Lots of people reporting that the CHP are very active in Inverness and IP today reminding people to drive safely. They were all over Lucas Valley yesterday too. (thx mm, dw, iw)

9:48pm - WOW. Did any see that huge blue meteor just go over towards the north? Streaked right up the bay towards Marshall. Unbelievable.

Celebrity Sighting of the Weekend: Michael Pollan at Saltwater on Friday night. Did he eat some food. Not too much. And mostly plants? Inquiring minds want to know.

Here comes the sun in Point Reyes #sunrise #gold

Today is the 25th anniversary of the Loma Prieta earthquake. Giants were in the World Series then (and the A's), just as they are now. Where were you when it happened?

Check out this nerve wracking clip from that broadcast: http://youtu.be/Z8ExMR0c0aM?t=4m15s

And more importantly, are you prepared for the next one?

From Doug Pittman: "A reminder to all my fellow West Marinites...today between 1-6pm at the Dance Palace in Point Reyes Station, Marin County Health & Human Services will be providing FREE influenze vaccinations for the upcoming 2014 flu season. I know I will be one to get my flu shot today and I hope others come by to receive theirs..please note that just because I will be there doesn't mean everyone can line up to poke the Sheriff."

Brickmaiden Bread, a local company run by Celine Underwood, just launched an amazing Kickstarter campaign to upgrade their oven. The 'rewards' for supporting the cause are incredible. They're also having a party today from 4pm - 8pm at their bakery in downtown Point Reyes (by the Commons) to celebrate. Food, drink and oysters! Be sure to check out the campaign and the party!!!!

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1934292491/brickmaiden-breads

7:51 - Friendly speed check reminders happening at Perry's this morning. (Thx Mm)

9:06am - The CHP is patrolling around Inverness this morning doing speed safety checks to help remind everyone to drive slowly and safely.

The SF Chronicle weighs in on the elk issue. "But there isn’t much celebrating going on in the picturesque hills, where elk can regularly be seen loping proudly through pastures that seven organic dairies use for their cattle. The wild elk and domestic cows simply do not mix, according to the ranchers who lease the fields from the National Park Service, which administers 28,000 acres of agricultural land in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area and Point Reyes seashore. The ranchers say the competition from the elk for scarce vegetation threatens their very existence after three years of drought."

http://www.sfgate.com/science/article/Reintroduced-tule-elk-compete-with-cattle-on-5816969.php#photo-6987258

1:36pm - a CHP speed trap reported in Inverness Park. Drive slow. Drive safe. "The is no 'way to the speed limit', there is only 'the speed limit'". (thx MP)

3:38pm - car flipped over on Sir Francis Drake by Samuel P Taylor. Emergency crews on way, proceed with caution (thx KS)

Two local surfers on their stand up paddle boards had a 'very large' Great White Shark swim under them out at Drake's Bay this weekend. It's that time of the year. I've also heard that the local shark researchers have spotted lots of Great Whites outside the mouth of Tomales Bay as well. Geepers.

Magic moonlight in Point Reyes tonight.

One of our local reporters just sent this photo in. Anyone else seeing smoke out in West Marin today? Anyone know what it is? (Thanks JWS)

Gray whales migrating south for winter are now passing the San Francisco Bay Area, and rangers at Point Reyes National Seashore observed 41 whales last Sunday, and another 25 Friday.

http://sanfrancisco.cbslocal.com/2013/12/27/whale-watchers-spot-dozens-off-point-reyes-each-day/

Total eclipse of Blood Moon tonight! This is the Northern Hemisphere’s Hunter’s Moon – the full moon after the Harvest Moon. It’s also a Blood Moon, and this eclipse is the second in a series of four so-called Blood Moon eclipses.

http://earthsky.org/tonight/total-lunar-eclipse-blood-moon-hunters-moon-october-7-8-2014

BREAKING: The Drakes Bay Oyster Co. announced Monday it has settled its lawsuit against the federal government, signing a legal agreement with the National Park Service to allow it to keep harvesting oysters until the end of 2014 and then close.

