Celebrate Underwater Parks Day with a tour of Santa Barbara’s new protected waters!

On January 21^st, Santa Barbarans will join ocean lovers across the state to celebrate California’s third annual Underwater Parks Day. Santa Barbara Channelkeeper is organizing a celebratory guided kayak tour led by Santa Barbara Adventure Company of the Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area, one of the newest MPAs protected on January 1^st through the Marine Life Protection Act. Participants will enjoy the scenic coastline, kelp forests and protected wildlife before heading back to Goleta Beach for a post paddle party with food and refreshments.

WHO: The paddle tour is organized by Santa Barbara Channelkeeper and will be led by Santa Barbara Adventure Company.

WHAT: A guided kayak tour of Santa Barbara’s new ocean protections.

WHERE: Campus Point State Marine Conservation Area. Tour will start and end at the west end of Goleta Beach (click here for map).

WHEN: Saturday, January 21^st 10 am – 2 pm. Weather permitting.

WHY: Underwater Parks Day is an opportunity to recognize the special parts of California’s coast and ocean that are safeguarded as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs). On January 1^st, southern California became home to a network of MPAs extending from Santa Barbara to the Mexican border, connecting with what will be a statewide system once planning is completed for the far north coast next year (click here for a full map of south coast MPAs). These underwater parks, approved by the Fish and Game Commission last December, are designed to improve overall ocean health by protecting the fish nurseries that help to seed adjacent waters.

COST: Channelkeeper and Santa Barbara Adventure Company are subsidizing this event and asking for a $50 per person donation, which includes kayaks, all necessary gear, the tour and the post party. Alternatively, if you have your own gear they are asking for a $25 donation to cover the guide and party. Please RSVP by emailing michael@sbck.org or calling 805.563.3377 ext. 2.

For more information, visit www.sbck.org.

Photo credit: Travis S./Creative Commons

Please take a look at this incredible footage in the video below.

Erin Feinblatt, Photographer & Videographer

A California native and outdoor enthusiast, Erin Feinblatt found his passion for photography while working as a wildlife biologist.  Taking with him his skills of observation, he decided to switch careers and pursue his dream of creating imagery.  Erin is a graduate of the renowned Brooks Institute of Photography, with a BA in Commercial Photography.  Working in both photography and videography, Erin brings a precision and dedication to his work and likes to focus his lens on a variety of subjects, from wildlife and landscape to food and architecture. See more of Erin’s work on his website.

Thanks Erin for your incredible work on this project!

Downtown Holiday Parade – December 2, 6:30pm
More than 50,000 spectators are expected to line downtown Santa Barbara to cheer on a colossal contingent of high-stepping marching bands, fabulous holiday floats, spectacular performance groups, local personalities, and of course, the most anticipated appearance of the evening…the annual arrival of Santa Claus, dispensing holiday cheer from atop his festive sleigh.

Brad Nack 100% Reindeer Art Show – December 2, 6pm to 8pm
Come to restaurant Roy at 7 W. Carrillo Street to experience a fun holiday tradition. Show features elegantly framed abstract paintings of reindeer. Art buyers are encouraged to bring their checkbook and a critical attitude.

Parade of Lights – December 11th, 5:30pm at the Santa Barbara Waterfront
Festivities begin with a Santa’s Village event on the City Pier featuring a visit from Santa, ten tons of snow and holiday music. Deep Sea Wine Tasting will host the Judging Party on Stearns Wharf while distinguished judges, along with thousands of spectators, cheer on the boats decorated to the theme of “Candy Cane Holidays.” A short fireworks display will follow the boat parade.

Winter FUNderland 2011 – December 17, 11am to 4pm at S.B. Museum of Natural History
Celebrate the promise of the winter solstice and the joys of the season. Meet winter critters, take your picture with Santa Claus, have fun making holiday crafts, and enjoy storytelling and face painting.

Santa Barbara Arts & Crafts Show, Every Sunday
Approximately 300 Santa Barbara County resident artists come to display their own works in an informal atmosphere under the palms of seaside Chase Palm Park. All items are original art, created by the artists you meet. The show is held every fair weather Sunday and Special Holidays.
Time: 10 a.m. ’til Dusk

First Thursday — Art, Music & Theater
On the first Thursday of each month, downtown galleries keep their doors open late allowing the public to enjoy local art in a fun and social atmosphere. Additional attractions such as music, artist openings, demonstrations, and refreshments are featured at participating venues. Downtown Santa Barbara
Time: 5 p.m. – 8 p.m.

Downtown Santa Barbara Farmers Market, Every Saturday and Tuesday
Come down and buy local fresh vegetables, fruits, flowers, small plants and specialty items. Street musicians, music and downtown shops and restaurants. Year round, rain or shine. Corner of Santa Barbara and Cota Streets on Sunday and on State Street (500-600 bocks) on Tuesday.
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m/4:00pm – 7:30.

Please add events and activities that we may have missed in the comment section below.

Thank you to all the fans and friends who have kayaked, biked and surfed with us over the years. We greatly appreciate your votes and your confidence in Santa Barbara Adventure Company.

To celebrate we are offering any 10% off any Tour or Product purchased online until November 15, 2011. This includes Wine Tours, Channel Islands Kayaking, Gift Certificates – so if you have been looking for the perfect holiday gift, buy now and save!

