Fire on the mountain in Point Reyes this morning.

Must be West Marin month in the media. Marshall Store made the cover of Sunset magazine. Stellina mentioned inside.

http://westphoria.sunset.com/2...

SFGate calls Drake's Beach in Point Reyes one of the cleanest beaches in the Bay Area in 2014.

http://www.sfgate.com/travel/s...

7:55pm - A helicopter has been going back and forth over Tomales Bay all evening, anyone know what's going on?

1:01pm - Both lanes of Sir Francis Drake closed at Tocaloma due to accident. Use alternate routes. (Thx BE)

It's 'blast from the past' day. This 1969 West Marin School footage was found on YouTube today. Does anyone recognize any of these people? Why this is being paired with music from an indie Philly band? So many questions. (thanks WS!)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?...

"The California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) has confirmed that several turkey vultures have been poisoned from the veterinary euthanasia drug pentobarbital in Marin County. Pentobarbital-poisoned birds appear to be dead. They have no reflex response and breathing can barely be detected. The birds appear intact, without wounds or obvious trauma. Anyone finding a comatose vulture should call WildCare's 24-hour Hotline at (415) 456-SAVE (7283) immediately."

https://cdfgnews.wordpress.com...

A ghost ship in the lingering morning fog on Tomales Bay.

"Two suspected antler poachers in the Point Reyes National Seashore were detained Wednesday after rangers spent much of the day tracking their activities. The suspects were spotted loading antlers into a boat near Tomales Point and then hauling them across the bay to the Dillon Beach area. Federal park rangers and sheriff's deputies intercepted the men."

http://www.marinij.com/environ...

I've heard about this happening, but first time I've read about an actual operation going down. Dang.

Just saw Batman on Nicasio Valley Road by the reservoir. Really!

Helicopter circling the waters off Dillon Beach, search lights in the water. They are targeting a small area north of the beach, off the cliffs of ocean Marin. Not sure what's going on but they are looking for something.

3:45pm - Truck stuck on Sir Francis Drake at Dream Farm Road, traffic backed up with no turn arounds. (Thx AP)

Just got back from an errand in Point Reyes Station. Long lines at our Highway One stop signs, at Bear Valley Road and here on Levee Road.

Wouldn't it be cool if the California Highway Patrol were posted at these intersections to direct traffic on holiday weekends like this one?

From yesterday: @MarinSheriff advises so many visitors to West Marin beaches and parks have led to local restaurants running out of food yesterday,

Just got back from an errand in Point Reyes Station. Long lines at our Highway One stop signs, at Bear Valley Road and here on Levee Road.

Wouldn't it be cool if the sheriff were posted at these intersections to direct traffic on holiday weekends like this one?

BIRD ALERT: A Brown Booby was spotted out by Chimney Rock yesterday. If you don't have one on your list, now is your chance. (thanks TinyLongWing)

This crew was putting out some good vibes on gorgeous day in Point Reyes today. Did anyone get their band name? They left before I could ask.

Lead story in the Point Reyes Light this week: "As the ranch's manager, Rodney Martinelli, tells it, a cow with a festering bullet wound to the head leapt a corral fence and led him and two friends on an hours-long chase that ended with the cow's death, and one man's broken leg." Photo by Dave Briggs.
http://www.ptreyeslight.com/ar...

Help yourself to some FREE love - Happy Valentine's Day

Lived in Inverness for 25 yrs, now in Seattle, biking back to visit in May. Anybody want to do a house/apt trade for May 6-12 or so? Or know of a cheap place to stay for four adult cyclists, who'll only be with me for two nights? Thanks. Mary Davies

12:47am - Busy day today. "Rescue helicopter Henry 1 rescues a surfer in distress near Dillon Beach." There is a large swell filling in today, please use extreme caution near the beaches and don't necessitate a Henry 1 visit.
https://twitter.com/FriendsOfH...

Thank you West Marin Feed for your help in getting information out to our West Marin communities! This service to your neighbors and those we serve is invaluable. Times are changing, people demand to have and know more information sooner than later and we at the Sheriff's Office are taking steps to meet those demands.

The West Marin Feed has been instrumental in helping us achieve this task for which, as the Spokesperson for the Sheriff's Office and the County during emergency of catastrophic events, I appreciate greatly!

This mornings example of you getting info out to our residents in Woodacre and San Geronimo Valley is exactly the kind of communication we need to continue to promote between the Sheriff's Office (and Govt) and those we serve.

Keep up the good work work!

Doug Pittman,
CMDR - Sheriff's Patrol Divison

8:23am - @MarinSheriff deputies have located 2nd suspect in Woodacre search, no other subjects wanted, suspect in custody.

8:15am BREAKING NEWS : Man on the run from sheriffs department wearing an orange traffic vest, jeans and missing a shoe. Call 911 if you see him. Sheriff just told me this at bottom of Redwood Canyon. CHP aircraft now on-scene aiding in search effort in Woodacre. @SanRafaelPolice K9 also assisting. One female suspect caught after CHP car chase and crash, male suspect fled on foot.

http://www.marinij.com/general...

A suspect is at large in the hills of Woodacre on Thursday morning after a chase in which a speeding car crashed into a creek and erupted in flames.

A woman who also fled the vehicle following the incident at 6:26 a.m. was held for questioning.

Authorities said a California Highway Patrol officer tried to stop a car for a speeding violation, triggering a chase that ended when the fleeing vehicle crashed into San Geronomio Creek near Redwood and Carson avenues. The car burst into flames.

