We took off from Patterson this morning heading further south to Hollywood RV site. We’re actually in Van Nuys, not Hollywood. It’s an interesting place. We thought the worker was going to tow our RV to the site and I was prepared to video the whole thing, but alas he told Tom to do it. We are in the back 40 and crammed in to what looked like the last available site. Most, if not all of the people here are full timers. The “police officer” greeted as we entered the campground.
Today was another day of rough roads. Even rougher than yesterday. But I changed some things up in where I put items, and nothing was moved around today. The sightseeing was non-existent except for the miles and miles of farms and the signs about water. I saw this sign at the rest area we stopped at.
It was very dry across the landscapes as we drove down I-5. I saw many places where it looked like water once was but is not anymore. Water is life. Not just for us but the animals and plants we depend on as part of life.
Other than the farms, water signs and rough roads we did see a sign that said “Tom McCleod slept here.” I was curious who Tom was so I looked him up and here is what it said. I can’t say for sure if it is true as there were no sources sited but it’s an interesting tale.
“Tom McLeod, spelled variously as McCleod or McLode, (pronounced McLode) was a well-known American expatriate hunter and trapper in central California from about 1830 until his unrecorded death or departure sometime after 1855. His activity was restricted mainly to the modern Kern County area.
Historic records during this period are scarce, but it is known that Tom had an enduring relationship with the local Yokut Indians and actually adopted some of their traditions. He was idiosyncratic, and many acquaintances remarked on his wit and intelligence. One report has McLeod being fluent in both Latin and Greek, causing some to note the possibility that he was a seminary educated man, perhaps a dropout of some sort of religious order, or perhaps even a former catholic priest. If he was indeed a priest at one point, he abandoned celibacy when he came to California, because he fathered at least one child, Tom Junior, who became a gun-for-hire throughout the Southwest until his untimely death at the hands of a jealous woman.
In 1850, in response to increased immigration to the area brought on by the gold rush in Northern California, McLeod declared a large tract of land spanning the Kern River as the American Kern Island Republic. It was remarkable in that shortly after this declaration, after a drunken brawl with some of his local Indian friends, he unilaterally overthrew the republic and set himself up as king. There was no difficulty in his accomplishing this as he is the only known member of the republican government. Tom McLeod therefore has several distinctions in California History. His republic predates the establishment of the California Bear Flag Republic. His revolution is the only instance known in which a man founded a republic and then single handedly overthrew his own government.
Although the American Kern Island kingdom didn’t last much longer than its predecessor, it gave McLeod even more local fame. Tom reportedly would carve his name in tables and trees whenever he travelled away from his Kern River home. At some point it became a tradition to put up signs when these original markings were ruined, buildings torn down, trees uprooted, etc. Although the most commonly known sign is along the Interstate 5 freeway, there are actually several similar signs remaining, as well as a popular tavern near the site of Tom’s “palace” on the Kern River. Currently, the local electric utility has a small section of one of their facilities dedicated to the memory of Tom and of his son, Tom Junior.” author unknown
I thought you might want to see a picture of the babies (our cats). They don’t much care for traveling in the truck but sure do like to sleep on our bed once the travel day is over. I know they are stressed and we are trying to take steps to minimize that, but it’s hard on them. Helen is the one staring at me, Penny is the other one on the bed, and their mother Samantha is in the cat tree.
Our journey is over for today. Blessing to you, wherever your journey takes you.
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