Apr 30 - TIME-WARP: The Past challenges the Future**

Sunday, April 30, 1972 - Page 121
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Today: (see page 120)  Tomorrow: (see page 122)
Next week: (see page 128)  Last week: (see page 114)
One hundred days Ago: (see page 20)
One hundred days Hence: (see page 220)
Seventeen years ago: (see hospital records, Dayton, Ohio)
Seventeen years hence: (See "Life" magazine, page 34)

Photos from 1971 Europe trip

(1) Harbor in Capri. (2) Guess. (3) Tom Hildebrand truckin' down an Italian Highway (when our second bus got a flat tire). (4) This disheveled reject from a sleazy rider movie is none other than what's his name from Newport Beach, California. What can I say, besides "Yuck!"

Hold on here, that bit of time-manipulation at the top of this page presents an interesting challenge: From the perspective of the future (NOW), let me respond to this seemingly frivolous exercise in known and unknown temporal events...

Today: (see page 120)
This is a lame gimmick that keeps referring us back to the previous day until we arrive at the source: Page 112, Friday, April 21, 1972, where it reports, "Today: Nothing much occurred."
Tomorrow: (see page 122) 
Monday, May 1, 1972 -- MAY DAY! Yikes, there's a huge mass of text that I'm going to have to type up next. I wonder what's going on there... We'll find out tomorrow. See page 122.

Next week: (see page 128) 
Sunday, May 7, 1972 -- My sister & brother-in-law will visit Bayshore Park to spend a day of fun in the sun at our private beach.
Last Week: (see page 114) 
Here are multiple points in time mashed into one: It features a photo taken in Rome on April 20, 1971, which was pasted into this day (Sunday, April 23, 1972) on August 4, 1972, PLUS a photo of Sue Latka from Easter 1972, added to this page sometime in April 2013.

One hundred days Ago: (see page 20)
Thursday, January 20, 1972 -- On this day, my father arrived in South Dakota to begin driving Matt & Me back home to Newport Beach. 
One hundred days Hence: (see page 220)
I will now flip thru the Pages of Time to see what happened on this arbitrary date, 3 months & 1 week into the future: Monday, August 7, 1972 -- Hmmm... I was a guest at the Latka home in Chicago, and we all watched films & slides of our 1971 European vacation... OMG!  That night, Sue tells me a "deep dark secret" about her family. Whoa, I'd totally forgotten about that. Even now, after more than 40 years, I wonder if I should reveal the intimate information mentioned in this entry. Would it upset people's lives even now? Maybe. Oh well, I'll decide on that later...

Seventeen years ago: (see hospital records, Dayton, Ohio)
That's a reference to the day I was born 17 years earlier. 
Seventeen years hence: (See "Life" magazine, page 34)
Jumping 17 years ahead, here is the issue of LIFE magazine from April 1989.

Sorry, I can't tell you what's on page 34. If you have a copy of this edition, please let me know... [Update from January 2014: I bought this issue on eBay, so I can now tell you that on page 34 is a full-page photo of Mike Tyson, age 22, taking a punch in the face]

BTW, LIFE ended its run as a weekly magazine in December, 1972, when this "TrueTimeTravel" journal also ends (that'll be December 31, 2013, our time). LIFE continued with intermittent special issues until 1978, then as a monthly publication from 1978 to 2000. 

See every page of LIFE's final weekly issue:
Dec 29, 1972

It is interesting to consider that the apparently random dates conjured up by this 17-year-old version of Grady happened to hit upon (A) the most startling revelation in this entire diary (August 7, 1972), and (B) the most significant year in my entire life:

1989

That is the year when my only child was born. Nothing else I have ever done or ever will do can surpass the birth of my lovely, wonderful, talented daughter, Elora.

TIME-JUMP backwards 50 years: Here's "Life" in 1922

Apr 29 - PHOTOS 1971: Rome, Naples, Capri

Saturday, April 29, 1972 - Page 120
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Today: (see page 119)

(1) View from window of Hotel in Rome. (2) View of Spanish steps in Rome (looks like Geri at left). (3) View of boats and stuff at harbor in Naples. (4) Two freaks on boat at Capri (Tom & Geri). (5) Italian rower at the Blue Grotto accompanied by Tom Hildebrand and the infamous, deceptive Pat Connors -- both of South Dakota, USA. (6) In the Blue Grotto, looking out.

Look out.

Apr 28 - Note from the Past: Rome tour schedule

Friday, April 28, 1972 - Page 119
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Yesterday: (see page 118)

Another ridiculous memento from the Europe trip. I don't remember it, but it is indeed my handwriting. It was written on the bus, on the back of a Ti Amo card. Ken gave it to me (included 4, Aug, 72).