New Printmaking Workshops for 2105 - Stop by and find out what's in store for Visiting Artist Workshops (papermaking, encaustic, photo-etching)

7:44am - @marincountyfire: Hy 1 down to one lane between Tomales and Nick's Cove. Large tree in the roadway.Unknown time for complete opening.

A kind woman called into "The Vicarious Traveler" show this morning to share a story about one of my wildlife images. If you see this (or know who that might have been if you were listening), please drop me a line. I'd love to share something with you. :)

12:11pm - Lots of smoke across the bay right now, anyone know what's going on? Control burn? (Thx DW)

Some serious beach foam getting whipped up at Drakes Beach in Point Reyes yesterday.

6:06pm - Power lines touching trees caused some flames to appear in Inverness. Scary stuff, PG&E quickly turned the power off.

Keep clicking on California for more detailed views of the wind strength and directions in real time:
http://hint.fm/wind/

4:15pm - Sounds like power lines on tree on Balboa Ave. They're blocking road and waiting for PGE. Proceed with caution in area.

2:16pm - Power just went out on Escondido Way in Inverness. Anyone else lose power?

11:59am - Trees are starting to come down now. Possibly a tree down on Shorline Hwy by Bear Valley Rd. Another tree possibly down on Rt. 1 south of Nick's Cove. If you have to drive, go slow, be safe.

Ottingers Hill on SFD heading into NPRS still closed, going to be a couple of more hours, if not longer. It's a mess.

Via KWMR: "Tree down blocking both lanes of Sir Francis Drake at the bottom of Ottingers Hill reported at 5:38 am." Stay tuned to KWMR for more updates. Any other damage reports?

Secret Spot of the Day. Do you know where this is?

Just watched Sonoma County "Henry" helicopter and a long line rescue person pull a kayaker and kayak from "The Shark Pit" off the mouth of Tomales Bay near Lawson's Landing about an hour ago. Coast Guard, Marin County jet ski, Bodega Bay FD ambulance all there, too. Who goes out in a kayak with a storm blowing in? Thanks to all the responders and alert people who reported the wayward adventurer.

A couple of people have mentioned this to me earlier, and today I just got the 'fake IRS' call on my mobile phone. A recorded voice that said I was under investigation and needed to call a certain number immediately. Even though it was obviously fake, it's still unnerving. Be careful, let people know, especially those who might not get it.

http://www.irs.gov/uac/Newsroo...

Almost hit a Bobcat on Sir Francis Drake Bl in Inverness Park right by the Abalone house.
Watch out for your pets.

Michele Stone
Inverness

Morning magic here in Inverness. Calm before the storm?

"No matter where you are on Earth, look eastward as soon as darkness falls. The full moon and the dazzling planet Jupiter will couple up together just above the eastern horizon at nightfall. Think photo opportunity!"

http://earthsky.org/tonight/fu...

Looking for small cottage or home in Petaluma or Pt Reyes, Inverness from 22 April thru 3rd June-
One week minimum; I live in the BEST part of BELIZE............
Placencia, across the road from a beautiful beach & we have a swimming pool, as well as all the amenities of "home," with air con, wifi, cable tv, & our preferred transportation, beach cruiser bikes!
Originally from Pt Reyes area, my grand children live in Petaluma; I want to spend this time period with them, and return to my "home away from home" for the evenings.

Our swap does not have to be simultaneously, as I have a few accommodations in Placencia & can be flexible.
If this is something you would be interested in discussing, please contact me & tell me more.

YES! "After quiet weather with warm temperatures through Wednesday, we are keeping an eye on a substantial change in the weather slated for Thursday through Sunday. Confidence remains high that rain will return to our area later this week as a moist flow off the Pacific will bring rainfall back to our area." - NWS Bay Area

https://www.facebook.com/NWSBa...

Skipping the Super Bowl? Then check out the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir at The Dance Palace tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 1) at 4:00pm. This is a sliding scale event, no one turned away. It will be an amazing show, check the choir out here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?... and more info here: https://dancepalace.org/events...

Secret Spot of The Day: Do you know where this is? Have you ever been there? (thx EO)

A section of Highway 1 by Muir Beach that was washed out during December storms is set to reopen by noon Thursday, according to Caltrans. "It's ahead of schedule," said Steve Williams, a Caltrans spokesman. "The work basically went non-stop once it started. The weather really helped out."

http://www.marinij.com/marinne...

"Another time we were thinking of opening a restaurant in Inverness, a town fifteen miles or so away from Drake's Bay north of San Francisco, where the waiters would be well-known poets of our acquaintance who'd work there for a week or two and then be replaced by other poets." - from a rememberance of the Pulitzer Prize winning poet Mark Strand. Sounds good to me. (thx DP)

http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/n...

Does anyone know or has figured out who takes down the posters put up by hard working musicians and non-profits - from the post offices? They just get ripped down before the event has happened. It's annoying. It's actually more than annoying.

Sonoma Sheriff's Helicopter Unit, Henry 1, had a busy weekend: "A woman injured in a fall was rescued by helicopter Saturday from the lighthouse at the Point Reyes National Seashore." That's what all the sirens were about on Saturday. Nice to know we've got such good team watching our backs.

http://www.pressdemocrat.com/n...

5:25pm - Single motorcycle accident on Route One south of Tomales. Sounds like they're bringing the Reach helicopter in, hope everything is ok.

Question: Why do people bag up the dog poop but then leave it on the trail? Is there a reason? Who's supposed to pick it up? This is not the first time I've seen this happen, so I'm curious.

yo, any word on the mass sirens roaring out of PR?

Goat Video Update: They are at D Ranch by Drakes Beach happily eating invasive plants and being pretty cute. #goats #lawnmower