cafe) plus a few bagged snacks for use later in the day while walking around Santa Barbara. We had lunch in the waterfront area at a very pleasant restaurant (discovered while walking around) with beachside tables on a covered deck. From that restaurant, we bought "to go" boxed meals for our dinner on the train while traveling back up to San Luis Obispo. In this way, the train's coach seats, tray tables, and on-board waste bins accommodated two of our day's meals.

The Scenery and Views
It would be hard to imagine finding a better seat on the train than ANY seat on the right-hand side of the southbound train. Ocean, cliffs, and beaches -- for approximately 70 percent of the train ride. Some of the train's route follows the California coastline through the isolated Vandenberg Air Force Base and other areas that are not seen from major freeways. You may wish that the train windows would open for unfiltered access to take photos.

MEDIA CREDIT: GIVE ME A MOMENT BLOG

MEDIA CREDIT: GIVE ME A MOMENT BLOG

MTD Santa Barbara: Downtown & Waterfront Electric Shuttles

Two electric shuttle routes are immediately available near to the Amtrak Station in Santa Barbara; the Downtown Shuttle and the Waterfront Shuttle. Adult fare is $0.50 per one-way ride with a one-time free transfer available between these two routes. There are shuttle stops along the nearly continuous pedestrian walkways on both routes. Both the pedestrian walkways and shuttle stops are designed as functional elements of the street architecture. The open-air electric shuttles run on schedules and will pull over for passenger loading and unloading at the designated stops.

Source: City of Santa Barbara

MEDIA CREDIT: GIVE ME A MOMENT BLOG

The Day: it's all about you.
Our day was Valentine's Day 2015. We found Santa Barbara's downtown and waterfront to be easily walkable, beautiful, and diversely interesting. Sun protection, layered clothing, and a small backpack is advised. There are enough attractions and activities to discover that one may wish for a bit more time. However, the seven or eight hours between Amtrak trains on one pleasant day -- spent exploring on foot and occasionally riding open-air shuttles -- seemed just about right... on our day.

MEDIA CREDIT: GIVE ME A MOMENT BLOG

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