Take that California Trip...
INVERNESS, CALIFORNIA—January 27th, 2008
The authors of the best-selling Point Reyes Visions have expanded their horizons to encompass the entirety of California. Richard Blair and Kathleen Goodwin bring a unique view of the state with the images and text in their new book, California Trip.

Web order books are signed by the authors and are discounted to $39.95 for the next few weeks to introduce it to our web visitors. Or call us at 415 663-1615 for the same deal. In stores it is $49.95

Travelling thousands of miles throughout the state, they have captured its spirit with photographs that range from surfers, farm workers and movie stars to exquisite pictures of California’s deserts and mountains. This is an unusual book for the depth of perspective it gives the viewer of its cultural and natural landscapes.

From the hippies and the protests of the sixties to California today-the authors were there with cameras and a reporter’s notebook, recording vital details of California’s unique place in the world. Goodwin and Blair weren’t just reporting; they were deeply involved, freezing and frying in the mountains and deserts, demonstrating against the wars, dancing at concerts, always observing.

California has been brought to life–its people, craziness and peak moments of beauty and truth. The content is honest and revealing, breaking new ground for a California picture book by including ignored but important subjects, like earthquakes, immigration, gay and lesbian rights, the rise of organic farming to name a few.

California is a place where freedom still thrives. If you are interested in a nontraditional yet reality-based view of California, this book will turn your head.

Blair and Goodwin created this large format artist’s book in their live/work studio. It is 11x11 inches, clothbound, with 300 pages and 600 photographs. This heralds a new kind of book: where artists can take their project all the way to press and intensify their work through each stage. They photographed, wrote, designed, scanned the book. It was a long-term effort of almost 40 years. The printer used a special printing technique to print the book with no halftone dots, but rather microscopic speckles and ultra bright inks.

Peace, love, and good vibes. Now really needed.

Loretta Farley

Spring surveys and studies are beginning on harbor seals and spotted owls.  One spotted owl nest has been observed so far; it is hoped more will be noted in the mature forests along Inverness Ridge.

Armchair wildlife viewing along the Bear Valley Road corridor - Wednesday, a river otter seemed to be scoping out the creeks and dropping in at the Red Barn Classroom; soon followed by a coyote.  Two young male black tails, their antlers in velvet, put on a boxing match along the road.  Further afield, the last of the northbound gray whales have been rolling along Drakes Bay, mother and calf pair observations were made on Thursday and Saturday.

Poppies are out all over Bear Valley pastures, along Abbots Lagoon, patches along local highways.  Large, white blooms along roadways are Cow Parsnips - they always look like cauliflowers  and the stalks can be 5 feet high.

International Migratory Bird Day will be observed this Saturday, May 10 at Muir Woods NM.  Educational activities begin at 7:00 am (birdbanding demonstrations) and go through 12 noon.  Other activities include smolt trapping, habitat restoration,  and bird walks.    A free shuttle will carry visitors between Muir Beach and Muir Woods.  More information at (415) 388-2595

Brown Bag Lunch seminar coming up on Thursday, May 15 at 12 noon in the Red Barn Classroom is "Nutrients and Benthic Invasion Dynamics in northern California estuaries"  This free talk is open to the public.

Reminder:  A public meeting on the suggestion for a bridge over Lagunitas Creek from White House pool to the Giacomini wetlands is scheduled for May 14 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm at the Dance Palace Community Center in Point Reyes Station.