Apr 27 - TIME-WARP: Future photos from Chicago

Thursday, April 27, 1972 - Page 118
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Today: (see page 117)

 

[Two of Grady's photos of Chicago taken on August 10. Top shot shows the Adler Planetarium to the left of the Shedd Aquarium -- Bottom shows the Field Museum of Natural History. See October 7 posting for more Chicagoland pics & descriptions]

Apollo 16 returns to Earth: Thursday, April 27, 1972, 19:45:05 UTC, South Pacific Ocean

Apr 26 - Photos: South Dakota after the flood

Wednesday, April 26, 1972 - Page 117
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Today: (see page 116)

[Here's the text at the bottom that's cut off in this photo]

Left: A beauteous view from a portion of the Bethlehem road. Part of car at left.

Right: Front view of the road grader that often transported people and cars across the creek after the flood. Now (Aug. 26, 1972 -- 12:03) the creek is almost completely dry, and a newly built road (which was being constructed when me and the Latkas were leaving) goes over the creek bed -- this is the same vehicle that is on page 179 [June 27] ---

Apr 25 - Photos: Bethlehem, South Dakota

Tuesday, April 25, 1972 - Page 116
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Today: (see page 115)

These photos were taken by Tom Hildebrand, and were given to me by Tom Scheurring, and were put in here on August 26, 1972 A.D., at about noon while sitting on my bunk in the Abbott's Cabin. Now, what else do you wanna know? ----

[This is a rare TIME-JUMP-AHEAD referring to Grady's return-appearance at Bethlehem, South Dakota, later in this year, spurred by the disastrous Black Hills Flood of June 9 that killed hundreds.] 

Apr 24 - ARTWORK: Pencil sketch

Monday, April 24, 1972 - Page 115
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Today: (see page 114)

[TIME-JUMP flash-forward]
This is a remote from the Future -- Sunday morn, May 28, 1972 -- 12:46:55 A.M. Yesterday I attached a colored pencil drawing of a young lady [See Friday, May 26, 1972] -- it was fairly well executed, but decidedly unwhole -- some of it, at least.

So, I decided to include another example of my artistry with a more complete rendering of the feminine bod. The sketch attached here is my best single drawing to date because I haven't bothered to draw anything better, but I know my potential, and it is indicated in this attempt.

This drawing is also referred to in the Future Entry
on June 1, 1972

Here is the magazine photo that
inspired the above sketch

I'll get back into art in a year or so when I've developed a talent for writing. I already have a talent for drawing, so I don't gotta work on it. That's all for now: 12:51:55 A.M.

To see better examples of my artwork, please go here: GALLERY | Fantasy Females

Apr 23 - TIME-JUMP: Me, Peggy & Ken in Rome

Sunday, April 23, 1972 - Page 114
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Today: (see page 113)

The above photo must've been taken by Sue Latka. It shows G.L.L.III, Peggy Latka, & Ken Latka at the Catacombs in Rome, April 20th, 1971 --- (Included 4, Aug, 72 -- given to me by Peggy)

Soozwol (Sue Latka's goofy nickname for herself)
with rabbit, around Easter 1972

Apr 22 - TIME-JUMP: Photos of Italy, 1971

Saturday, April 22, 1972 - Page 113
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Today: (see page 112)

From Denmark, we went to Italy -- (1) View from hotel window, from which we walked to the Discotheque. (2) In various parts of Italy we saw various strange and wondrous sights, (3) (4) (5) such as ruins, and (6) Tom Hildebrand's profile at the Colosseum.

Apr 21 - TIME-JUMP: Photos of 1971 Europe Trip

Friday, April 21, 1972 - Page 112
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

Today: Nothing much occurred.

[TIME-JUMP to 1971 via July 10, 1972]
These are photos obtained from Geri Langer 79 days from this day (Fri, April 21, 1972). This was written at 7:41:30 P.M., 7/10/72 ---

Our trip to Europe started at Kennedy Airport at Sundown (1) -- We arrived in Copenhagen in the morning, and immediately were put in a bus to see the sights (2) (3) (4) (5) (6). These photos are self-explanatory so I won't bother to explain them. I was within several yards of Geri when she took these photos -- we got to know each other right away.

Apr 20 - Apollo 16 moon landing***

Thursday, April 20, 1972 - Page 111
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

This is NASA's great documentary on Apollo 16's mission. Please go to the December 13 entry to find their show about Apollo 17, our FINAL manned moon expedition.

