When Elia Haworth calls - Richard answers. He is always at the ready to read on her Original Minds radio program that airs Saturday mornings on KMWR. Elia is an expert at the art of the interview and her lively banter brings out the best in her guests. Over the years her invitations have encouraged Richard on his writing path giving him the opportunity to test out stories that he posts on his website:
We were in the middle of a 3-day, 2-night all inclusive overnight with grandkids Clem and Wishbone so we all were up and out early to make it to Point Reyes for the 9 AM show. On time, because, radio does not wait. The kids were intrigued by the studio, the microphones, the audio mixing board and the mystery of sound waves. It was a first, a thrill of the lifetime, when Elia let the kids introduce themselves to the listening audience.
Hear the story of Red Bull Storms the Gate on Original Minds
Richard read his tale of the Red Bull Storms the Gate, that illuminates the story of The Palace of Fine Arts. It's the story of witnessing a bizarre encounter of a 3-ton SUV with a retaining wall (no injuries). He began with a short teaser, Art Degree Zero, about his first public speaking gig to the Women's Club of his hometown of Kankakee, Ill. in 1972.
No trip to Point Reyes would be complete without a stop at the Bovine Bakery to fuel up with gluten-laden treats. Then we headed for Kule Loklo, a Coast Miwok Cultural exhibit, a re-creation of village community life that uses traditional methods and materials to explain the abundant lifestyle enjoyed by the coastal tribes. It was volunteer clean-up day to prepare for a gathering so Clem pitched in.
Bear Valley Visitor Center is park headquarters and education central with displays of wildlife and history and nurdles. OH MY!
Looks like "nurdling" is now an officially a verb. It's a suggested beach time activity, described as a treasure hunt for trash. The Park Service is even offering "Revenge of the Nurdles," an appropriately named ranger-led beach walk. Revenge, indeed! The number of nurdles in the marine environment has surpassed the number of stars in the Milky Way. Nurdles have been washing up on Kehoe Beach for years. We first became aware of nurdles in 2006 when a back injury put Richard on Injured Reserve, unable to perform the stoop labor motions of picking up. A quick web search of the little things we'd found opened a new world of astonishing facts about human impact on the world.
Two more grands joined the party the next day. What a great shape these kids bring to life.