Hi Carol,

Don and I are planning another trip to Parkfield in October. The weather will be a bit cooler and we wanted to see what we could do to shore up Phoebe Pollard's grave site at the Imusdale Cemetery.

If you are inclined to volunteer, or perhaps some others here, The Imusdale Cemetery needs a lot of loving hands to restore a small historical spot. Another couple who are residents there are the parents of Duane Hamann, the prior Parkfield School Teacher who for many years took the readings of the two color laser at Parkfield. Both of his parents were teachers as well.

While I have a great interest in seismic behavior, studying patterns, looking for clues and such, I have a far greater interest in people. Little Parkfield has had some interesting guests over the years. Not only those assigned to the Parkfield Earthquake Prediction Experiment, but others such as Lucy Jones and Max Wyss. They both took a hand and studying and trying to calculate when the next near 6 would arrive. So far, its a mystery to everyone. I rather like that. Thusly, the story of Phoebe Pollard is a mystery as well. A reader at this site has done some research to try and learn about her, but so far, no luck.

But as everyone knows I'd love to be there for the ride of a lifetime, when the near 6 rolls in. Not only would I like to see what it feels like to be so close to a major faultline, I would like to know if I could feel the seismic wave pass through me, but I'd also like to see what the aftermath looks like. I'm curious as to whether fissures would appear in various locations, what sound would emerge from the branding irons attached to the ceiling of the Parkfield Cafe and learn how the locals who have been educated greatly in anticipation of this event deal with the arrival of something revisited. I'm curious also about the "seismic pull" that has been noted in previous earthquakes. Would it occur again? If it does, then can this occurrence be classified? There are so many questions and yet few answers.

If anyone is interested in an October trip to Parkfield and wishes to meet with Don and I or perhaps volunteer to restore a little bit of history, send me an e-mail at petrachallus@iscweb.com.

Thanks,

Petra

• The Seismic Safety Zone