9:00 PM
Woke up today at about 8:45, goddup officially at 10:15 and took a bath. Apollo T.V. coverage started at 11:00 and they blew a scheduled landing due to a systems malfunction that seemed serious but wasn't, so they got six hours behind schedule, which eliminates one of their three EVAs (At least). They finally landed at about 6:24 P.M. I've gotta get up tomorrow at 8:00 AM to see their first EVA [Extra-Vehicular Activity].

The moon's surface through Apollo 16's
Lunar Module window shortly after landing

Anyway, besides that, Boy's Life answered my query, I washed the dishes while watching T.V., and organized the drawers further. Mom left for Laramée's at around 7:00, and Chunk dropped by at quarter to nine to get his paddles for the Kern races Saturday. He was trying to contact Dad about a financial matter and he couldn't find him, so I called and dad wasn't home, so I called Laramée's to see if Mom knew where he was but she didn't. So Chunk left, after talking a bit -- he's getting good pay in his landscaping job at San Diego, via Fullerton, and is working from 5:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. Interesting, huh?

I called at dad's place again, and contacted him this time, so I ran outside to get Chunk who hadn't left yet. So we got that straightened out.

[TIME-JUMP]
A year ago:
April 19, 1971 -- Nun died in Naples, went to Capri via hydrofoil. Blue Grotto via rowboats. Pompeii via bus.

Blue Grotto (Grotta Azzurra), Capri, 1971

April 20, 1971, Tuesday -- Appian Way & Catacombs.

April 21, 1971 -- Pisa, and the leaning tower therein.

Tower of Pisa (straightened), 1971

April 22, 1971
Bus broke down, to Milan for airport, plane mix up, flew back to Rome, then to Barcelona -- the rain in Spain fell mainly on the plane.

Tom Hildebrand at tour bus breakdown (flat tire) in Italy, 1971

Apr 19 - Car problems when Dad visits

Wednesday, April 19, 1972 - Page 110
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

11:02:54 PM
Got a letter today from Tom Hildebrand of Bethlehem, SD. He sent 23 photographs, 3 of them of Matt & Me in South Dakota one hundred days ago, the rest of Europe. Some of the pictures are on page 10 1/2 (me in Bethlehem) [see January 10] and 10 3/4 (Europe from a year ago) [see below].

It was a sunny day, and I considered going out to tan my hide, but there were some clouds. The clouds moved in and burst, dropping a steady shower for about a half hour. During that time, dad appeared to give me $5, and mom $20, then he and me went to eat at Jack in the Box, and the Audi overheated. The fan wasn't working so he drove to the Volkswagen place, and they'll fix it for him tomorrow -- till then, it'll stay cool if he doesn't idle it. We came home, ate, and he left at about 1:30 or 2:00. I did some more organizing, wrote a letter to Tom and sent $15.00 for the Bible they're selling. The $15 was in the form of a check from Mom's bank.

The Apollo 16 (Sweet Sixteen) is orbiting the moon, and they're landing tomorrow. I watched a lot of T.V. today (Adam 12, Mystery Movie: McMillan & Wife, and Night Gallery). Got a lot of dishes dirty. Laboriously brought mom's desk into the living room from the cabaña via the porch since the hall was too narrow, or the desk was too wide. Tis now 11:16:15 P.M. Tha's all.

Apr 18 - TIME-JUMP: 1971 trip to Europe

Tuesday, April 18, 1972 - Page 109
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

11:03:36 PM
Cursory organization implementation. Mostly watched TV, from 7:30 to 11:00. Rained today.

[TIME-JUMP]
A YEAR AGO --
April 11, 1971: Lost on Subway, Mom called the NYPD -- their services were not needed.
(April 14, 1972: "Lost" in Backbay, Mom called Harbor Patrol -- their services were not needed.)
April 12, 1971: Night before, we'd gone to the Radio City Music Hall to see "A New Leaf," and the fabled Rockettes -- on the 12th, saw the Statue of Liberty, and lots of museums.

"A New Leaf" theatrical release poster, 1971

April 13, 1971, checked out of the Tudor Hotel, NY, NY, drove to Kennedy Airport and flew to Copenhagen. I became employed by Father Hugh Farrington to lead the Orange Group (along with a fair haired lass name of Geri Langer). Sight-saw in the bus, then Geri Lee Langer (Same initials as me, G.L.L.), went bicycling in Denmark. After that, the gang (including Tom, mentioned earlier in the year) went on a hydro-foil to Sweden, where we stayed for about 10 minutes. Got back to the Hotel exhausted way past midnight.

