stephenlirakis.com

CARINA 1971

THEY WAY WE WERE STEPHEN LIRAKIS, JACK CUMMISKEY, MARTHA SMITH, RICHARD B. NYE, CHRIS WICK — THEY WAY WE WERE
STEPHEN LIRAKIS, JACK CUMMISKEY, MARTHA SMITH, RICHARD B. NYE, CHRIS WICK

A recent post by Ian Walker about a visit from the New “Queen Elizabeth” while crossing the Atlantic to Newport in preparation for the next Volvo race reminded me of our past encounters with the “France”, and the “Queen Elizabeth II”; in each case they passenger ships altered course to come by and chat with us.

As indicated by the log entries we were far enough north that it was almost always damp and cold. Martha Smith, was our cook for the crossing and somehow imagined it would be much warmer and packed a bikini.

AIR TEMP: 50 WATER TEMP: 48 CABIN TEMP: 55 — AIR TEMP: 50
WATER TEMP: 48
CABIN TEMP: 55

MARTHA SMITH DRESSED FOR A TRANS-ATLANTIC CROSSING

QUEEN ELIZABETH COMES ALONGSIDE FOR A CHAT MID-OCEAN

FILOLI, ROSES AND VISITOR’S CENTERS

As some of you may be aware there is a controversy in Newport over the visitor’s center planned for on the grounds of the Breakers, one of the houses of the Preservation Society of Newport County. The proposed visitor’s center will be placed inside the fenced property on a site that had been an important garden. Like many Newporters, I believe there is a better solution.

My wife and I visit many museums and gardens all over the world. I always look not just at the collections, but how the public is received and treated. The quality of the food and service. How friendly and helpful the guides are.

I believe the Preservation Society of Newport County is violating their own mission statement which is to preserve these houses in their entirety.

Today we visited, for the second time “Filoli” south of San Francisco. The visitor’s center is just off the parking, obscured from all angles from the main house and gardens. Food is served; it is good and fresh. As you see there is no food allowed on the grounds.

The visitor sees the house and gardens as it was meant to be seen.

VISITOR'S CENTER OUTSIDE — VISITOR’S CENTER OUTSIDE

VISITOR'S CENTER INSIDE — VISITOR’S CENTER INSIDE

SONOMA MOODS

The Colors of Sonoma could never be confused with those of somewhere in the East. It took me a while to understand how different each part of the world can be.

12 METERS IN NEWPORT

LUTHER BURBANK’S EXPERIMENTAL FARM

Yesterday started with a guided visit at Luther Burbank’s Experimental Farm in Sebastopol. Originally 16 acres where he bred many of the varieties of plants for which is famous. There are still perhaps 6 varieties of roses he created.

From there we went to Point Reyes, a national park, a peninsula with a lighthouse at the point.

LUTHER BURBANK, AMERICAN BOTANIST

LUTHER BURBANK developed more than 800 varieties of plants, over 200 variety of fruits and vegetables. Born in Lancaster, Ma on March 7, 1849, moving to Santa Rosa, Ca in 1875 where he died April 11, 1926.

I am descended from the Burbanks ( my maternal great-grandmother was a Burbank).

Some of his creations were: the shasta daisy, the pink lady, spineless cactus, russet potato, seedless grapes, and so many more.

He sold the rights to the russet potato and with that money moved from Lancaster, Ma to Santa Rosa, Ca; where he continued his research and development until his death in 1926.