Photos

While I was shooting on this working holiday from chilly Montréal, this fellow came up to me to ask if I had cigarettes. We chatted and I discovered that he had also come from Montréal where he had been a maintenance worker at Mirabel. He had arrived in California three years ago and never left.

Pismo Beach & Pier History:
The community of Pismo Beach was effectively founded in 1875 when a hotel was built on the road from Arroyo Grande to Avila Beach. The hotel was not a success and it was moved to the beach in 1884. In 1881, the landowner leased oceanfront land for the building of a wharf and a warehouse. This wharf at the end of Main street was successful and the hotel's new location was next to this operation. The pier was not planned for recreation as such-- it was a commercial venture-- designed in part to save freight fees for South County products. A new longer pier replaced the storm-damaged original in 1924 and was much longer than it is today. Some can remember driving cars along its length, then backing out, or using the tight turn around at the end. It is said that it extended out far enough that Navy ships could tie up and the men could come ashore. The pier has sustained damage several times, but a major storm tore up the south side of the sea wall and about 500 feet off the end of the pier early in its existence. It was never put back. After a 1983 storm washed out most of the wharf, it was rebuilt in its present configuration in 1985-86. The state, county, and city all have an interest in the pier. The pier at Pismo Beach continues to be one of the community's major attractions.

PP: levels adjustment to correct for the foggy conditions
crop, resize & frame