April 15 (oops, I missed a day somewhere), flew to Milan, viewing the Alps from above. Saw more sights, then bussed to Florence. That night, Tom, Geri, Me, Peggy Latka & Soozwol Latka (Ken chickened out at the last minute) went to a Firenza discotheque. Mr. Latka dubbed it an opium den.
April 16 -- Herded in a bus to Rome.
April 17 -- Saw churches, ruins and various other sights.
April 18, Sunday -- Had mass in St. Peters (despite my heathen convictions). We went to see "Joe" in Italian. Got lost, found Gil. Finis 11:28:36

"Joe" theatrical release poster, 1970

Apr 17 - Kern River excursion, Part 2**

Monday, April 17, 1972 - Page 108
LOCATION: Kernville & Newport Beach, California

Note on the Back Written by Mom:
Me & my son, Charles, on Kern R., Apr 23, 1974

[This is a continuation from the previous page describing a river trip on Sunday, April 16]
...about 35 seconds. Cliff, though weaker, went through faster and cleaner than Chunk. They both got tired and went to Upper Ewings to practice. I found a small snake, pro'ly a garter snake. There were also thousands of lizards that darted around when you walked through bushes and rocks. I stayed on the big rock at the end of Ewings soaking sun, and Chunk and Cliff returned for a few more timed slalom runs. Cliff left, and Bob got in the Musky Mongoose to learn how to do the Eskimo roll with Chunk assisting, and me taking pictures with Bob's camera. He gave up after about a dozen attempts.

Chuck, at right, with paddling friends at the Kern, 1968

Then I got Glenn's boat (Chunk wasn't so wary of me using it) and Chunk & I went to Upper Ewings to run it. I went through, with Chunk following, without flipping, just letting the water carry me along. It was easy, so I decided to do it again -- and that time the water carried me into a bunch of rocks at the side where I stayed. I pulled myself out, and continued down stream BACKWARDS, and almost made it but ran into a big rock with a strong current that succeeded in flipping me. So I tried again, got hung up in the same place, went down backwards, and got flipped by the same rapid, but at a point higher up this time. I decided not to give it another try. The score, then, was 4 flips for me, 3 for Bob. I won!

This art by Lu Lyda shows Chuck with a partner in a slalom run, 1969

We started packing for the trip home, putting Patch & Glenn's kayak on the Barracuda. Left by 2:30. Traffic was heavy but fast enough, got home at 7:00, dropping Bob off at his place on Lido Isle. The moon had a bright object on the top of its crescent. Chunk said he din't know there was a star there, and I knowingly, guessingly said it was Venus. My theory proved correct when the radio mentioned having a lot of calls from people who thought it was Apollo XVI (impossible to see, of course). They said Venus got that close to the Moon twice a year. Chunk and I reached home, and unpacked the boats and car. Chunk stayed a few minutes to eat butter cups (Reeses) and talk. Taco has been busy -- a dead gopher was in the cabaña, and there was a gopher's head on my window sill. In both locations the cat had thrown up, so maybe she won't eat them any more.

KFI's fiftieth anniversary was on and I listened to that till midnight, after reading the comics, eating candy & a T.V. dinner. My knee, which had bled some after the last Ewing's flip, hurt and gave me a limp. My feet which had been cut up in back bay, were as painful as ever (I have ten big cuts and a dozen minor nicks and slices on both feet). I slept with Vitamin E on my feet, with socks over them to keep it from staining the bed.

MONDAY, APRIL 17, 1972 -- My leg is okay now, and my feet itch a little but are fairly okay. I took a bath after waking up at 9:40 A.M. Mom came by while I was walking home after going for the mail (there was none), because she forgot her close-up glasses. That was at noon. It is now 1:23:13 P.M. -- Finis, till next entry 2-day.

11:21:31 PM
Did dishes today while watching T.V. Mom went out for her night with the girls at about 6:00. Tis now 11:22:59 P.M. -- Tha's all.

P.S. -- I'm getting my room cleaned up -- got magazines, books, & paperbacks where they belong. Will get them organized soon. Double finis.

Apr 16 - Kern River excursion, Part 1**

Sunday, April 16, 1972 - Page 107
LOCATION: Newport Beach & Kernville, California

This 1969 image of Chuck racing in whitewater was drawn by our father, Lu Lyda

[TIME-HOP to previous day]
Saturday, April 15, 1972
(Written Monday, April 17, 1972, 11:30:45 A.M.)
I woke up at 6:00 A.M. and got ready for the trip to Kernville. Chunk had trouble getting the car started, so it wasn't till at least 8:30 before he got there. Bob Kirkeby came too -- an old friend of Chunk's from the Sea Scout Days. Bob is taking a photography class so he had a school camera to take pictures at Kern. We went to Mayfair and bought food for the trip, then we went to a camera store & Bob got film. It took three & a half hours to get to Kern, though it is supposed to be a five hour trip. I sat in the back seat which was slightly cramped with equipment (sleeping bags, blankets, food, kayaking stuff, paddles...) sprawled from the back to the back seat. Glenn's kayak was tied to the roof of the car so we'd have enough boats to paddle in.

