Sex with Richard

Yesterday Richard posted an ad with our local Freecycle group, offering kumquats 'free for the picking!' I responded as quickly as I could and was invited to his home to pick fruit in his back yard.

The morning sun was warm and inviting, shining soft light on all the fruit trees he has planted since buying his beautiful La Jolla home 25 years ago. Richard told me he retired as an engineer after 35 years, last year. Walking towards the almost totally orange (with fruit) kumquat tree, I noticed a tree I've never seen before.

Richard explained it's a Chilean fruit tree. The unfertilized tree makes tiny unappealing fruit, but fertilized (when the seed grows properly), the fruit is large, juicy and sweet. The problem growing the tree in San Diego is that the only insect (a tiny moth) that fertilizes the tree, doesn't exist in California.

Richard went on to explain how he uses a soft paint bush at night to move through the branches, brushing the tiny flowers - spreading the pollen to go forth and multiply.

Tree Travellers, Drew & Shannon

I parked by the bay under the shade of a tree and was totally surprised to hear large bird sounds in the branches above. Drew was up high - very busy tying ropes, looping straps, hanging a backpack and trying to set/turn on a small plastic motion sensor dangling in the breeze.

He explained to me they intend to travel through Asia - "Maybe sometime in the next 2 years". He added, "Because it's so dangerous in those 3rd world countries, we've already purchased our tree hammocks to sleep in each night".

They plan to climb high into trees every evening, install their parachute thin hammocks high in the branches under the stars and hang all their belongings with them. Because Drew travels with expensive things and doesn't want to get robbed, he's working with an outdoor light sensor, to set it for any motion at the base of their trees.

Shannon was as quiet, calm and patient as Drew was busy, anxious and a bit frustrated. Shannon held long cords, moved around as instructed and kept setting her cell phone timer as Drew tried to get the sensor to work.

Shannon told me, they've come from Humbolt, CA where they met. She works as a nanny and Drew works as a juggler on various boardwalks around San Diego beaches. Shannon is learning juggling and seemed pleased to share she'll soon start performing with him.