A dog person, more than a cat person, Anneliese Ågren roams the California coast from north to south in search of adventure, history, and good food. She has lived in such disparate coastal communities as McKinleyville, Newport Beach, Laguna Beach, Half Moon Bay, and San Gregorio.
The Coast Road is an odology, a study, of California State Route 1, also known as Pacific Coast Highway. This blog is a sandbox in which to play on coast road themes. I keep thinking that I’ll produce a book out of the historical research that I’ve yet to share online, but maybe not. Maybe I’ll figure out how to do what I want to do, here, online. Please return to see if I ever figure that out.
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January 25, 2009 at 10:58 am
bigsurkate
Very informative blog. I will be linking it under my “odds & ends” blog roll.
I was born and raised along the California coast, coming up on 60 years, now, so I have seen a lot of changes in my lifetime. I like what you accomplish here.
January 25, 2009 at 12:43 pm
coastroad
Hi BSK!
Very nice to have you here. Thank you for commenting too. I see many hits per day, but no one ever comments. =)
I also was born and raised along the California coast. I’ve lived in Laguna, Newport, McKinleyville, S.F., HMB, with many visits to all other wonderful points. I’m glad you like what’s going on here. It’s a total labor of love.
When we talk secession, perhaps we should have a West California secession? Unfortunately, so many of the developers would be included in that newly formed state.
April 27, 2009 at 6:05 am
Peter Richardson
Just returning from the L.A. Times Festival of Books. I stayed in Santa Monica … which counts, right? Glad to see the reference to C-Mac’s Southern California, as you might imagine.
April 28, 2009 at 4:27 am
coastroad
Hola Peter! I’ve loved that fog description compilation of “C-Mac!” Been waiting for the time to use it.
Santa Monica – where PCH routes inland along Lincoln Blvd … a boulevard had been desired instead.
May 12, 2009 at 10:05 pm
Tim Fiddes
Love your blog. Its almost 12 months to the day since I did a bicycle ride from Lompoc to San Fran. It was a fantastic experience full of great scenery, coincidences and small world experiences. Now back in Sydney I still day dream about the coast ride.
May 13, 2009 at 6:01 am
coastroad
Hi Tim!
Thanks a bunch! Now I must travel to your land (and New Zealand), so that I may enjoy your Pacific Highway. I hear it can be lovely experience too?
May 26, 2009 at 3:19 pm
Jim
Thanks for visiting my site and tipping me off to yours! The guys and I at the American Road Forum gang have spent many a pleasant thread talking about PCH and other Pacific Coast highways – http://americanroadmagazine.com/forum/ – you might enjoy visiting there, too.
May 26, 2009 at 7:48 pm
coastroad
“American Road Forum?” Sounds great – thanks! Nice to meet you via our blogs.
July 31, 2009 at 3:05 pm
Kat
Hi – great blog! I am a resident of El Granada,and was born in Laguna, grew up in Capo Beach.
I just read your post on Coastsider.com about downtown HMB. You made some great points about Laguna and it’s sustainability.
Glad I found your blog. Keep up the good work!
August 8, 2009 at 10:29 am
coastroad
Hi Kat! Glad you like this blog and even gladder (more glad?) to hear we are both Coastsiders. Keep in touch, Kat. =]
August 16, 2009 at 9:29 am
Romney Steele
Hi
I noticed that your site is a source for people who are coming to my site, so wanted to send a shout out and say thanks. great coverage of the coastal regions and other tidbits-
and do you live on the coast somewhere too?
Best-(Romney) Nani
http://www.mynepenthebook.com
September 7, 2009 at 5:23 pm
coastroad
I live north of you Romney, north of Santa Cruz, south of Half Moon Bay.
Grew up down south. Travel the coast more than anywhere else.
September 21, 2009 at 8:00 am
Bill Bartmann
Cool site, love the info. I do a lot of research online on a daily basis and for the most part, people lack substance but, I just wanted to make a quick comment to say I’m glad I found your blog. Thanks,
A definite great read.. <a href="http://wiki.hudson-ci.org/display/~bill-bartmann"
-Bill-Bartmann
December 12, 2009 at 10:23 am
ivano comelli
Thanks for posting a review of my book, “La Nostra Costa” (Our Coast) on your blog. I invite your “blaggatori” to visit my blog: http://www.nostra-costa.blogspot.com where the memories of the “La Costa” and the Coast Road continue. ivano
December 16, 2009 at 6:05 am
Anneliese
Hi Ivano! Thank you for stopping in and introducing yourself. I’m very happy to meet you after enjoying your wonderful memoir on life along the Santa Cruz County north coast.