Kernville looked a lot smaller than the last time I saw it which was many years ago, about 5, I think. We first went to the Ewings portion of Kern river to see if Chunk's boats were there -- they were. So we went to Peanut Butter Park where the kayak crowd camps out. The new boat Chunk built (the Musky Mongoose) was there. Then we drove up to Tom Johnson's, whom I haven't seen since I was last at Kern. He didn't recognize me. Anyway, Patch was there, and Bob & I tied it on the Barracuda (we'd left Glenn's boat at Ewings). There was a thermometer at TJ's that said it was 79° -- the weather was warm & clear.

Chuck on the Kern (1974)

We left Johnson's and drove back to PB Park to get Chunk's boat, and Bob & I held it to the car out the windows, and I drove back to Ewings. Bob wasn't used to kayaking -- it was the first time he'd paddled, though he was familiar with sailing and rowing. He used Glenn's, I was in Patch, and Chunk took the Musky Mongoose. We paddled in the calm deep water below Ewings to get used to it. After about 15 minutes I tipped over into the 40° water. Bob had flipped a few minutes earlier. The dunking I took got me very disenchanted with kayaking, and I was reluctant to get back in. In the interim, Bob & I went to the banks of Ewings in the kayak. Chunk was concerned about this foolhardiness and told him to use Patch (a boat he wouldn't mind getting busted), the oldest raunchiest paddle, a helmet and life jacket. So Bob went thru the white water like he was going through the gates of Hell, head scrunched down, shoulders sloped -- terrible form, but he made it through without flipping. So he went to do it again -- but before that I got back in the kayak (Glenn's water-tight one) with many reservations, but bowed to Chunk's urging. Then Bob ran the river again and flipped over -- that was two flips for him & one for me.

I got a little more confidence but I still wasn't anxious to run Ewings. I just stayed in the calm water. By then the sun was setting, so we returned to Peanut Butter Park, and got in league with Cliff, a kayaking buddy of Chunk's who is about equal to him in ability, and we had dinner, using his stove to cook beans, chili, and beef stew, and Bob cooked the steak on a grill over the fire. So the four of us had dinner. At the camp there was a three legged dog (front leg missing) and a three legged cat (hind leg missing), which was slightly odd. There were also some other dogs and cats there who vied for our leftovers. A few people gathered at the fire and talked, me, Bob, Cliff, Chunk, and a few young girls usually. TJ [Tom Johnson, Chuck's legendary mentor] came to the fireside gathering, which was unusual. The crowd changed to experienced kayakers & drifters. I wandered away at about 8:00 to go to sleep. I used the foam rubber boat pad with three blankets. C & B turned in at 10:00 or 11:00.

Keeping track of the competitors:
Tom Johnson at the Kern in 1974

Sunday, April 16, 1972
(Written Monday, April 17, 1972, 12:38:17 P.M.)
I waited 'till Chunk got up before I officially awoke, which was at about 8:30. We were the last people to wake up. Chunk went running with Cliff about 3 miles. Bob & I had breakfast. Eventually Bob & I went to the river, and Bob ran Ewings again, flipping at the start. I was in the calm water and caught the paddle -- people on the shore helped him and the boat out of the water. Chunk got in the water later. I managed to flip over again while trying to get used to the rough water at the edge of Ewings. So I quit again and Bob took pictures again, and I joined him on the rock. Then Chunk and Cliff paddled the slalom at the end of Ewings, and I timed their runs -- they averaged
[Here the text is interrupted by the end of the page, continued on tomorrow's entry:  April 17]

The Apollo 16 Saturn V space vehicle lifted off at 12:54 p.m. EST, Sunday, April 16, 1972, from the Kennedy Space Center Launch Complex 39A. To see a NASA documentary about this mission, go to April 20 - Apollo 16 moon landing.

