Princeton by the Sea

Dear friends & family,

SINCE ANCIENT TIMES, COASTAL PEOPLES HAVE GATHERED BY THE SEA IN SPRINGTIME TO CELEBRATE THE PASSAGE OF THE WINTER STORMS AND ENGAGE IN CONTESTS OF SKILL & ENDURANCE. HONORING THIS TRADITION & BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND, WE WILL ONCE AGAIN CONVERGE HERE ON MIRAMAR BEACH AT HIGH NOON THIS COMING SUNDAY FOR THE TSUNAMI RANGER/REEF MADNESS ANNUAL EXTREME SEA KAYAKING RACE & FESTIVAL. FEEL FREE TO DRESS IN DASHING SEA GYPSY, PIRATE OR VIKING GARB & BRING ALONG A DRUM WITH WHICH TO URGE THE RACERS ONWARD… & OF COURSE YOUR FAVORITE GRUB & GROG TO SHARE AT THE GREAT FEAST THAT FOLLOWING THE RACE ARE WARMLY WELCOMED! A LIMITED NUMBER OF OFFICIAL RACE SHIRTS WILL BE AVAILABLE TO PURCHASE, & LIVE MUSIC BY TSUNAMI RANGER JOHN LULL’S SOUTH CITY BLUES BAND & MIRAMAR BEACH’S OWN WONDERFUL VOCALIST SUSAN PATE WITH WILL ROCK THE STAGE, SETTING YOUR HEATS TO POUNDING & YOUR FEET TO DANCING. HOPE TO SEE YOU HERE!

Much love, Michael & Nani

(Photo: L-R, Burt Blumert and “Big Daddy” Don Garlits celebrate Burt’s birthday on February 11.)

Friends of ours hosted a birthday party for Burt Blumert, at a home over the hill, on February 11. Earlier in the day we met “Big Daddy” Don Garlits in San Francisco where he was at a big car show signing autographs for fans at Moscone Center.

Burt has known Garlits for many years. When he told Don about the birthday party, and invited him to come along. Don Garlits said, “Sure. Pick me up at 5:30.”

Burt went to pick Don up, and while I was waiting for them at the party, I began to worry because they were late–and then they were really late.

Meanwhile they were having a wild ride all over San Francisco.. Don Garlits, the world famous drag racer, who won races right here at Princeton, sat in the passenger seat as Burt got lost, almost hit a pedestrian and ran a red light.

Here’s the true story:

“I picked him up at the Holiday Inn in Chinatown,” Burt says. “Don hadn’t been in the Bay Area for almost 20 years and I decided to give him a little sight-seeing tour before we headed down the Peninsula for the party. The sight-seeing tour didn’t go well. The second time we passed the Palace of Fine Arts, Garlits asked me, ‘Haven’t we seen this before?’

Burt said, “Yes, but that was the other side of it.”

When Burt realized he was about to cross the Golden Gate Bridge, he made a sharp, illegal u-turn and told Garlits, “We don’t want to do that.” Meanwhile he was lost in San Francisco

Poor Garlits, who spent his drag racing career surviving terrorizing moments, never experienced anything worse than Burt Blumert’s sight-seeing tour of San Francisco.

“We were lost for 45 minutes. I didn’t know where I was. I was on the Great Highway, I was in the Avenues, I was at the top of Twin Peaks….”

Finally when they arrived at the party, Burt was exhausted and Don Garlits seemed happy to be alive.

————————
[In the late 1950s & early 1960s “Big Daddy” Garlits and his famous drag-racing rival, Don Prudhomme, drew record crowds to watch them compete at the Half Moon Bay Airport near Princeton-by-the-Sea. To get info about June Morrall’s book, “Princeton-by-the-Sea,” which includes a chapter with vintage photos about Big Daddy’s drag-racing exploits at the Half Moon Bay Airport, please click here.

(Photo: This looks like a “panorama” of Princeton.)

Fitzgerald Marine Reserve
County to Purchase Beach Property Near Reef Point in Moss Beach; To Preserve Area for Science Studies

Half Moon Bay Review, 1960s (?)



A mile-long stretch of beach front along the reef dotted coastline is being acquired by San Mateo County for a marine reserve.

The reason, explained the County Board of Supervisors, in authorizing the acquisition, is to provide a protected area where the marine resources can grow.

Support for the project has been given by Supervisor Jean Fassler. The original plan for the project was presented by the technical staff of the San Mateo County Planning Commission some time ago. The commission then presented it to the board of supervisors.

One point they cited was the fact that abalone, a choice gourmet seafood, is rapidly disappearing because of lack of protection.

The area involved covers the frontal surf areas of both Montara and Moss Beach and is actually an expansion of the initial county proposal to provide public access to Nye’s beach.

But with 175 petitions urging more public access and greater protection of Reef Point and Nye’s Beach, the supervisors decided to acquire additional lands along the beachfront. Most of the property is between the southern end of the Montara Sanitary District land and Cypress Avenue in Moss Beach.

County Acquisition Agent Robert Friday said little land will be taken away from the beach other than to provide access.

The idea is to leave the area in virtually its natural state while still providing a beach area for the county’s burgeoning population.

Financing of the plan will be aided by funds from the federal open-space program.

Development calls for only a marine reserve rather than a park. Plans call for parking, sanitary facilities and perhaps a marine walkway on the bluff.

headline of Pillar Point, the northern part of the crescent that gives to Halfmoon Bay its name, is the only location that should be considered for the purpose of the new life-saving station.

“This was the site of the old whaling station that flourished years ago, and it provides an excellent lookout. In fact, a view of the sea north and south from this promontory is best obtainable for a distance of thirty miles.”

1922: “As a part of a determined campaign to wipe out all undesirable resorts on the coastside of the county, District Atty Franklin Swart filed an action in the Superior Court last Thursday named R. C. Powers, M. H. Root, Red Claire, P. Naninni, E. Calleno et al., lessees of the Princeton Hotel near Miramar, to have the establishment closed under the provisions of the Red Light Abatement Act. The complaint recites that the Princeton Hotel has been conducted contrary to the provisions of this act….”

“County to Purchase Beach Property Near Reef Point in Moss Beach; To Preserve Area for Science Studies”

Half Moon Bay Review, 1960s (unsure of date)



“A mile-long stretch of beach front along the reef dotted coastline is being acquired by San Mateo County for a marine reserve.

“The reason, explained the County Board of Supervisors, in authorizing the acquisition, is to provide a protected area where the marine resources can grow.

“Support for the project has been given by Supervisor Jean Fassler. The original plan for the project was presented by the technical staff of the San Mateo County Planning Commission some time ago. The commission then presented it to the board of supervisors.

“One point they cited was the fact that abalone, a choice gourmet seafood, is rapidly disappearing because of lack of protection.

“The area involved covers the frontal surf areas of both Montara and Moss Beach and is actually an expansion of the initial county proposal to provide public access to Nye’s beach.

“But with 175 petitions urging more public access and greater protection of Reef Point and Nye’s Beach, the supervisors decided to acquire additional lands along the beachfront. Most of the property is between the southern end of the Montara Sanitary District land and Cypress Avenue in Moss Beach.

“County Acquisition Agent Robert Friday said little land will be taken away from the beach other than to provide access.

“The idea is to leave the area in virtually its natural state while still providing a beach area for the county’s burgeoning population.

“Financing of the plan will be aided by funds from the federal open-space program.”

Development calls for only a marine reserve rather than a park. Plans call for parking, sanitary facilities and perhaps a marine walkway on the bluff.