December 21, 2009 at 10:06 am
ivano Comelli
Thanks Anneliese. Love this Blog. BTW: Some Italians living “su per la costa” would describe the Coast Road of old (the portion they were familier with) like this: “Ita goa froma Santa Croce to Davenporto, to Pescadero, San Gregorio, Haffa Moom Bay, e — San Franceezco”. Sempre Avanti ivno
January 9, 2010 at 1:26 am
gail
Found your site doing some research for a upcoming history class from the Cabrillo College
Extension Program. Prof. Sandy Lydon will be taking us to the Big Sur coast and will be discussing tales of the explorers, historians, poets and novelists who wrote about that part of the coast. Maybe you should go. check out his website. sandylydon.com
January 9, 2010 at 11:12 am
ivano comelli
Buon Giorno Anneliese. Although the scenery along the Coast Road (for the most part) is incredibly beautiful, we must not forget that the road itself can be terribly dangerous. as shown in an article I posted on the LNostra-Costa Blog.
http://nostra-costa.blogspot.com/2007/07/collision-course-delucca-accident.html
If the above link fails, please go to: http://www.nostra-costa.blogspot.com and type in Collision Course in the search space provide at top left hand corner ot the ‘blagga” ivn0
January 9, 2010 at 4:41 pm
coastroad
Buon Pomeriggio il mio amico! I am so glad that we are friends.
Yes, agreed. In fact, I’ve been putting together a post on this very subject: driving safely on our Coast Road. People drive like idiots up here, passing on a double-solid line, passing at curves, driving much too fast. There have been many (avoidable) accidents on Highway 1 in which many wonderful people have ended their lives.
I will continue to work on this post and launch when it’s ready. Currently there is too much sarcasm in the tone of the piece, which would offend readers rather than allow them to reflect.
January 18, 2010 at 6:44 am
coastroad
Gail: Just noticed your comment. I’m heavily considering going on one of Sandy’s trips, if not both! Sandy’s efforts to teach the coast’s history is impressive. I’d love to meet him.
Thank you for commenting and letting me know of these upcoming opportunities.
January 28, 2010 at 8:53 am
ivano
Anneliese: I invite all your dog loving friends to read “A Dog Named Schatz”. I’ve always believed that all dogs go to heaven. Sempre Avanti Ivno
http://nostra-costa.blogspot.com/2007/02/dog-named-schatz.html
February 4, 2010 at 10:27 am
ivano
Anneliese: Sorry to hog your comment section, but I wanted your Coast Road ‘Blaggatori’ to know about my Great Nephew Andrew Roubal.
We can trace his family linage to the North Coast of Santa Cruz where his Great Grand-Parents Bronco and Valentina made their living on a Brussel Sprout Ranch just off the Coast Road.
They also raised me (Ivano) and my brother Giovanni Primo (John), who happens to be Andrew’s Grandfather. Anyway its been a long trek but I think we can say that Andrew has made it all the way from the Coast Road to New York and a major musical production. Sempre Avanti. ivno
lnostra-costa
ANDREW ROUBAL IN THE ROLE OF “MARK” IN “A CHORUS LINE” IS COMING TO THE SACRAMENTO COMMUNITY CENTER THEATRE – MAY 19 TO MAY 30. Ivano says: Andrew (above) …
http://www.nostra-costa.blogspot. com
May 12, 2010 at 12:26 pm
sue
Speaking of ‘north of Santa Cruz” : While I grew up in San Jose, my family made weekly Sunday treks to the Scaroni ranch for beach play and fishing. It all started back in the 20′s with my mother’s Uncle Steve Small taking his extended family. My dad joined in while courting Mom in the 40′s, and the weekly visits continued till I was a teenager in the 60′s, till a few years before Katie sold the ranch and moved into town, where her sister lived.
What a joy to hunt the beach for treasures, feed Katie’s chickens and watch Bill milk the cows in the dirt-floored barn. Arnold made cheese and gave us snippets. Johnnie ‘growled’ a lot but had a great heart–his dogs were all spoiled. We got to pick pumpkins for ourselves from the field near the bridge next to the house, and listen for the bell cow as she led the herd home from pasture at the end of the day.
The house still stands, but Katie left the ranch in the 60′s after the last of her brothers passed away. It quickly turned into the nudie beach and well, not the same since.
What memories, though. I have salt in my veins from those Sundays at Scaroni’s. Found your blog at Big Sur Kate’s. Terrific.
