Saturday, November 22, 2014

Shelter Cove community, and the stranded fishing vessel wreck


Letters to the Editor,11/18/14. "Shelter Cove heroes" by Mary Harris

17 cottages, living on the south edge
of the city. Where's the dock?
Living close to the waves
"Editor: The story in the Nov. 5 Pacifica Tribune titled "Fishing Vessel Stranded" was interesting but needs some more information:  After the wreck of the Giaconda, many, if not most of Shelter Cove inhabitants, including the owner, tenants, and other helpers, cleaned up the wreckage. Many were up all of Halloween night and into the morning working hard for beach safety. Residents prevented over 40 gallons of diesel from polluting the ocean and an incredible amount of debris and hazardous boat parts, including the engine, were removed from the beach. Work was done daily and sometimes even nightly for an entire week. Through these young peoples' amazing efforts, the wildlife and natural beauty in this precious coastal environment have been preserved. 

On the day of the shipwreck Shelter Cove community members provided shelter for the survivors and coordinated with the Coast Guard and local officials. I believe that all of the work was done with a wonderful community spirit by the residents of Shelter Cove. At 97 years old, I am the only antique and stayed out of the way, but I did contribute some energy food like chocolate kisses and cookies.  What if the whole world worked with such caring community spirit?"

Note:  Mary Harris is a resident of  Shelter Cove, a remote neighborhood in this city. 

Walking home 
ReferencePacifica Tribune, 11/5/14, "Fishing Vessel Stranded" "A fishing vessel with two persons aboard reportedly ran out of fuel and ran aground in Shelter Cove Friday morning, the U.S. Coast Guard said. The operator of the 28-foot-long vessel Giaconda called the Coast Guard's San Francisco command center day to report the mishap, authorities said.

The two people on board came ashore safely but the vessel remains stranded in Shelter Cover because of the shallow cove and limited shoreside access, the Coast Guard said. The San Mateo County Sheriff's office, the Pacifica Police Department and the Pacifica Fire Department were notified about the incident as was the California Department of Fish and Wildlife. The Coast Guard said crews were working with the vessel's owners and pollution response and salvage contractors to assess any potential for pollution and to have the vessel removed from the area. In addition, the Coast Guard said, an oil spill removal organization has been hired to conduct a pollution threat assessment and remove any oil or remaining fuel product from the vessel's reportedly-empty fuel tanks." 

Related - Wikipedia.  Shelter Cove is a 17-acre (6.9 ha) beach neighborhood at the southerly edge of Pacifica, California consisting of seventeen rustic rental cottages owned by Arno Rohloff since July 1997.  .... Ever since the access road washed out during a 1983 storm, this neighborhood and beach is accessible only by footpath or boat.  Public access to the Shelter Cove beach from this road and footpath was closed in 1975.  Video: "Crash 'n burn drone flyers in Pacifica" by Eric Cheng, (music by Kevin MacLeod), 6/8/14, Vimeo, 2:40 minutes. 

Note photographs: broad view of Shelter (comments, and article) from Cove at Pedro Point from Everything South City.  Found on Pacifica Riptide,  with no direct link to either the Riptide article or the direct photograph reference:  1) Beach view PCT26's Footprints "Mary Harris at Shelter Cove" wins Wave Award for Pacifica Historical Society"; and 2) Walking down steps to Shelter Cove by Juan Carlos Pometta Betancourt/Special to The Examiner. 

Posted by Kathy Meeh

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

Can't believe Mary is still down there.

What a wonderful cove to wash up in. Although tenants can be a little territorial, at least they used to be back in the day when life in Shelter Cove was one big long vacation. A secret Pacifica treasure.

Anonymous said...

I can see someone not making it out of Shelter Cove in an emergency in time, and the family suing the city.

Anonymous said...

946 You sound like a lot of fun.

Anonymous said...

11:33

You would crap your pants and run if you saw some of the cliffs we hiked down to go fishing around here.

Anonymous said...

109 We'll leave the pants-crapping and fishing to you.

Anonymous said...

Anonymous 9:46am said... "I can see someone not making it out of Shelter Cove in an emergency in time, and the family suing the city."

Please explain your statement? Shelter Cove is private property.

Carl said...

It's amazing how someone can post a feel-good story and then some insist on turning it to shit.
Instead of making asinine comments here go sit in the dark and pick your toenails.

Anonymous said...

Oh Carl, you know there's one in every crowd. Just one and he's unmistakable.

Anonymous said...

7:22

Back over to Riptide, hippie.

Kathy Meeh said...

11/23, 946, interesting point, if there is an emergency at Shelter Cove (private property within our city), a resident may not receive care in a standard access timely manner due to the remoteness of the area. (Would that be a liability to the city or to the individuals who choose to live there?)

Personally I like living a little inland, and having paramedics and the Fire Department 5 minutes away. Some people are risk takers, and being one with the ocean must be both scary at times, but always awesome.

Anonymous said...

9:05

Every home in Pacifica is private property, Thus your statement is mute.

Anonymous said...

Could that be made into a marina?

Anonymous said...

"Could that be made into a marina?"

No.

Anonymous said...

Is the pathway to Shelter cove public access now?