BS: What is a sur?

Subject: BS: What is a sur?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 25 May 06 - 02:50 PM

The DH is in California, attending a conference in Monterey. On the phone he mentioned the nearby Big Sur. What is a sur, anyway? The word is not in my unabridged dictionary.*

Are there any small surs?
---------
*Well, it is, but only as a preposition in the titles of Pennsylvania law pleadings. Probably not what the namers of Big Sur were thinking about.

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 May 06 - 02:51 PM

Well, it's big. Really, really big.

Does that help?

(It's also quite scenic.)

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 May 06 - 03:00 PM

I'm not sur I understand the question!
G ☻

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Deckman
Date: 25 May 06 - 03:04 PM

Big Sur is an absolutly ... wonderful .... spectatculiar ... piece of coast line. It's about 125 miles South of San Francisco, on the California Coast. If you were there in the 60's, as I was, you'll know that it really is/was a "state of mind!" CHEERS, Bob(deckman)Nelson

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Charlie Baum
Date: 25 May 06 - 03:05 PM

"Sur" is "South" in Spanish. The Big Sur is the Big South.
The name originates from Rio Grande del Sur, the biggest river in the South.
The Big Sur is a place where the mountains meet the sea; plan on spending some time driving California Highway 1 down the coast. See also http://www.pelicannetwork.net/hwy.one.bigsur.htm

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 May 06 - 03:26 PM

That's a complete load of crap. Like Deckman and I suspect a few others around here, I had occasion to be there back then for a bit as well. "Sur" is Californian for "place to get fucked up and fucked." You might wanna' check up on the ol' DH..............

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Rapparee
Date: 25 May 06 - 04:10 PM

I didn't want to say it, Spaw....

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 May 06 - 05:22 PM

The name is from Rio Grande del Sur, as stated by Charlie Baum, but its context is the south of California.
Don't let Catspaw and Rapaire scare you with bad memories of their Henry Miller days there.
The Ventana Wilderness is a great place to hike. Good campgrounds in the region, some that can only be hiked into. On the coast, Point Lobos is a good place to watch whales, seals, etc., and some of the trails along the coast are good.
Don't go at the height of the summer RV season (harumpf! should be banned).

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: flattop
Date: 25 May 06 - 06:03 PM

Never been even close. Another reminder of a great Richard Brautigan story though.

http://www.xent.com/april00/0809.html

Henry Miller reminds me of Paris. Stories about Mona and the smile at the foot of the ladder. Never been there either.

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Joybell
Date: 25 May 06 - 06:50 PM

True-Love took me there. One of the most beautiful places on Earth. Also one of the most crowded, but we got away from the big tourist complexes. I watched wild sea otters diving for clams and breaking them open on their chests -- with the help of flat rocks they carry for the purpose. Amazing place Big Sur. Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 25 May 06 - 10:21 PM

I depends on the language. the name of one of my boats is Sur le Vent, meaning on the wind. So why would a place be named the big on?

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: catspaw49
Date: 25 May 06 - 10:24 PM

Possibly because everybody there was "on" something?

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Deckman
Date: 25 May 06 - 11:16 PM

TO "SPAW"

I'm not all that clear what you mean by your postings. But, if you are trying to imply that I was "fucked up" with drugs, in the Big Sur, in the 60's, you are VERY WRONG. I've never been a druggy ... never will be. I KILL druggy's

YOU OWE ME AN APPOLOGY. Bob Nelson, in Everett ... my house is yellow ... third from the corner!!!!

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 06 - 02:43 AM

Once you get there, you're never quite sure where it is. Is it at Point Sur Lighthouse (depicted in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang). Is it at Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park? Is it at Julia Pfeiffer Burns State Park, where the waterfall drops to the sea (and where I saw a California Condor)? Or, perhaps is it at the Esalen Institute?
I'd suggest you drive the whole road, California Highway 1 from Carmel to Cambria. You never will know exactly when you're at Big Sur - but if you drive that entire stretch of highway, you'll know you've been there.
Have fun.
-Joe Offer in Colfax, California - in the Sierra-

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Pistachio
Date: 26 May 06 - 04:44 AM

Thank you for reminding me of my first and, (so far,) only trip to mainland America back in 1995 - we arrived broke, courtesy of the exchange rate and 'had' to travel by greyhound from coast to coast (which turned out to be a wonderful experience in itself) The first leg of our epic trip took us down from Carmel to LA and past Big Sur - I'm sorry it was such a fleeting visit but I can say I have been past and seen that wonder - amongst other wonders as we journeyed from state to state. So many Happy Memories of such a huge vast landscape - Wonderful!.
Hazel.

