Posted at: 05/26/2009 12:13 AM
Updated at: 05/26/2009 7:19 AM
By: Gadi Schwartz, Eyewitness News 4; Charlie Pabst, KOB.com

Visitors to Diablo Canyon find pleasant surprise

Day-hikers discover ice cream in Diablo Canyon

Sitting miles from civilization in Diablo Canyon near Santa Fe on Monday was a strange contraption-- a large, red device filled with ice cream.

It was a sight to stop dirt bikes and hikers dead in their tracks. Passersby noticed the contraption, perched on bike tires, with surveillance cameras and a computer. Only upon closer inspection do they notice that it also has ice cream.

Ice cream man, artist, philosopher or host Duane McDiarmid says his ice cream machine is all about starting a conversation.

"You go back to -- I think its actually Homer -- says that the base of civilization is the welcoming of a stranger to your camp fire to hear their tale of their strange land and I think we really need to get back to that level of hospitality," he said Monday. "This is sort of my technical campfire. Any stranger who comes upon it is welcome to sit at my fire, share with my food, and tell me their tales."

McDiarmid's hope is that those who happen upon free ice cream in the desert can start thinking about where to go from here.

He told Eyewitness News 4, "Technology is the magic of our generation. What are we going to wave our magic wand at? You know, and what are we going to turn it into?"

McDiarmid's machine contains a computer, on which he can record video and update his blog.

McDiarmid will be in Diablo Canyon through Tuesday to give out ice cream and chat about solar power.

He plans to continue his tour in Death Valley, California, one of his next stops.