Day 5

Today I will walk before church. I’m feeling OK with a few symptoms. Later we will drive to Eureka for family dinner at a steak house they like. Our birthdays are in a row so we have one celebration. I bought myself the phone, Hollie is getting a Kindle, she has a fitbit for Megan, and Chuck had his annual three day party. I want to use the phone well so may have Karen tutor me. She says it’s easy.

Senior news column

What can I do on a gloomy Saturday that would be interesting? Go to the Del Norte County Historical Society museum and find warm, friendly volunteers with stories to tell. On Mondays the research people are available to writers and people working on genealogy. Or people who have an interest in a place, a person, or a time in our history. The research room is a treasure house of documents, photographs, books, newspapers, and people with information.

I asked about Jedediah Strong Smith as his name is prominent here. I found out that Jed Smith brought the first white men, his party of trappers, to come here from the east in 1828. He brought the first horses, made the first maps, and carried the first Bible. His diaries found in 1934 described his weeks of explorations in our area. Whatever the facts are, Jed smith made an impact that is still with us today.

Phil Rovai, a seasonal employee of the Redwood national Park Service, learned a lot about Old Jed. While playing his banjo and singing “The Ballad of Jed Clampet,” Rovai made lyrics about the Smith party that are now sung around campfires. Here is Jed’s whole story complete with music. Why don’t you sing along?

“Come listen to my story ‘bout a man named Jed. Traveled from the east with some trappers he led. Then one day he hiked a river bed. Came upon some trees that were tall and red. (Redwoods, that is, scraped the sky, Jed called ‘em cedars.)

“They traveled up the coast till some rivers could be seen. The waters were so deep and cold and showed a brilliant green. The trappers said to Jed, “now, it’s the place to be”. So they set up camp not far from the sea. (Ocean, that is, crashing waves and sea gulls.)

“The Indians of Del Norte at first were quite afraid. But after watching Jed for days they finally came to trade. When food began to run out and the men could find no meat, the Indians were helpful and brought Jed food to eat. (seafood, that is, eels and salmon, yum yum.)

“So now you know the story of Jed and all his men. They traveled through a country where no white men had been. Today he’s not forgotten for a river bears his name. And also a state redwood park, a tribute to his name. (Jedediah Smith, mountain man, Bible toter.)

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