Hi Mary/Maya,

I didn't know you went down there that much or I would have got some particulars from you before we made the last trip.

The Imusdale Cemetary is easy to get to and its right at the base of Vineyard Mountain Road before you get to the intersection of Turkey Flat and the Parkfield-Coalinga Road. All you have to look for is a section of very white sand on the right and the minute you hit the bottom, turn right. I wouldn't make a trip to see just that as there are no more than 20 graves in there. But don't open and gates and drive into the cemetary. We did and Don had to use his four wheel drive to get us out. Its full of sand.

Donalee is 87 and is about 5'8" and wears cowgirl attire with a hat. She says she does sit in front of the Parkfield Cafe to market her book and said it is only available through two other locations; the San Miguel Adobe and a bookstore in San Luis Obispo I think.

When I told her I was looking for the cemeteries she expressed great concern about their condition and thought someone should ask the county for funds to clean them up. After having a look see myself I told Don the next time we go I'm going to take some tools with us and I'm going to spend a couple of hours making her wish come true. While I can't fix the headstones I can pull a few weeds and clean things up a bit, rake and sweep the areas.

As to where the volcano is located off of Turkey Flat Road, we don't know the distance and didn't go out there to see it ourselves. When we got back yesterday we tried to find some hard data on the volcano or volcanic activity in Parkfield and found nearly nothing. The map from her book shows the volcano at the tip of Table Mountain and there is a note saying that the crater cannot be seen from the west.

On ear tones, yes, I did get a few down there. One of them I was certain belonged to San Ardo and I see today it did have one. But when we were leaving I got a longer more southern tone and last night at home got another ear tone for the same place, but of course the tone was longer, due to the distance.

The last time Don and I were there in July the bridge work was just getting underway and the signs were next to the Parkfield Coalinga road on the ground. It is possible they were stolen and if so, I hope they have plans to replace them. They are among the very few markers in the area of where the San Andreas fault runs and one that really hits home in awareness.

I envy your ability to go there more often. Its a five hour drive from here. Of course every time I go I don't want to go home. I had a serious thought process about moving there several months ago, but I found the one thing that held me back is the Internet problem. All of the others details could be overlooked except this one. Duane Hamann told me they have the connection and it use to cost about thirty dollars a month and then suddenly it tripled and almost everyone in town had to give it up. So, it will for the present remain only a place to visit occassionaly.

Petra