Stories from 'From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond'

New Video -- White Water Guide Sam Street

7/24/2023

In this video, Chester shares a riveting story from his first trip down the Grand Canyon in 1974, another time when he almost got killed. A bit of background, from "The Cliff," in his book:

"Sam was average in height and deeply bronzed. His long, well groomed, sandy hair hung down almost to his waist and his face was swathed in a similarly long sun bleached beard. He wasn't wearing much — a ragged pair of gym shorts with patches of skin showing through, and a colorful bandana tied over his head. There was little to distinguish this Trip Captain from the rest of his piratical appearing crew. Except for his crown. Snugged down over his bandana was a large, battered, broad brimmed hat of dubious origin and considerable character.

"Legend has it Sam was moseying down the road one day when he came to an intersection with a sign reading Sam Street. This, he thought, was a most excellent name. So he went to the Court House and became Sam Street...

"This trip we were on was all about The River — the Colorado River. We were gathered, nearly five decades ago, under Sam's leadership for a voyage through the depths of the Grand Canyon. Sam's command was a small fleet of inflated rafts powered by long oars. O.A.R.S. — Outdoor Adventure River Specialists — was the name of the renowned whitewater river rafting company.

Excerpt © 2023 Chester L. Richards. From "The Cliff," story in From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond: Memoirs of a Rocket Scientist. All rights reserved.
#adventures #whitewater #ColoradoRiver #GrandCanyon #video

Stay Dry as you watch Chester tell the hair raising Tale

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New Video -- Addis Ababa Bus Confrontation

7/17/2023

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New video with Chester L. Richards and Ina Hillebrandt-- Addis Ababa -- on a bus at gunpoint

Join me as I relive a heart-stopping adventure during an expedition in Ethiopia in 1976, a time of revolution in the country. During a bus ride to the Awash area, we encountered a tense situation I have never forgotten.
"Military checkpoints along the highway caused us some trepidation. We were stopped at one and some of us got off the bus to relieve ourselves. Along the roadway to our right was a high embankment covered with bushes and trees. A militia man with a rifle, well polished with use, followed us back onto the bus and started walking down the aisle checking our passports. Someone in the bus called out to be careful with that gun of his. “Gun” was one of the few words of English that he understood. So, he immediately started a search to see if we had any weapons which could be confiscated. When he came to me he saw the camera in my lap. He swung his rifle around and pointed it towards my belly, his finger nervous on the trigger. I froze..."
From the story "Land of Troubles," published in my book "From The Potato to Star Trek and Beyond." © 2022 Chester L. Richards. All rights reserved.
#AddisAbaba #Adventures #Ethiopia

Hold your breath as you watch Addis Ababa Video!

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Reagan Presidential Library July 4, 2023

7/10/2023

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Reagan Presidential Library - Treasure Trove of U.S. History, plus Historically Significant Traveling Exhibits

July 4, 2023, Simi Valley, CA: The occasion for my visit was to attend the unveiling of the beautiful Sally Ride statue at The Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. More about that in a minute. First, a bit of background on the scene.

From the time you drive up Presidential Drive to the main entrance, the setting for the Library is impressive, and beautiful. Vistas abound as you walk up to the buildings houssing the permanent and traveling exhibits. On this day, the 247th birthday of our nation, there was a special festive atmosphere. Children and grownups alike sported red white and blue outfits, and spangly silver as well as red white and blue stars on their faces.

A band did a lively rendition of a Johnny Cash song, and various characters from our country's past were on hand to greet visitors and talk history.

There were also games for both kids and grownups, and the exhibits. Before the unveiling, we had time to visit one of the permanent exhibits, the Air Force One Pavilion, what friends have called "The Wow Room." That's the one where you can see and board Air Force One, tail number 27000, the plane used as "The Flying Office" by seven U.S. Presidents in all from 1973 to 2001: Presidents Nixon, Carter, Ford, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, Clinton and George W. Bush. Astonishing how small it seems inside, compared to what one would expect. But what a sight, standing under its appropriately huge wings. Inside a building!

Also in the Wow Room: one of President Reagan's presidential limousines and Secret Service suburbans (later referred to as "The Beast(s),") part of the permanent exhibit on presidential motorcades. Plaques you can zoom in to read tell us that the Secret Service began driving presidents in 1945, previously following presidents' limousines in separate vehicles. Also that to insure presidents' safety, beginning in the 1960s the Beasts were flown to countries the presidents were visiting for official business.

At the time we visited, there was a major traveling exhibit about the Holocaust: Auschwitz, not long ago and not far away, to which large numbers of schools have been sending students for educational purposes. The exhibit contains 700 horrifying artifacts, objects from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum as well as more than 20 institutions and museums all over the world, and tells the story of "perpetrators as well as victims who lived inside." The exhibit is to close August 13. If you wish to see it, you can buy tickets at the link above in this paragraph.

Dr. Sally Ride Inspiration for Women -- of all ages

And finally, we were able to watch the full ceremony unveiling the beautiful statue of Dr. Sally Ride, the first woman astronaut, and the person President Reagan selected to solve the mystery of what led to the Challenger disaster. In the film you'll see the lively sister of Sally Ride, Bear Ride, alongside the painting of that most inspiring woman who told young girls they should "Reach for the stars!" Dr. Bear Ride is continuing this invaluable message for girls and women around the globe through her foundation ridefoundation.org. Her speech at the event told the story of how the matriarch of the family inspired both Sally and herself to be whatever they wanted to be.

Thanks to filmmaker Steven C. Barber for inviting me to attend. He was the "Energizer Bunny" as Dr. Bear Ride put it, who organized the project of creating and producing both the lovely statue and its home at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library. Thanks also to David Trulio, president and chief executive officer of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Institute for hosting this event, and providing important exhibits to the public.

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New Video -- White Water Guide Sam Street

New Video -- Addis Ababa Bus Confrontation

Reagan Presidential Library July 4, 2023

Reagan Presidential Library - Treasure Trove of U.S. History, plus Historically Significant Traveling Exhibits

Dr. Sally Ride Inspiration for Women -- of all ages

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