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_26673170/drakes-bay-agrees-cease-oyster-operations-plans-open

Fun fact of the day. If you follow Bay Area sports, you probably read Ann Killion in the SF Chronicle. And did you know her brother is the celebrated local artist Tom Killion? No, I bet you did not.

"My famous brother's art in these Levi's windows. Very cool."

https://twitter.com/annkillion/status/331490452182274048

http://annkillion.com/

http://tomkillion.com/

Setting up to be another epic day on the bay in Point Reyes.

If you live in Bolinas and know the young dudes who surf, tell them that waxing the cars of Point Reyes surfers is not cool. We don't wax their cars when they surf here. Sheesh. Kids these days. #getoffmylawn

CHP found this old wreck off of Ottinger's Hill today in Point Reyes. Looked like a 50's station wagon. Anyone?

4:30pm - Electric line down on PR/Petaluma road. One lane traffic control. Be aware. (thx AN)

Via The Point Reyes Light: "Hikers on Sky Trail in the Point Reyes National Seashore on Tuesday morning discovered two dead bodies, one of which has been identified as Thomas Fletcher, a 62-year-old from Petaluma. The park service has not yet released further details, but the sheriff’s log from Tuesday shows that at 9:33 a.m. someone who had spent the night at Sky Camp reported seeing two people—a man and a woman—who appeared to be dead."

http://www.ptreyeslight.com/article/two-bodies-found-seashore

Whoops. "After arrests of Inverness couple this week, SWAT team discovers large grow site and firearms at the top of Drakes View Drive." - Tess Elliott @PointReyesLight

"The National Weather Service on Wednesday issued a heat advisory for most of the northern and central California coast beginning at noon Thursday and running through 9 p.m. Friday, as temperatures inch toward the high 80s and low 90s in most coastal cities and the upper 90s and even low 100s in some inland areas. Those temperatures are 10 to 15 degrees above normal for this time of year, according to the weather service."

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_26645089/warm-temperatures-and-winds-put-marin-fire-notice?source=rss

9:00pm - Someone reported SWAT teams seen in Point Reyes this evening? Anyone have any info? (Thx LM)

There will be a 7 acre prescribed control burn at the Estero Trailhead from 10am - 3pm today assuming conditions are optimal.

12:51pm - CHP doing their thing at White House Pool. Drive safely. Be mindful. Drive safe. Mahalo.

Two fun events today. Apple cider pressing in the Commons in Point Reyes from 3:30 to 6:00. And a printmaking open house for musicians at Ink.Paper.Plate with Sirima. Get out there! Info below...

More apple info:
http://www.westmarincommons.org/event/community-apple-pressing

More printing info:
https://www.facebook.com/events/559183024207669/

Secret spot of the day! Do you know where this is? #pointreyes #mrtoad (thx IW)

6:39pm - On Sir Francis Drake just east of Samuel Taylor Park a station wagon has hit a large tree which fell over onto the car and on the road. 911 has been called and emergency vehicles on the way. Proceed with caution, hopefully everyone is ok. (thx MM)

Rain came last night, roads are super slick, already lots of accidents reported on the road ways. Drive safe.

Standing room only at the Inverness Association meeting tonight as they talked about the future of the 'Launch For Hire' boathouse.

Full rainbow over Tomales Bay! Thx DW. #gold #rainbow #unicorns

Jared Huffman gets roasted by Steven Colbert on his 'Better Know A District' series. "What's your position on Han Solo shooting first?" Funny stuff in that horribly awkward sort of way.

http://thecolbertreport.cc.com/videos/ybvlae/better-know-a-district---california-s-2nd---jared-huffman

"We should see some rain Wednesday and into the night, and showers the next day," said National Weather Service forecaster Steve Anderson. "There may even be a possible thunderstorm."

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_26584989/marin-forecast-rain-possible-thunderstorm-at-midweek?source=rss

1:12pm - Just got a report that a 'bomb squad' truck went through Inverness Park with their lights on. Anyone else see that or hear about it? (thx EL)

Someone posted this 'secret spot' in Point Reyes on Twitter this morning. Anyone know where it is?