Apr 15 - Back Bay expedition, continued**

Saturday, April 15, 1972 - Page 106
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

[This text is continued from page 105. April 15's entry will appear on the April 16 page]
5:00 PM
It is still Apr. 14 -- this is a continuation. The time is 5:09, and the location is estimated to be at ♇ [Pluto astronomical symbol: P-over-L in a circle at upper right] on the map. I may be further than that, I'm not sure. I won't be able to get home before dark -- the sun will be going down in an hour or so. I got into Upper Newport Bay as usual -- the tide was quite low, but not as low as last time. The mullets gave a more spectacular show than usual, leaping from the water 2 and 3 at a time. There was one boat with a skier attached to it, and one gal driving a speed boat. This caused pretty high waves -- not just wakes, but waves -- and that, plus a fairly strong wind made it a little complicated while maneuvering among the fish. Anyway, I didn't spend too much time with them -- I went on to the inlet I had explored last Sunday, but this time, when it split, I took the right stream which was thicker and deeper. Here there was a strong current against me and it was slow going. I upset literally thousands of birds who simultaneously clouded the skies. Miraculously, however, I was untouched by their bombing raids.

This photo is mentioned on the previous page, April 14

When I began getting too tired to paddle, I switched to the faster method of getting out of the kayak and wading through the water, pulling the boat along. The water was very shallow, not more than 6 inches deep. The bottom of the "river" was fine sand on top of soft mud. I followed the river for miles, and the depth of the water changed from 6 inches to an occasionally 2 to 3 feet, and sometimes it was barely an inch deep. The current seemed very strong, and the wind was against me -- it was hard to keep the boat pointed straight. The mud underfoot changed often too -- usually it was like soft clay, sometimes it was sandy, now and then there was quicksand almost 2 feet deep -- if I didn't have the kayak to lean on, I may have found out it was deeper. At one point there was a change in the under water topography, so that there was a miniature waterfall, preceded by a very deep area of water (3 feet approx). I passed the loud little waterfall, and eventually came up to another vague fork, where the streams split. By this time my left foot was bleeding from one or two cuts (there were some sharp shells under water). I, characteristically, took a wrong turn. I entered what turned out to be a smaller, shallower area. (To be continued on page 35)

[Although the text takes us back to February 4, page 35, I will include it here to conclude this lengthy entry]

Friday, Apr. 14, 5:32 PM
This entry is from the Future, page 106. Continued: -- I followed the wrong river, hoping it would lead to the wider, freer flowing stream. (That "wider, freer flowing stream," I think, was the "2,000 meter rowing course" mentioned on the map on page 100. The course has long been out of use). The current, by this time, had changed, and water moving in the opposite direction, moving with, instead of against me. So I didn't have to push the kayak -- it just "swam" beside me like I was walking a pet dolphin. The river bottom got muckier and more polluted -- flies were getting common, and tall thick grass lay on the banks in occasional patches. Here the water was warmer than the air, which was about 65°. Finally, the river joined the rowing course through a narrow grass covered channel. I carried the boat over it, and began wading through the course, the bottom of which was clean, soft sand. Sometimes I sank knee deep in the silt. This went on for at least another half mile, and I began wondering if Alligators live in salt water. The banks began taking on the appearance of swamplands, tall grass and bushes covered the shore. This contrasted with the barren mud of most of Upper Newport Bay I was familiar with. I seemed to remember that there were alligators in these waters, but that must have been a year or so ago. The water was dead now -- too polluted for fish, frogs or alligators. But there was wildlife at water's edge. The ever present long-beaked birds were still around, but now there was other life: rabbits, squirrels, pigeons and horses. The horses were on the land, not far away, being ridden by girls. There also was a group of kids and an adult wandering through the grass and bushes, but the place still seemed desolate. After all, I was the only thing moving through the river. The water got deeper more often, and the mud went down further -- sometimes I was waste deep in water, thigh deep in quicksand. The landscape kept changing -- I'll have to bring my camera here sometime.

Already I was miles farther than I'd ever been in the Bay. At one area the water was only an inch deep and I had to drag the boat over it -- at other spots there were little waterfalls and water so deep I had to float, holding the boat to stay up. I passed under a bridge that I don't see on the map. Beyond that was deep quicksand that made it necessary for me to get back in the boat and continue paddling. The banks were covered with beauteous plants with tiny yellow balls on them. After a little bit further through this idyllic scene, I came to another bridge, one I remember having driven over often, and right now (five minutes to six) I'm underneath that bridge. It's the end of the line -- I'm floating in water which has come from ten pipes, four or five feet in diameter, embedded in hard rock (The bottom of the river is granite, I think). The sun is beginning to set, and my hand is unsteady from the cold. The water, streaming from 7 or 8 of the pipes, is noisy as it splashes down, foaming under the bridge. Above me there is the sound of cars speeding along the bridge. It is 6:00 now, and I'm going to try to get back to Eye Sore Park. Boy, it's getting cold! -- I just tasted the water coming from the pipe nearest me -- it's fresh! Wonder where it's from. I'll have to wait to find out -- gotta get home as soon as I can.

