Author: David Haldeman

Thursday, September 3, 1981
Kass called – Maggie Gracely died – had been in a coma.
Right into the Sheneman routine & got 25 pgs edited today. The early ones are the hardest. Wells, Tuthill & Chalker & Stokely done. Took welk with Uncle Allen before supper. (We readlly do have dinner at noon here.) Weather great – low 80’s & sunny & breeze from ocean. So glad we aren’t having the over 100’s they’ve had since June.

Ruth & I had good talk while Allen took 1:00 PM nap. He showed me problems in maing was recording for doll he is reatorring that talks.

After supper Allen got out the Sheneman Bible with original birth records hand colored, besides the info written in.

Wednesday, September 2, 1981
Kathi & I to see Harrah’s auto collection courtesy her neighbor who works in cafeteria there. Impossible to assimilate all the cars from 1900 on. Collection up for sale – Lunch & nap – Bye to Kristi & to airport by 2:30. Flgt 92 PSA to LA – 39 – 727 200 plane.
5:42 – Airborne crossing to W of 395 – Steamboat Spgs & then back over 3:40 Lake Tahoe – West – (rt) over Carson City – 3:50 – Gardnerville & Minden Valley 20,000 3:51 Topaz Lake – Desert Creek Peak to left – white. 3:54 Can see Mono Lake – so Bodie is in Mts. even with me. “Not much to see on either side”, lady behind me!! Lotrs of glacial lakes – Mon Lake ringed in white. Half Dome! The White Mt. to East – view along Yosemite Vally – Long Lake! San Joaquin River – Range of Peaks to E that we saw from E of them 4:05 – Flat valley green fields – many towns 4:06 crossing Interstate 99 (?) KIng’s Canyon area east King’s River – Is it snow on those mts.? Mt. Whitney is one of them – Valley is immese – 4:15 canal flows NW,

Calif. aqueduct Low barren hills S of Bakersfield 4:19 – Simi Valley – Houses – houses – 4:26 ocean ahead. 4:27 crossing Rt. 101. Every mt ridge denuded by road. Rt. 1 below us 4:31 LA skyscrapers – Park – 2 towers to E of it – crossing freeways – descending fast – 4:33 City Center – 4:35 Hollywood Pk Race Trace – San Diego Freeway 4:37 Landing. 5:30 Lv airport area via bus – $6.10 – 1 hr ride 6:24 Santa Ana Fwy. Helen met me at Disney Land Hotel & down the freeway to Santa Ana & Uncle Allen’s. Aunt Ruth had waited dinner for me.

Tuesday, September 1, 1981
[No entry]

Monday, August 31, 1981
[No entry]

Sunday, August 30, 1981
A Mountain Top Day. 64 leaving Bishop, 98 when we got back at 4:30.
Left Bishop elevation 4,00′ at 8:00. 9 gal gas so far $13.90 – 1.459 per pagl. Down 395 to 168 & headed east – no servies for 109 miles. Thru a narrow rocky gorge & twisty road rising to 7,000 ft. Turn off to Bristlecone Pine area & thru Control Gate. At 8,800 ft Sierra View Vissta – Clear Blue Sky “Range of Light” aglow in morning sun. A perfect day temp – wind – not a cloud in sky. 10:30 at Schulman Grove where Dr. Schulman discovered in 1957 the Methusela tree – over 4,000 years old. I remember the Natl Geographic article about it. Was so thrilled. At the Ranger talk we got to twist Swedish increment borer to take a core. Kristi didn’t want to do it. Like she didn’t want to take a shower before bed – after that dusty 13 mi road to the Patriarch tree new White Mt. Driving inside the bowls – mountain meadows. Back to check point at 3:45 & to Mammoth Lakes at 6:00. To movie at visitor center “John Muir’s High Sierra.”

Saturday, August 29, 1981
Had to go to the Nugget for bfst so left Reno at 9.Bob & Kathi each won $5 – I lost the $2 they gave me at Harrold’s for showing airline ticket. Down 395 to Calif – Topaz Lake sparkling like diamonds. Looking into Yosemite area – glaciers on cirques near tops of mt. Green valley at Bridgeport & hundreds of cattle. At 11:45 took Rt 270 to Bodie. 10 Mi paved & 3 miles left graded gravel to give feeling of remoteness. First view of “Ghost Town” exciting. Mine talings on all hills. After 2 fires – 1897 & 1932 – only 5% of town left, but they took out 100,000,000 in gold. Did cemetery first & then wandered into town. Cain house much like mother’s outbuildings & other house still with things – furniture, etc. Didn’t picnic until 2 & then left area. Came into Mono Lake area from N. Center part. Tufa wasn’t showing in 1949 when I was here. To Bishop at 6:20 – 395 beatiful drive. Vagabond Motel $43.20 – allo swam but me. Enrico’s Italian dinner.

Friday, August 28, 1981 Temp 98 but no sweat with air conditioner.
Retyped my Stokely Genealogy, editing as I went. Wikth Kathi to get quadrant maps – 1105 S. Welles is the place to get them – Brumbackers. U of Nev only had Nevada ones.

Pork chops for dinner. Packing for trip tomorrow. Washed my hair. Nice to have a driver to use. Kristi & I played Rummy & Boggle.

Wednesday, August 26, 1981
Shopping with Kathi. Bought “Devil Water” by Anya Seton. – Charles Radcliffe story in 1710-50.

Loafing day – Guess that’s the only way my knee is going to get better.

Thursday, August 27 1981
Retyped the Riley genealogy. Went with Kathi on errands and it was terribly hot.
Copy shop could only do legal size so couldn’t copy “Family Tree” we got in Mendocino.

Went to gardens at University of Nevada. Marigolds glorious.

Got Kentucky Fried Chicken for dinner. Had popcorn later.

Tuesday, August 25, 1981
Up at 7:30 to get to airport by 9:00. David had his things packed in a small metal trunk & my large bag on rollers but has 2 small boxes to send UPS. Kathi very brave but I was close to tears. Likfe will never be the same for her family. But Bob so anxious to be rid of him. Says things will be so much better.

Don called when we got home. Thought David was coming through Denver & couldn’t find the flight. Kathi told him Dallas to Cincinnati. David Haldeman called later & so did David Decker saying he arrived ok. Will not have the basement room until Rita finishes school.