7:49am - CHP has set up shop at Perry's this morning. Be slow. Be safe. Be mindful. Embrace the inner child. Namaste. (thx DW and AP)

Missed this one yesterday: "The Coast Guard rescued three individuals from the water in Tomales Bay, Sunday morning. At approximately 8:30 a.m., Coast Guard Sector San Francisco Command Center personnel received notification that three individuals went into the water just off Lawson's Landing when their raft deflated.The individuals were not wearing personal flotation devices, nor were they properly prepared for exposure to the elements."

Nice sketch of the Point Reyes Lighthouse by http://neriticzone.blogspot.com/

An SUP water skiing behind sailboat. Not something you see everyday. #pointreyes #redbull #radical

Bike-a-palooza in Point Reyes this afternoon. Plan accordingly.

Traffic Alert: The MS 'Waves to Wine' bike ride is happening today, coming over Mt. Tam, up Rt. 1, taking a right at Olema and then heading out towards Petaluma. Plan Accordingly.

http://bikecan.nationalmssociety.org/site/PageServer/?s_AffiliateSecCatId=1&pw_id=10781&pagename=BIKE_CAN_EventDetails&fr_id=22900

From CHPMarin at 2:19pm: "#Ragnar relay is in full swing in west Marin on Pt. Reyes-Petaluma Road. Expect traffic delays/watch for runners in the area #marintraffic"

They're finally removing those pipes from Lucas Valley Road! Expect delays. (Thx DW & FN)

I'm out of town but I heard a rumor it's, raining?

A 380-foot cargo steamship involved in a deadly collision in the fog off Point Reyes more than 100 years ago has been located by high-tech gear 200 feet on the floor of the Pacific Ocean, part of a recent effort to look at area shipwrecks. (But where exactly??)

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_26547329/decades-old-shipwreck-off-point-reyes-identified-by?source=rss

Oh, dear. Yesterday we were biking down to Limantour from the youth hostel when a woman stopped us and said she had been chased by a buck on the trail and to be careful because it was 'the rut'. Sure enough, we got down the trail and there was a buck and a doe right in the trail not backing down from us. Eventually they didn't think we were worth it and they went up into the hills and let us pass, but it was a little sketchy. It's that time of the year, so take care when hiking...

A solid south swell moving into the area tonight, be safe. PRNPS: "The National Weather Service has issued a beach hazard for strong rip currents through this evening. Please be cautious in/around the ocean."

More on the new bike laws. "Under the law, drivers can't cross double-yellow lines when they're trying to give a wide berth to bicyclists. Bicyclists also are entitled to use the whole lane if they flow with the speed of traffic, but must ride as close to the shoulder as practical. Bicyclists are also required to pull over if five or more cars stack up behind them."

http://www.marinij.com/marinnews/ci_26533413/three-foot-separation-rule-protect-cyclists-goes-into?source=rss

More from Mexican Independence Day.

Mexican Independence celebration right now in Point Reyes. Amazing food and music. If you're not here, you should be.

Photograph of fossil diatoms collected in Pt. Reyes National Seashore in Marin County, California, and arranged on a microscope slide in 1968 by A.L. Brigger.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/casgeology/8981509235/in/photostream/

2:06pm - CHP is very active on SFD in and around Inverness today. I was followed closely all the way from Perry's to Chicken, wondering what I did wrong and how much it was going to cost me. Instead he went into the park to have lunch I presume. Phew.

Nice article about the history of mountain biking in West Marin with a hand drawn map of the famous 'Repack' course by Dewey Livingston. But why no mention of Steve Potts?

http://www.collectorsweekly.com/articles/the-hippie-daredevils-who-were-just-crazy-enough-to-invent-mountain-biking/

Caught this huge red ant in the house today. Could it be a Queen Carpenter Ant? Has anyone soon one before?

Don't forget the Shoreline School Board meeting is today at 6:00pm at the Tomales High School.

Your Thursday fuzzy wuzzy. Looks like a pretty nice place when you dress it up like that. This photo is by Attilio Ruffo, more of his work can be found here: http://www.attilioruffo.com/landscapes/thumbs/

The Sheriff went blazing by me at 6am this morning heading out to Pierce Point Road. Heard that might have been an accident out there, does anyone have any details?