Book Review - California Coastal Access Guide

I've received and thumbed my copy of the California Coastal Access Guide (7th Ed.)  published on February 2014.  http://www.ucpress.edu/book.php?isbn=9780520278172

I purchased the Guide hoping to find an inventory of every possible point of Cal coastal access or public easement known to man, including the most secretive, overgrown, hardly recognizable goat trails between Carmel and SB. 

Nope, no such luck.  This deficiency is confirmed b/c I know of at least one such trail/ access point that is NOT published in the Guide.  And I'm not talking about Vinod Khosla's driveway to Martin's Beach on SMC - that'll probably show up when they publish the 8th Ed.   

The Guide does list some interesting spots that were unknown to me, but these were all "developed" spots.  Not the gnarly "Skull and Bones" type access points only known to bros.  Proving once again that the goodies not usually given freely (not that this book was free, thing cost me $42!!). 

I just looked at the "Afterword" where the publisher invites public feedback, updates, and input.  It concludes:

"Please remember, however, that the guide includes only those beaches that are managed for public use."

So rest easy commandos, that goat trail to your coastal honey hole is probably safe






... for a little while longer!

thx for saving me $42.0 bro!
plus the aquarium pass - i owe you a big beer

I bought one of the earlier versions and found about the same, very few if any that I didn't already know about. 

Google Earth and the California Coastal Records Project are pretty cool for finding some spots.

So while writing the above I visited the California Coastal Records site and find that they now link to Google maps.

Woo Hoo,

I bought one of the earlier versions and found about the same, very few if any that I didn't already know about. 

Google Earth and the California Coastal Records Project are pretty cool for finding some spots.

So while writing the above I visited the California Coastal Records site and find that they now link to Google maps.

Woo Hoo,

Of course that may be old news since I haven't used the site in years.

You gotta read it backwards, like an Black Sabbath track!

I got an Ooooold one on Ebay once and thought it was really cool.  Listed many that I had no clue about.  Left in the back of my trunk it got smashed by my sub-woofer.   

In this day and age, it would probably take only a couple months to write a new book.  So do it Red stain of death!

I know the former editor of that series pretty well, she is really cute.     But yeah, not many secrets.

For all y'all book nerds, there is a new Kirk Lombard (Monkeyface News/Sea Forager) book coming soon.  I have been lucky enough to read a few chapters of the manuscript and it is pretty amazing, right in line with his blog stuff with great illustrations by Leighton Kelly.

You gotta read it backwards, like an Black Sabbath track!

HA!

I wonder if someone publishing the most secret trails would survive very long after the publishing. 

There is a nice trail above San Simon. I think it is still Hearst ranch. Some poison oak and trail is about 1/4 mile. It is a hidden beach But I do not know if it is in a no fishing zone. I'll have to take gps next time that way. 

There is a nice trail above San Simon. I think it is still Hearst ranch. Some poison oak and trail is about 1/4 mile. It is a hidden beach But I do not know if it is in a no fishing zone. I'll have to take gps next time that way.

The book lists about 20 access points within 10 miles of San Simeon

For all y'all book nerds, there is a new Kirk Lombard (Monkeyface News/Sea Forager) book coming soon.  I have been lucky enough to read a few chapters of the manuscript and it is pretty amazing, right in line with his blog stuff with great illustrations by Leighton Kelly.

This is probably more of interest, depending on the detail.  MFN always delivers good content

I never find time to read his blog anymore but I do love it.  I'll buy the book for sure!  Kirk is one heck of an interesting guy!

I never find time to read his blog anymore but I do love it.  I'll buy the book for sure! 

Hey Al, after you buy the book, can I borrow it?!     
350 clams for the standard edition, one kilodollar for limited
i'm a bibliophile but gaaaaadd dayum!!

http://www.theprototypepress.com/#!product/prd12/3495485011/me%2C-myself-and-the-monkeyface-eel