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Joybell
Date: 26 May 06 - 05:51 AM

Hazel, We "rode the dog" back about then. Had a wonderful time too. It's a great way to get to know people if you can take the uncertainty of getting a seat. We spent days trying to get out of a town in the Midwest when all the buses came in full.
Cheers, Joy

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 26 May 06 - 05:57 AM

I'm not sure what it is but it has plenty names and coats. It also poses a lot and delivers prises...

:D (tG)

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 26 May 06 - 06:04 AM

Don't forget Cono Sur wine... Chilean Aussie standard. Literally South Cone, but punning on "connoisseur".

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 26 May 06 - 08:47 AM

Thanks, everybody. I'm glad to know that sur is south.

Apparently Big Sur is like the Deep South. The closer you get, the less you can find it. It sounds beautiful, but I have no plans to go there - too far, too expensive, too much traffic. The DH says he can see the smog and his throat is scratchy.

Spaw, I am not worried about the DH misbehaving. He's a good guy. Also wise. He has done two things for fun so far - gone to the aquarium and had lunch with some Taiwanese professors who were pleased to talk to someone who didn't try to sell them anything. They told him about their homeland.

He's been complaining about the rubber chicken they have for lunch, so I am making khorresh, a middle eastern dish of beef sauced with tomato, lime juice and turmeric, to welcome him home.

Paul Burke: how can wine be Chilean Aussie? Chile and Australia are fairly widely separated. It's a good thing you explained about the pun. My brain put Spanish in one closet and English in another, and I didn't make the creative leap.

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Paul Burke
Date: 26 May 06 - 09:35 AM

The Aussies have revolutionised wine production over the last 30 years by exporting their viticultural methods. It's improved wine greatly in many cases, and a lot of the hit-and-miss has gone out of gargling. Sadly, all too many of the wines taste very much the same.


Another good pun is the South African Goats Do Roam (in Villages). The French Cotes du Rhone appelation holders took them to court over it- and lost.

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: EBarnacle
Date: 26 May 06 - 11:49 AM

There was another major wine tasting on Wed. It was called the "judgement of Paris," another pun, and once again found that California wines were the best in the world.

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Joe Offer
Date: 26 May 06 - 12:17 PM

Well, leeneia, if the DH can't make it all the way to Big Sur, I can't blame him. It's quite a drive from Monterey. I didn't make the whole trip until a couple of years ago, even though I lived in Monterey for almost a year when I was attending German school.
If he can't do that, he can do almost as well by spending half a day at Point Lobos, a beautiful meeting of land and sea that is one of my favorite places in the world. It's just south of Carmel, almost right at the city limits. There are lots of short hikes you can take in the park, through the Monterey cypress woods and along the shore, looking down into clear, rocky coves and tidepools. Lots of sea lions and sea otters there, too.
-Joe-

So, what's a DH?

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 26 May 06 - 04:08 PM

"What is a sur?"

It's the male equivalent of "Madum", of course!

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Kaleea
Date: 26 May 06 - 08:47 PM

I think Big got his directions the wrong way, cause I'm in Southern California (San Diego) & thet thar Sur thangie is way up north o' hyar, in fact, it's norther than ELL AYE!

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Gurney
Date: 27 May 06 - 12:26 AM

Sur in French: On, over, above, towards, hereupon, sour(?).
With an accent: Sure, certain, reliable.
Enjoy the dissurtation.

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 27 May 06 - 03:38 AM

I believe I started the Kerouac book of the same name. Having been entranced by On the Road. However somehow its not really all that interesting hearing what a successful author does to keep his juices flowing. At least not in the same league as a young man looking for and finding his soul, his poetry and his love for his country.

I'm talking here about stuff I read forty years ago as a teenager. Maybe I was just a lazy reader. i would value other peoples opinions - should I go back and check it out?

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: catspaw49
Date: 27 May 06 - 05:34 AM

Yes

I will not comment on what anyone found inspiring or relevant or inspirational "back in the day." I will simply say that some of mine have held up quite well while others I have now deemed complete tripe.

Spaw

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: darkriver
Date: 27 May 06 - 04:09 PM

If you want to see classical pictures of the Big Sur, I suggest you find a copy of the book _Not Man Apart_ (I hope there are still copies in libraries). Wonderful photos by people like Brett Weston and Ansel Adams of the Big Sur coast.

One of my brothers lives there. He hates to leave it.

doug

Subject: RE: BS: What is a sur?
From: GUEST
Date: 28 May 06 - 03:04 AM

A alco free wine served at Christmas