May 27, 2010 at 8:17 am
IVANO DELLA COSTA
Anneliese: I received a similar message from Sue (above) on my LNostra-Costa ‘ blagga’. The Scaroni Property she is refering to is now known as the Red,White and Blue Beach (located just off the Coast Road about 5 miles north of Santa Cruz). Until recently it was famous for being a Nudie Beach. Last I heard the property was up for Sale. For more information on the Scaroni Property, please “clicca” on the link below. Sempre Avanti. ivn0
http://nostra-costa.blogspot.com/2007/06/lanorma-remembers-scaronis.html
May 28, 2010 at 7:38 am
coastroad
Grazi Ivano “della Costa!” Red, White, Blue Beach closed a handful of years ago. I visited one time, paid the $10 admission, parked began walking toward the beach and found a naked grandpa walking towards me. I turned around, got in my car and drove away. ha! I’m not much of a public naked enthusiast!
I don’t know if the place sold eventually or if the owner simply shut down the public access.
June 30, 2010 at 8:33 am
ivano della costa
To all friends of the north coast of Santa Cruz (La Nostra Costa) and the continuing story of an Italian Immigrant family.
TURBULENT QUEST ( my screenplay), is fiction; however, it is inspired by true events as recorded in my book: “La Nostra Costa” (Our Coast). The time period is 1923 to 1949 and the main setting is the coast north of Santa Cruz, near the little town of Davenport, California. There, as the logline of our screenplay implies the two main characters BRONCO and VALENTINA struggle to seek a better life in America for themselves and their two sons. The screenplay also takes us to a Nazi-occupied Northern Italy where Bronco and Valentina’s families face dire circumstances during World War II.
TO VIEW COMPLETE ANNOUNCEMENT WITH PHOTO: PLEASE ‘CLICCA’ ON LINK BELOW:
http://nostra-costa.blogspot.com/2010/06/turbulent-quest-screenplay-by-ivano.htmlj
As always, if the above link fails “clicca” here: http://www.nostra-costa.blogspot.com
Sempre Avanti – Ivano
July 11, 2010 at 1:21 pm
JV
Check out Moss Landing harbor and Elkhorn Slough communities (they are right next to each other; great place to live. Lots of fresh produce.
http://localnomad.wordpress.com
December 24, 2010 at 10:30 am
Milt
Great blog, Anneliese! It’s very informative, and one gets a strong sense of the landscape of this pretty cool part of our country.
December 30, 2010 at 6:24 am
coastroad
Thank you Milt.
March 20, 2011 at 10:51 pm
Tom Dodd
I’ve been reading “Up and Down California in 1860-1864″ which is the journal of William H. Brewer, hired by Whitney for the first geological survey of California. Book 1, Chapter VI, is about the new Coast Road between Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. I think you will find the description of the beginning of this road pretty entertaining and informative, if you haven’t already stumbled on to the book.
March 20, 2011 at 10:57 pm
Tom Dodd
near Santa Inez, April 7, 1861 “This road we are following – sometimes it is a mere obscure trail across the grassy plain, scarcely visible yet for want of travel, at others well engineered, built over and along high hills and deep canyons at great expense and labor. Fine bridges of wood span the streams and gulches, the first bridges we have seen in the southern country. Our mules are shy of these, to them, strange structures.”
March 24, 2011 at 9:27 am
Jerry Cochran
The book I mentioned last night is “The Gate” by John Van Der Zee
March 27, 2011 at 11:39 am
Anneliese
Jerry! Hey, glad you found your way to the Coast Road! I’ve located the book and will read with enthusiasm. Thank you for the tip and it was so nice to meet you at Izzy’s.
April 15, 2011 at 7:35 am
Tom Dodd
Coast road closed below Big Sur by a slide, again
http://www.montereyherald.com/breaking/ci_17849214?nclick_check=1
August 1, 2011 at 9:41 pm
Erik O'Dowd
Anneliese, Your blog is now on my Bookmark list. I’m a fellow devotee of California highway 1, having roamed it countless times. I love your observations, and I’m not just saying that because of your kind comments about my novel, Gaviota. Keep up the good work and I may meet you someday along the road. (I speak some Swedish, BTW.)
August 2, 2011 at 5:44 pm
coastroad
Erik! How very nice it is to meet you! I loved “Gaviota.” Thank you for such a treasure of a read. I “met” you through Bill Denneen’s email list. You wrote a poem that Bill published on his list, and I was delighted to find that you’d written a book. Wonderful read. Thank you again.