Save 10% online when you use promo code: 2011INDY
(Purchases must be made online)

USS Edith
Shipwrecked August 24, 1849

The Edith was one of many famous ships built by the renowned Boston merchant, Robert B. Forbes.  It was a steam bark commissioned in 1844 by Forbes to use in the opium trade between British India and China.  She was one of the first American ships to be built with a steam engine and a propeller drive designed by the famous shipbuilder, John Ericsson.  The ship used coal for fuel when underway with steam and, when under sail, the propeller could be raised out of the water to reduce drag.  The Edith also carried the new rigging used by Forbes with which a full set of sails could be added by means of an extendable mast.

After a four-year stint in the Opium trade in India beginning in 1845, the Edith returned to New York where she was sold to the War Department for use in the Mexican American War that was raging at that time.  The ship was used to move Army supplies to Mexico and then to the Army of Occupation in California.

The Edith was transferred from the War Department to the Navy under congressional legislation on March 3, 1849 and turned over to Commodore Thomas ap Catesby Jones, Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Squadron at San Francisco thus becoming a naval ship.

The Edith departed New York on November 9, 1848 and arrived in San Francisco on March 21, 1849.   She made the passage in 110 running days of which she steamed fifteen.  Her cargo consisted of Quarter Master stores, principally clothing.

The U.S.S. Edith is listed as a steam screw, 120 feet long, 32 feet beam and 400 tons displacement.  The U.S.S. Edith was the second steamship to arrive in San Francisco, having been preceded by the California in February.

The ship was used by the Army for a number of tasks after unloading the Army supplies brought from the East Coast including trips to areas around California and down the coast to Mazatlan in Mexico

The Edith’s arrival brought with it the news that the Congress had adjourned without organizing a territorial government in California.  All that the Congress had done was to pass laws for distributing mail and collecting revenue taxes in California (Not surprising).

With this late but disappointing news, the Army decided on June 3, 1849 to convene a constitutional convention in Monterey for the purpose of forming a government in California.  Election of delegates took place on August 1, 1849.  Delegates were to assemble at Monterey on September 1, 1849.  The Edith was dispatched in mid-August to San Diego to pick up the delegates between there and Monterey.  She had sailed this route a number of times on Army business before this trip south but this particular trip was different.

Unfortunately, she had run into a fog from San Francisco, and could not take any observation.  On the second day out the Edith’s commander, Lt. McCormick, believed he was passing Point Conception.  He changed course to head east down the Santa Barbara Channel, and in a very little while had his fine craft high up on land at high tide instead, where she proved a total loss, none to the regret of the local rancheros, who were all soon wearing Uncle Sam’s naval uniforms and making use of the fine bedding and furniture of the wreck.  One could walk around the vessel at low tide.  Nearly everything had been landed and the beach was piled high with the best of stores, canned goods, champagne and eatables of the very best, and of all kinds.  These goods could not be hauled away, and everyone was welcome to what they wanted.  The ship was left as a total loss.

The location of the wreck was well to the north of Point Concepcion on a broad sandy beach, and in the tide line at the mouth of San Antonio Creek on what is today the Vandenberg AFB.  This area was used during World War II for army training at Camp Cooke.

Despite the loss of this historic ship, the delegates did arrive at Monterey, although history does not tell us how.  Perhaps the brig Fremont was sent in the place of the Edith, after the Fremont returned from its trip to the north where it was used to transport those delegates to the convention.  A State Constitution was drawn up and signed and the Convention ended on October 13, 1849.  The first state legislature was convened at San Jose on December 15, 1849.

Major Garrett, who was left to watch after the Edith, was the original designer of the State Seal for which he was supposed to receive $1,000. The Edith is one of the ships shown in the Seal.

Captain William G. Dana, owner and Grande of the Nipomo Mexican Land Grant, and a distant cousin of Richard Henry Dana, obtained the salvage contract for the wreck from the Navy.  The ship was stripped of its machinery and valuable equipment and the wooden hull left to the sea where it slowly sank out of sight at what is a remote location.

Years after the wreck was long forgotten, the owner and developer of the Point Sal Landing north of the wreck site about six miles, Mr. Charles H. Clark, traveled to the site in 1876 when it was exposed by the surf at a particularly low tide.  He reported that the boiler, some of the machinery, piles of cannon balls and the brass ten-pounder guns have at times been uncovered by the tide. The anchors are still there.  Mr. Clark took out about ten tons of chain, which he sold for old iron. The author has located no other references to the wreck so it is not known if other artifacts have been removed since 1876.

The site has since been surveyed by a California State Transportation (Caltrans) archeologist using a magnetometer.  The wreck was located buried under the sand in the surf line north of San Antonio Creek.

In 2009 the writer used Google Map aerial video images to locate the wreck at the location stated by the Navy Board of Inquiry in 1850, at latitude 34 degrees, 47 minutes and 30 seconds.  The hull is still visible at low tides after 161 years of battering by the surf!

Reference:  “Maritime Tragedies on the Santa Barbara Channel” by Justin M. Ruhge, 2000.

The Drawings of the U.S.S Edith are two that exist at the U. S. Naval Academy Museum at Annapolis, Maryland.