This is the first time that the Northern California Chapter has scheduled a meeting in the Reno / Sparks, Nevada area. This dinner meeting was scheduled in a hotel facility with ample parking, which is located just one-half block from Amtrak's Sparks station, at a time on a Saturday evening to permit residents of Northern California who are winter sports enthusiasts to ski before and/after the meeting. Those who are less athletically inclined can enjoy a relaxing time just looking at the snow while visiting with other club members as they ride in comfort over Donner Summit on Amtrak's California Zephyr. Train 6, departs Emeryville, Calif. on Saturday, 30 January at 10:40 AM. It stops to pickup passengers in Martinez at 11:26 AM, Davis at 12:19 PM, Sacramento at 12:55 PM, Roseville at 1:17 PM, Truckee at 4:28 PM, and arrives in Sparks at 5:57 PM. Attendees can return to California on Amtrak's train 5 which is scheduled to depart Sparks, Nev. on Sunday, 31 January at 9:41 AM and is due to arrive back in Emeryville, Calif. at 5:30 PM. There are coordinated bus and train connections to Central Valley points at Martinez and Sacramento. There is connecting Amtrak bus service departing from San Francisco for Emeryville at 9:10 AM.
By reserving space on these trains, attendees can avoid driving in the snow. Amtrak has blocked a group of seats for this event, but because group tickets must be purchased at least 45 days in advance to qualify for the very substantial group discount of $130, reservations (accompanied by a check in full payment) must be must be received by Jerry Athearn in Oakland no later than Monday, 14 December 1998. Use the coupon at the bottom of this newsletter to make reservations. Although transferable, once purchased, Sparks reservations and train tickets are not refundable. The Chapter cannot handle hotel reservations. Attendees desiring to make hotel reservations for the night of 30 January at John Ascuaga's Nugget Casino Resort in Sparks, should call direct to the hotel's reservations desk at 1 (800) 843-2427.
Ellen Purcell should be on retainer with the Tasmanian Tourist Bureau. Beautiful slides of formal gardens, wildcraft gardens, historic buildings, agricultural fields, rivers, and of course, the animals from Down Under. Tasmania is the size of 3 Massachusetts and has, or had, thriving industries in logging, wool, cold crop fruit and shipbuilding. 1/3 of the entire island is protected as parkland and there is a 12-day walking trail through the island parks. 150 different species of eucalyptus and as Ellen reminded us, eucalyptus is native to Tasmania and is not viewed as invasive species as it is here. Pademelons and wallabies are plentiful, as are Tasmanian Devils. Tasmanian Devils are small dog-like/pig-like marsupials with a black and white marking. They are carrion eaters and make an unbelievable "growling" noise that they use to keep other animals from taking away their food.
Bob's Schmeider's (FN-86) dinner quiz: What uncontested national landmass is closest to the magnetic south pole? There were several guesses for two of Bob's prior expedition sites - Heard Island and Easter Island. Our new chapter chair, Bill Isherwood had the correct answer -- Macquarie Island (Australia), which is approximately 800 miles ENE of the magnetic pole.
Well, let's get down to business. Wow! That's a picture of Dennis Earl. The school was named after him because he was a great explorer! Let's go find a seat, if we can. There are 1,500 people here. Mrs. Marta Kyte has been planning this since, well, let's just say for ten years. Right now a skit is coming on with Earl the Explorer, his friends, El Ni-o, and his tap-dancing clouds. It was hard to get El Ni-o(he was booked), but teacher Mrs. Nulph, did it! She also directed the skit. Look, the explorers are dedicating the time capsule and the third-graders are singing a song. Teacher Mr. Arnold and his wife, along with his band, have started in with a rock and roll version of the school song, "Earl Explorers"...I would love to talk more, but the aeronauts are coming.
'Everybody get your autograph books and pens!" says Mrs. Kyte. She's great, isn't she? I want to be the first one to see the skydivers, but Mrs. Kyte said, 'Children first!' That lady amazes me!
We're all looking skyward. Two of them down, two more to go! Three, four...The last two have American flags on their parachutes. Quite a spectacular sight! Got their autographs and now to the explorers. Boy, I received George Washington, Davy Crockett, Christopher Columbus, Jacque Cousteau, Betsy Ross, and Sally Ride's autographs! I bet these students will treasure this night forever!
On to the dinner...Wish you could try some. Outback Steakhouse provided the meal as a fundraiser...Bob, do you HAVE to film me while I'm eating?...Looking around, I see children nibbling on popcorn and cotton candy.
Quite and event here at Earl Elementary School in Turlock, California! Mallory, reporting live...Back to you, Dan and Jennifer!
Reviewed by John H. Roush, Jr., D.B.A., FN-80
It is surprising for a big-game hunter to find that this delightful book tells of exciting encounters while searching for obscure little bugs. Yet the chase is there, sometimes facing great hazards with courage and calm resolve to continue to hunt. Having been in many of the places the author takes us, the captivating tales of innocents abroad, unarmed, sometimes facing real dangers, were most interesting. I found the book compelling reading.
Most of us are most impatient with bugs, especially the stinging kinds, yet the search for rare creatures, albeit small, can force one into unexpected adventures. Personally, I like to seek out larger game - animals carrying impressive headgear. Nevertheless, there are in this book real people courageously running perilous risks, while the reader gains a keen glimpse of many African counties and their human turmoil in transition from colonialism to independence. Any of you who have been in the wilds of Africa will find the volume engaging, well worth the time on an arm-chair safari.
Please return this reservations form no later than Tuesday, January 12, 1999 to:
Jerry Athearn
The Explorers Club
Northern California Chapter.
7037 Chabot Road
Oakland, CA 94618
Jerry's phone: (510) 653-2572
Please reserve spaces for the Benjamin Santer talk, at the University Club on Friday, January 22, 1999.
$40/person... $45 if postmarked after January 15, $50 after January 19 and at the door. Cocktails, 6:30 PM, Dinner, 7:30 PM, Speaker, 8:30 PM.
Your Name: _______________________________________
Your Address: _____________________________________
______________________________________
Guests: ______________________________________
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Please return this reservations form no later than Tuesday, January 20, 1999 to:
Jerry Athearn
The Explorers Club
Northern California Chapter.
7037 Chabot Road
Oakland, CA 94618
Jerry's phone: (510) 653-2572
Please reserve spaces for the Robert Wharton talk, at the Nugget Casino Resort, in Sparks, Nevada on Saturday, January 30, 1999.
$35/person... $40 if postmarked after January 23; $45 after January 27 and at the door. Cocktails, 6:30 PM, Dinner, 7:30 PM, Speaker, 8:30 PM.
Your Name: _______________________________________
Your Address: _____________________________________
______________________________________
Guests: ______________________________________
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Date created: 12/07/1998
Last modified: 01/21/2002
Web page by: Mike Diggles, Webmaster, Northern California Chapter of the Explorers Club. email to Mike
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