From K-QED. I'm Olivia Allen Price. This is Bay Curious. I want you to come with me for a few minutes on a journey to the Wild West.

It's the 1850s and you are a gold prospector. You left your maw and

your maw and paw back in your hometown to strike it rich out west. Now you're in a mining outpost at the base of

the Sierra, surrounded by nothing but rocks, brush, and treasure-hungry men.

And this week you got lucky.

Your bags are filled with gold nuggets.

But not everyone has been so lucky, and desperation makes people do crazy things.

You better get your gold somewhere safe and fast.

So here you are, waiting on the stagecoach driver.

And here he comes.

The driver sits atop his coach, working his long black snake whip. His six horses gallop at a fine pace. A shotgun next to him glints in the sun.

It's not just for grizzlies, it's for bandits.

After all, he's not just bringing letters from home, but money.

And when the driver leaves, he'll be taking your gold nuggets with him, back to the vaults of San Francisco.

That's just how things move out here in the west.

This stagecoach driver goes by Charlie Parkhurst,

and Charlie is one of the best.

And Charlie's also the topic of today's episode.

Support for Baycurious is brought to you by Sierra Nevada Brewing Company,

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Explore their brews wherever fine beverages are sold and taste how trailblazing runs in the family.

Visit Sierra Nevada.com to find your new favorite beer today.

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