Once again, the rain gods have smiled down upon us and our mountaintop communities. Not since Lake Gregory was replenished by a single downpour in 1938 have we witnessed so much H2O in such a brief interval.
Why, it was raining so hard last week, there were alligator lizards in the air, but not for long, you see, because Albert (the cat) was leaping up and grabbing them for supper and then leaving them on my doorstep, as usual. Anyway, back to the rain, it was actually a multi-day “bomb cyclone,” the result of a so-called atmospheric river.
Seems it never rains in Southern California, seems I’ve often heard that kind of talk before. It never rains in California, but girl, don’t they warn ya? It pours, man, it pours. (It Never Rains in Southern California – Albert Hammond – 1972)
The good news is that our mountain area lakes are filled, and the creeks and streams are flowing once again. Legend has it that there is still a tractor at the bottom of Lake Gregory, near the dam, since construction of the lake wasn’t quite completed when the deluge began. A few years ago, Lake Gregory General Manager Nathan Godwin had a survey made of the bottom of the lake and was excited at the prospect of digging it up and putting it on display on the shore. Unfortunately, no tractor was found, which put that rumor to rest.
By the way, did you know there’s another legend that suggests there’s a train engine at the bottom of Lake Arrowhead, left over from the construction of the lake back in 1923.
Now if we could just keep all this bountiful treasure of surplus water in our lakes and in the ground, instead of having it leach out into the fire-denuded slopes that continue sliding down onto our roadways, we’d all be better off, and I believe Caltrans would be, too. As much as I love the pitter-patter of rainfall, all these roadblocks and detours all over the mountain are starting to wear thin on my nerves. I’m looking forward to blue skies and green lights for the upcoming year.
It never rains in Southern California, but girl don’t they warn ya.
Keep it flyin’,
Uncle Mott
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