Friday, October 24, 2014

Strafing Santa Monica South...



Dateline: Friday morning, October 24, 2014.  Sunshine... Big time!  And the water is still warm!  Probably around 68 - 70 degrees Fahrenheit!...  Notice something missing, though, from the back of this Tower above?...

In any case, we did not swim at Tower #16 this morning...


There's got to be a story here too...


Hmm... a pattern is developing... no signage.


Got Fins?!...


Bay St...  "Like Mother Like Daughter"...









Yep, definitely a pattern here.  I wonder what Beaches & Harbors is up to?...  One unnamed source indicated that earlier this week a crew from B&H showed up and removed the advertising frames from the backs of all the towers... it's a mystery, that's for sure...  No rumors have started yet that we know of but now is as good a time as any.....





---   ---   ---

Rest In Peace, Tom Barnett...


Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2014.)

***   ***   ***



Sunday, October 19, 2014

Will Rogers State Beach: The Overview


Sunday, late afternoon, October 19, 2014...

Can you believe that the water temp in the ocean is still around 70 degrees Fahrenheit?!...  The crowds are gone but there were still people who knew how nice it still is.  Here are some photos from our late afternoon walks to the bluffs overlooking Will Rogers State Beach.  Enjoy!...














Rest in peace, Tom Barnett!...


10-4

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

(All photos by & Copyright Will Maguire 2014.)

***   ***   ***

Friday, October 17, 2014

Ode To Pismo...



It's been said to have been thirty-five years (35) since the last time that there were lifeguard dory races at Pismo Beach.  In this regard, our readership may recall our previously posted article back in March of 2013 with respect to the 70's era Pismo Beach Dory Races that were held each year in October, as highlighted and linked below:

 Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Photo by & © Bob Howe 1975. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.

 "Rowing the Surf Dory's...1970's", by Tom Allen Sena

    http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2013/03/rowing-surf-dorys1970s-by-tom-allen-sena.html


You remember the 70's, right?!...  when men were men and women wore bell bottoms!  Well, see for yourself.

Photo by & © Bob Howe 1974. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.
Photo by & © Bob Howe 1974. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.

There were a slew of boats at Pismo in 1974...

Photo by & © Bob Howe 1974. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.

and there was the random yet expected carnage inside during the exchanges too...

Photo by & © Bob Howe 1974. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.

And below is the L.A. City team of Tom Allen Sena and Ralph Collins...

Photo by & © Bob Howe 1974. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.

And check out the beefcake in the next photo.  Does anyone recognize this LACo OL?... and who is still on the recurrent list and gets more than his share of days in at the beach...

Photo by & © Bob Howe 1974. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.
And what about this heart throb below.  Does anyone recognize this infamous L.A. City/LACo OL?...

Photo by & © Bob Howe 1974. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.

And what about this circa 1970's L.A. City/LACo beach lifeguard/budding ocean sailor with his sextant... 

Photo by & © Bob Howe 1974. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.

And last but not least, before Sam Elliott there was this legend of a lifeguard who worked during his long and celebrated career for all three of the Big So. Calif. Lifeguard Departments, namely, Santa Monica, L.A. City, and later LACo... and who still doesn't miss a lifeguard party and won't turn down a glass of red wine.  Can you guess his name?...

Photo by & © Bob Howe 1974. All Rights Reserved. Used here with permission.  Please do not reproduce without prior permission from the photographer.

We hope you've enjoyed this trip down memory lane.  Congratulations to the Pismo Beach Lifeguard Crew for resurrecting their annual Fall Dory Races.  We know our local dory teams are excited about this weekend's event.

Last but not least, we've been very careful to acknowledge the source of these exceptional and historical photos.  We would ask that everyone please respect the rights of the photographer.  And to L.A. City and LACo OL (Ret.), Bob Howe, thank you very much for sharing your wonderful photos with all of us.

10-4.

Until next time.....


"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

***   ***   ***

Thursday, October 16, 2014

Tom Barnett: Rest In Peace

Tom Barnett, July 2014. Photo by & Copyright Harry Varnas 2014.

Dateline: Thursday, October 16, 2014
Re:  Tom Barnett: Rest In Peace
---
 
From: LACOLA
Date: October 16, 2014 7:33:00 AM PDT

Subject: A message from Steve Barnett

To the Ocean Lifeguards of LA County and the State of California,

My brother, your brother, Tom Barnett, slipped away from this life Wednesday afternoon.  His mother, Bea, and I were with him.  His wife, Ellen, had just left him to take care of their sons.  His friends Kip and Kevin were just outside.  The hour is too late and my grief is too strong to write here and now everything you deserve to hear.  Please know, however, that the astonishing support that poured forth from your ranks will be something Ellen, Bea, and I will always remember and cherish.  From the numerous visitors in the hospital and hospice, to the spontaneous crowd for the Bronze Savage, to the line of people signing up to give Tom care, you have all displayed a depth of respect and camaraderie I never imagined possible. Tom's sons, Philip and Nolan, still marvel at the outpouring of love and regard for their father.  It will buoy them in the days and years to come, but most of all, it was something that truly amazed and touched Tom himself.  He was moved to his core, and I know it eased his passage.

Thank you all so much for being a part of his life right until the end.

Sincerely and with much gratitude,

Steve Barnett

---

Photo by & Copyright Harry Varnas 2014.
From the 2005 LACo Lifeguard Rookie Swim Test, three more photos by Harry Varnas of Tom holding his young son in his arms.




( Photo source: The three (3) color photos immediately above are photos by & Copyright Harry Varnas 2005.  Used here with permission.)

Thanks very much to Harry for sharing these photos of Tom with all of us.

---

•  Tom Barnett: Pray It Forward

http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2014/09/ols-tom-barnett-pray-it-forward.html


•  Tom Barnett's Bronze Savage Ceremony

http://countyrecurrent.blogspot.com/2014/09/tom-barnetts-bronze-savage-ceremony.html

---

We have lost a brother, a friend, and a colleague.  Tom's spirit lives on, however, and the outpouring of love and support shown by our LACo Lifeguard Family for Tom and his family is a strength that we can all call upon as we grieve his loss and carry on in our lives.

Tom Barnett at Regionals, Summer 2010, sprinting up the beach ahead of Eldin Onsgard.  Photo by & Copyright Will Maguire 2010. 

We can honor Tom's memory by continuing to strive for excellence and emulate his passion and enthusiasm for ocean lifesaving, whether we are on or off duty.  God Bless, Tom Barnett. Rest in peace, brother.



Respectfully submitted,

Will Maguire, Editor
"County Recurrent" News
http://CountyRecurrent.blogspot.com

***   ***   ***