12:09:06 AM
The sky turned from blue to gold, then to twilight, dusk, and dark. The moon was just a finger-nail clipping (day after new moon). The tide was unusually high, like a bath tub filled to the brim. Saw the lights of three boats. Finally got home at 7:30, put the boat on the dock and walked to the Grand Shoebox with just the paddle. Mom was vacuuming the rug, and the TV was on to Hollywood Squares. She had called Chunk, then Dad, then the Harbor Patrol (that may have been one of the boats I saw). Watched H.S. [Hollywood Squares], then Sanford & Son, then a movie, "Hour of the Gun." Chunk came over at 10:30 to look at the films of King's [River races] while Mom was out buying some food. Watched the films till 11:30, then he left. I've gotta get up at 6:00 tomorrow to go with him to Kern. 'Tis now 12:19:00 A.M. Fini.

[From Bayshore Park to the far end of Upper Newport Bay is about 3.5 miles as the crow flies. I had gone on a round trip of more than 7 miles that day.]

Apr 14 - Epic exploration of Newport Bay***

Friday, April 14, 1972 - Page 105
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

1:00 PM
Not since January 22 has this book been out of the Grand Shoebox [my mobile home]. And now, today, at 1:11, this sacred journal is once again outside. This is a remote field report from Newport Bay (approximately at the [referencing the pic that appears below: Earth astronomical symbol: cross-in-a-circle] on the map -- slightly north of that point actually on the shore). I embarked on this expedition at 12:30, and launched the vessel from Eye Sore Park beach. I was accosted by three youngsters whose aid I enlisted in passing under the newly deployed buoy line enclosing the swimming area, an obstacle which will henceforth necessitate my having to depart from the Eye Sore Park docks. For the 1st time today I investigated that portion of Newport Bay called Newport Dunes, which is singularly unimpressive in that it is reputed to be a vacation or recreational area, and despite the assertion made on the map, there is no island in that area, Coney or otherwise. The traffic is light, the sky is void of clouds, the smog is thin (the mountains to the north are clearly visible) and the wind is fair. I now shall continue this exploration of Upper Newport Bay. Onward!

Here's a reappearance of the map that is attached to page 100, April 9.
You can find a more readable hi-res version here: Newport Beach Map.
Above the fold on the right is "Ford Aeronutronic" where my father worked
as a technical illustrator for Defense projects. Bayshore trailer park isn't shown,
but it was located on the shore at the mid-lower left above "E. Coast Hwy."

1:30 PM
I now (1:34) am approximately at [Mars astronomical symbol: circle-and-arrow] on the map, in a narrow inlet on what I believe is the only true island of Newport Bay, though this definition may be disputed due to the fact that at lowest possible tide, the channel (see arrow on map) is uncovered and indeed becomes a mere extension of the land, muddy though it may be. The region of this island is abundant in vegetation and wildlife, including geese, and other types of waterfowl including one very common type similar to, though decidedly unrelated to, the wholly terrestrial woodcock (if my meager knowledge of ornithology serves, which it probably doesn't). In fact wholly twenty of the aforementioned birds now are industriously feeding in the soft mud to my left, not 50 feet distant (I now am facing North-East, sitting in the kayak pictured on page 106 [April 15] (that photo incidentally was taken on the opposite side of this island), stationarily floating in a shallow inlet lined with shells, the mouth of which contained about a dozen small fish (one of several varieties in this area, which were alarmed when I came upon them, and one of whom leaped briefly out of the water, past my paddle). The wind is getting brisker, the air cooler, and the smog thicker (my estimation of visibility was a bit premature -- the mountains now are nearly invisible), so, to the constant chirps, caws, and sundry tunes of the many resplendent fowl about me, I once again paddle forth.

2:00 PM
I've made a rare and unprecedented discovery. I have, in the past, found dead fish, and I have fooled with tiny coelenterates, but now I've found a large, living creature which now is only a foot away, floating in the water. As I was paddling away from the area of the last entry, I glimpsed in the water what appeared to be a large, half-sunk inflated ball. I backed up and looked more closely -- it was, of course, a jelly fish, fully a foot in diameter when extended. It had marble-like markings on its dorsal side, and tentacles lining a black fringe on the underside, in the center of which was a gelatinous mass. I don't think it's a man-of-war, though I've never seen one. But it is impressive. With a bit of difficulty, I coaxed the thing onto the beach (the western shore opposite the island) and observed it more closely. I daren't touch it for fear of being stung, but I manipulated it with the paddle and investigated the beast to my content. The beach is very soft mud (in fact my right leg, anchoring the kayak on which I am leaning, is shin-deep in mud), so I was unable to step ashore for a stick or some such. Now (2:21) I'll leave, putting the jelly fish back into the channel.

