After getting lost while yacking on the phone or reading email your guide made it to the Butte County seat for Steve Westly and his walking tour and address to a charter school class. Incidentally, I just noticed the Westly van drive off earlier than anticipated while I sit in my car in the free city parking lot, so I may need to adjust my scheduling to find my way to the next event at a health clinic.

I’ll add more color and detail when I’m not on the blackberry, but one great little moment came when the street touring gubernatorial greeted a guy on the street, explained who he was and found an especially attentive audience. The man, it turns out, wants a pardon. His crime? Oh, nothing major. Just assault with intent to commit grievous bodily harm. Not a moment candidates look forward, especially.

Westly handled it pretty well, though he did not, shall we say, look all that pleased. He asked for the details, listened carefully, applauded the fellow for becoming a small businessman, and said he’d look into it.

What I’m going to look into now, since that van drove off a few minutes ago, is how to get to the next event. I have a very funny story from lunch involving the rivalry between the Democratic campaigns, but that, I am afraid, will have to wait.

… I found the clinic without any problem, aside from roaring past it the first time after a swift picturesque past Oroville Dam. Westly is talking with various officials at the county facility, one-third powered by solar, listening to nurses describe their care for low-income patients while staff whisper among themselves about the upcoming schedule and reporters dutidully take notes. Westly chats knowledgeably with the county folk about the public nursing programs … It is always a little difficult to tell what these sorts of events amount to, other than an arguable learning experience for the candidate which simultaneously demonstrates to press that he is engaged and intelligent.