Cleanup is in process on the Refugio Oil Spill by Plains All American Pipeline near the Refugio Beach park. We flew the coast from El Capitan out to Jalama past the second rail bridge looking at the coast on Thursday. Much of the oil has dispersed out into the Channel and along the beaches, or been picked up by the many people and boats working on it. But late in the afternoon this view from Refugio shows a large slick moving East toward El Capitan at the top.
1845 Thursday Oil Slick
Below the point at El Capitan the next point is Las Flores where the hillside refinery the oil came from is coating their beach. In the other direction all the way to Jalama we saw areas of dark surf like this, mostly on East facing beaches like this one just West of the pier at Gaviota Beach.
1639 West Gaviota Beach
Here’s another view, from the North showing the dark surf at the main park and camping area.
1575 Gaviota Beach Park
I see an RV and a few vehicles there, but thought it would be packed for the holiday so maybe it’s been closed along with Refugio and El Capitan. People are being kept well away from the beaches and cleanup areas along the coast, including national and international reporters.
John & Anne Wiley 
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