2:30 PM
It is now 2:47, and I'm in the kayak resting in water that is too shallow to allow movement. As the sign said, this is a closed channel (* on the map). The tide will eventually surround the land, but until then I must back up and leave the same way I came. About 20 feet before me, on the soggy land of the uncovered channel, are at least one hundred long-beaked birds pecking at the mud. I don't wish to bother them, so I'll back up and be off. Tis now 3:02 P.M. [The text is continued on the next page, April 15]

Newport Beach, California (Google Earth, 2013)

Detail seen in Red Rectangle: Newport Harbor High School
is at upper right and the lower Red Circle is where I lived in 1972
at Bayshore Trailer Park, which has been gone for many years

Apr 13 - Update on my dead lizard, Liz

Thursday, April 13, 1972 - Page 104
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

12:30 PM
This morning at 5:55 the clouds broke open and abruptly sent down a powerful shower for a solid fifteen minutes. Tacosumi, soaked to the skin, came in as soon as possible through my window. Liz got a bath -- she looks the same as always. ["Liz" is first mentioned when she was captured by Tacosumi on February 24, and officially named on February 26. She remained on the roof of the cabana that's attached to the mobile home outside Grady's window, serving as an ongoing experiment in decomposition.] I think she's petrified. But now she's cleaner and shinier. By eight o'clock strong winds had blown away the clouds and it's a clear sunny day again, as usual, but too cool to go out. I woke up at 11:40 A.M...

12:13:29 AM
and went to sleep at 8:00 P.M. after listening to Lum & Abner at 7:30, as usual (L&A is a rebroadcast of an original Old Radio Program from way back when). Woke up again 15 minutes and 50 seconds ago, and am now (12:16:06) writing in this book. I made my bedroom beautiful -- vacuumed the place, stuffed garbage into drawers to get it out of the way, rearranged art objects (Dad's Phoenix is now atop my filing cabinet instead of the visible head with the Schwinn Cap which is now among the mess in the attic, and the IDIC and the golden Enterprise are arranged by the window, the skull -- with a now red candle on top -- is on the "window sill," and the Stereo is on my far right now, instead of in the attic, and the second speaker was relocated on top of the Radio/Lamp/Clock shelf, etc.). However, despite the outward appearance of calm, a mild state of chaos still prevails in the drawers. Dad came over -- I now have $20. Mom & I bought Fish 'n Chips. L&M came by. 12:23:15 A.M. FINIS

This is "Dad's Phoenix" sculpture which is mentioned above.
It was created with wire and solder by my artistic father.

Apr 12 - Continued organizing my room

Wednesday, April 12, 1972 - Page 103
LOCATION: Newport Beach, California

8:00 PM
Last night when mom returned from dad's for the blanket Larry had borrowed, she brought a letter for me dad had received. It was the letter I sent to "Mount To The Stars!" inquiring about requirements -- It was returned unopened, "Not Here, Address Unknown." So I guess I'll get back the story I sent to them. I got up today at about 10:30 A.M. It was a sunny day but too cool to go out, so I stayed in and worked on my room, getting slightly more organized. I rearranged some of the drawers, pillaged some magazines for photos, which I'll have to categorize, and I listened to the Time-Life Records production of TO THE MOON of 1970 on the record player I've moved into the attic. It was 6 hours long.

Pretty soon this room will be beauteous and perfect once more and I'll be able to turn my talents to the 7 stories that now are almost hibernating. Some time I've gotta start plugging away steadily at them -- writing can't be sporadic, it has to be regular. Some time I'll get to it. Some time. Eventually. Soon. Er or later.

[TIME-JUMP INTO THE PAST: News from this day in 1971]
Last year at this date we were spending the final day in NY, visiting the Statue of Liberty and various museums. On Apr. 13, 1971 we would be boarding the plane and flying to Denmark.

September 26, 1972: President Nixon visits the statue
to open the American Museum of Immigration.

11:02:37 PM
Washed the dishes whilst watching the NBC MYSTERY MOVIE and NIGHT GALLERY. Chunk came over during that to take care of the paper work on the Barracuda. He's about to be fired (he's an insurance liability 'cause of his tickets) at the 76 station, so he's looking for a job. 11:04:45 P.M. FINIS