Flat Niamh's Journal Entry from Paso Robles/Bradley

January 27, 2011 (arrived via USPS on January 29)


Flat Niamh has been visiting Lake Nacimiento, which is located outside Paso Robles, in San Luis Obispo County, California.  Here's a picture we saved from Google Earth showing the distance from Simi Valley to Paso Robles and then to Lake Nacimiento.  Lake Nacimiento is an 18 mile (29 km) long man-made lake which is fed by the Nacimiento River.  "Nacimiento" is Spanish for "birth".  Paso Robles was shortened from El Paso de Robles, which translates from Spanish as "the Pass of the Oaks".   

The lake was originally designed for irrigation water and flood control as well as recreation. Nacimiento Dam, a 210-foot (64 m) earthfill dam, forms the lake. The dam was built by the Monterey County Water Authority and was completed in 1961. Here it is under construction in 1959.

Lake Nacimiento is called Dragon Lake or "The Dragon" because many people think that the lake is shaped like a dragon.  Here's a satellite image from Google Earth, what do you think?

This map details different areas of the lake.  Las Tablas creek is frequented by bald eagles. The dragon's "mouth" is where Nacimiento Dam is located.  

Flat Niamh had a lot of fun out at the lake, here she is posing by the sign post at Dragon's Breath Place, the road which runs perpendicular to G-14 (which passes over the dam):

As you can see it's out in the country and so there are lots of animals, or "critters", as Niamh's Nanny calls them: deer, foxes, rabbits, quail, wild turkeys, bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, squirrels, turkey vultures, and there are of course fish.  There are many ranches and farms where people keep animals including sheep, cows, and horses.  


If you look closely, you can see deer relaxing under the oak trees in this photo.

Here's a sign warning drivers to slow down and watch for animals as there is open grazing, which means there are no fences to keep the livestock off the road. 

Flat Niamh stopped along Lynch Canyon Road to say hello to the horse who's always out in the pasture on the farm there. 

Flat Niamh also stopped to look at Smokey Bear's sign on Nacimiento Lake Drive.  Just as California receives huge amounts of rain in the winter, the summers can be very dry and wildfires are a serious concern.  By May, the grasses on the hillsides will be dry and brown, and Smokey's sign will read: HIGH. 

Flat Niamh played a round of Mini-Golf at Oak Shores.  Here are pictures of her "driving" the pontoon boat, and at the windmill and the barn on the course.

Flat Niamh got to see Chimney Rock, a local landmark at the junction of Nacimiento Lake Road and Chimney Rock Road.  See the sign pointing to wineries in both directions?  Paso Robles is a winegrowing region with hundreds of wineries and vineyards.   

Paso Robles is close to the lake ( 14.5 miles approximately) and has a population of 30, 075 as of 2010. In 1988, the population was 18,000.  Paso Robles is home to the California Midstate Fair, and once was home to the outlaw Jesse James, whose relatives built the Paso Robles Inn in 1889. Paso Robles is located on the Rancho Paso de Robles Mexican land grant which was purchased in 1857 by James and Daniel Blackburn.  The land was a resting point for travelers on El Camino Real (the King's Highway) trail, and was known for its mineral hot springs. Known simply as  “Paso” to locals, the area has always been renowned for hot springs. The Salinan Indians were here thousands of years before the Spanish arrived and referred to it as “Springs” or the “Hot Springs.” People traveled to Paso Robles in search of relief from various ailments in the therapeutic waters.  Franciscan priests from neighboring Mission San Miguel constructed the first mineral baths in the area. Paso Robles began to attract the pioneer settlers who established cattle ranches, apple and almond orchards, dairy farms, and vineyards.

Here is a view of Lake Nacimiento from rural route G-14.  It's very green because there's been quite a bit of rainfall this winter and it has been warm-in the 70 degrees Fahrenheit range (average high for January is 61F).

Nanny says, "I really enjoyed Flat Niamh's company. Thanks for the fun!"