On CalTrans’ Road Conditions website this morning for Highway 1:

SR 1
[IN THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
IS CLOSED TO SOUTHBOUND TRAFFIC FROM WARNER AVE TO SEA POINT AVE
/IN HUNTINGTON BEACH/ (ORANGE CO) – DUE TO FLOODING - A DETOUR IS AVAILABLE

[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
IS CLOSED 3 MI SOUTH OF GORDA (MONTEREY CO)/ FROM 1700 HRS EACH AFTERNOON TO 0800 HRS EACH MORNING 7 DAYS A WEEK – DUE TO A SLIP OUT- MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

IS CLOSED AT TOMALES-PETALUMA RD /IN TOMALES/ (MARIN CO) DUE TO FLOODING MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

IS CLOSED FROM THE MARIN/SONOMA COUNTY LINE TO 2 MI NORTH OF THE MARIN/SONOMA COUNTY LINE DUE TO FLOODING- MOTORISTS ARE ADVISED TO USE AN ALTERNATE ROUTE

1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS FROM 2.3 MI NORTH TO 6.3 MI NORTH OF THE SANTA BARBARA/SAN LUIS OBISPO CO LINE FROM 0900 HRS TO 1400 HRS MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 1/22/10 DUE TO MAINTENANCE

1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC 1.5 MI SOUTH OF THE SAN LUIS OBISPO/MONTEREY COUNTY LINE FROM 0700 HRS TO 1600 HRS MONDAY THRU THURSDAY & FROM 0700 HRS TO
1400 HRS ON FRIDAY THRU 1/29/10 – DUE TO CONSTRUCTION- MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO DELAYS OF UP TO 20 MINUTES

1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC 3 MI SOUTH OF GORDA (MONTEREY CO) FROM 0800 HRS TO 1700 HRS 7 DAY A WEEK DUE TO A SLIP OUT

[IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC 1.8 MI NORTH OF GUALALA (MENDOCINO CO) FROM 0700 HRS TO 1700 HRS TUESDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 1/22/10 – DUE TO CONSTRUCTION

1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC FROM 2.5 MI SOUTH TO 2 MI SOUTH OF THE JCT OF SR 128 (MENDOCINO CO) 24 HRS A DAY 7 DAYS A WEEK THRU 0001 HRS ON 1/31/10 DUE TO PERMIT WORK MOTORISTS ARE SUBJECT TO DELAYS OF UP TO
10 MINUTES

1-WAY CONTROLLED TRAFFIC 2.2 MI NORTH OF THE JCT OF SR 128 (MENDOCINO CO)
FROM 0800 HRS TO 1600 HRS MONDAY THRU FRIDAY THRU 1/22/10 DUE TO PERMIT WORK

Alex Schaefer paints PCH at the intersection of Corral Canyon Road.

Alex does not omit the modern details.  Emphasis upon the painting’s foreground directs the viewer’s focus onto a traffic signal holding cars at red stoplight.  Stop.  Focus.

The sand-squatting hulk of a grey concrete west highway residence takes up center space of this painting, and the beach itself, although public visitors have to stay “seaward of the mean high tide line.”  A smudge of an orange 76  ball announces the gas station.

Telephone poles.  A singular streetlight.  Shadows lengthen across PCH suggesting late afternoon.  The light is cool, so perhaps the season is winter, which would account for the noticeably minor flow of road traffic.

The coast road leads the eye north past Latigo Cove.  Gratefully, here Alex indulges the viewer in an undeveloped landscape of muted colors of grey-green-brown, although this cove is heavily developed with the four-level Tivoli condominium complex, and many townhomes and single-family residences.

Phone and power lines form a wave pattern above the highway at the top of the rise.  The pale sky, relatively indistinguishable above the horizon.  A bit of each blends into the other.

Sandstone.  Asphalt.  Sea.  Amarenth.

La Jolla Cove, painted by Alex Schaefer in 2009 ::

and here is the same view, painted in 1936 by Alfred Mitchell ::

Alfred Mitchell (1888 – 1972), “La Jolla Shores, 1936.”
Oil on canvas, 40 x 50 inches

For 2010, we have new laws going into effect that surely reflect the times in which we are living:

This first example is a doozy as who in their right mind would watch television and drive concurrently, especially if the driver was enjoying California State Route 1:

Television Broadcast or Video Signal:  Drive a motor vehicle with a television receiver, video monitor, television or video screen, or any other similar means of visually displaying a television broadcast or video signal if the equipment is designed, operated and configured in a manner that prevents the driver of the motor vehicle from viewing the television broadcast or video signal while operating the vehicle in a safe and reasonable manner.

This second one is just a no-brainer:  DON’T DRINK AND DRIVE and you won’t have to worry about it:

Driving Under the Influence:  Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to advise second and third time misdemeanor DUI offenders of the following options: obtain a restricted driver’s license that would allow driving after serving a 90-day suspension period for a second conviction of misdemeanor DUI, or a six month suspension period for a third conviction of misdemeanor DUI if the violation only involves alcohol. The offender must enroll in a DUI program and the offender must install and maintain an IID in their vehicle.

These third and fourth new laws are concerning as it’s just common sense to slow for any emergency or maintenance vehicle on the highway, why must it be now a law? Are drivers THAT dangerous to our highway and emergency workers?

Move Over/Slow Down:  Sections 21809 VC and 25253 VC. Section 21809 VC requires a person driving a vehicle on a freeway and approaching in a lane immediately adjacent to a stationary, authorized emergency vehicle that displays emergency lights, or a stationary tow truck that displays flashing amber warning lights, to safely make a lane change from that lane, or slow to a reasonable speed. Section 25253 VC requires tow trucks used to tow disabled vehicles to be equipped with flashing amber warning lamps and authorizes tow trucks to display flashing amber warning lamps while providing service to a disabled vehicle. However, this section prohibits tow trucks from displaying flashing amber warning lamps on a freeway except when an unusual traffic hazard or extreme hazard exists. Department of Transportation Vehicles (Move Over, Slow Down Law) requires a person who is driving a vehicle on a freeway and approaching in a lane immediately adjacent to a stationary, authorized emergency vehicle that displays emergency lights, or a stationary tow truck that displays flashing amber warning lights, to safely make a lane change from that lane, or slow to a reasonable speed. This new law adds a stationary, marked Caltrans vehicle displaying flashing amber warning lights to the “Move Over, Slow Down Law.”

Crimes Against Highway Workers:  Assault and Battery amends section 2415 and 243.65 of the penal code to expand the definition of a highway worker to include employees of a city or county who perform specified activities related to local streets and roads. Additionally this new law includes in the definition of a highway worker, employees of a contractor while working under contract with Caltrans, contractors and employees of contractors while working under contract with a city or county and volunteers.

Note:  Personal Liability Immunity that a Good Samaritan who renders medical or non-medical care at the scene of an emergency would not be liable for any civil damages.

KION Source.

I’m here, just experiencing the winter doldrums + researching California’s Plein Air artists, learning about Tonalism, and the difference between Southern California Plein Air artists, and the Northern California ones.

Capitalization of “Southern” and “Northern,” entirely intentional.  Keep visiting.  I’ll post again soon.