Clampout At Rice Army Air Field

Above, an aerial view of the clampsite during a flyover by a friend of the Billy Holcomb Humbug.

About 600 members of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus (Billy Holcomb, Lost Dutchman and Queho Posse chapters) congregated on the runway of the former Rice Army Airfield in the Mojave Desert of California for their fall clampout.

As mentjoned, a little airshow put on by a frend of the Billy Holcomb Humbug took the above aerial photo of the clampsite.

It was in the 90s for most of the clampout. Naturally, a lot of water (and beer) were consumed by the attendees. 

We had around 88 PBCs (Poor Blind Candidates) get initiated into the Order. 

It was a most Satisfactory clampout.

Naturally, I took some photos of the event (except where noted).

Above, arriving at the clampsite. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, some early arrivals at the Rice Army Air Field runway. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, XSNGH Sid Blumner and yours truly.

Above, Gary Julian enjoying an Alien Amber Ale. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, what's a clampout without a bar? Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Beast. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, another aerial view of the clampsite by the Humbug's buddy.

Above, more early arrivals on Thursday. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Clampout Time!

Above, the Beast in the front drive way. The refrigerator is on to make the beer cold. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is clampout time. I am almost ready to go. I have a cat-sitter to make sure the kitties are fed.

It will be held in the Mojave Desert of Riverside County, California. It is a three chapter affair. 

I just checked the weather and the temperature will be in the 90s at the clampsite. 

From the National Weather Service:

Thursday

Sunny, with a high near 93. North wind around 10 mph becoming southwest in the afternoon.

Thursday Night

Clear, with a low around 63. South southwest wind 7 to 9 mph becoming west after midnight.

Friday

Sunny, with a high near 93.

Friday Night

Clear, with a low around 64.

Saturday

Sunny, with a high near 94. Breezy.

Saturday Night

Partly cloudy, with a low around 62.

Sunday

Mostly sunny, with a high near 84.

Tri-State Clampout At Rice Army Airfield

A few minutes ago, I paid my rub for the Spring Clampout to be held at the Rice Army Airfield in the Mojave Desert of California.

It will be a three-chapter clampout (Billy Holcomb, Lost Dutchman and Queho Posse).

It will be nice to see the gang of Billy Holcomb (Sid "El Mojave" Blumner, et al.) at the doins.

Above, A 1942 aerial view looking north at Rice AAF (courtesy San
Bernardino County Library, via Rick Jackson, enhanced by Bill Grasha).

From Wikipedia:

Rice Army Air Field is an abandoned World War II airfield in Rice Valley of the southern Mojave Desert, located 1-mile east-southeast of the community of Rice. The airfield is located in Riverside County just south of the San Bernardino county line and State Route 62.

Sharp Eyes and the Roy Rogers Plaque

Last evening, I posted on The Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Fan Group on Facebook the blog post of last year's Billy Holcomb Chapter (of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus) Roy Rogers and Dale Evans plaque dedication.

The administrator of the group, with sharp eyes, asked:

Was there not an E on the end of Sly.???

Roy Rogers birth (or real name) was Leonard Slye.

Here's the plaque in question:

Above, the Roy Rogers/Dale Evans plaque. Photo by Gary Julian.

For those unfamiliar with the traditions of E Clampus Vitus, the Order was founded during the California Gold Rush and was/is based on poking fun on other (more serious) fraternal orders. E Clampus Vitus (ECV) is based on humor. 

One of the more humorous aspects of ECV is that it is traditional to have one misspelled word in ECV plaques. Therefore, that is why Leonard Slye in the plaque was misspelled "Leonard Sly".

This question came up years ago regarding the Godzilla plaque in Los Angeles by a non-Clamper. 

I posted an explanation accordingly. 

UPDATE:

It appears Roy Rogers' family name was spelled both ways. So it looks like the "misspelling" was unintentional in this case.

Here's Roy's father's marriage document:

Amboy Church To Receive Plaque By E Clampus Vitus

Roy's Motel and Cafe of Amboy, California posted the following on Facebook:

 

Saturday January 15th 2022 the Billy Holcomb chapter of E CLAMPUS

VITUS will dedicate a historical plaque to the AMBOY CHURCH at 8am. ⛪️❤️

Enjoy our coffee and hot

chocolate while you join the Roy's Family and E Clampus Vitus on this historical morning.

The last time I was in Amboy was in 2007. I took the photo below of the Amboy Church:

 

It looks like the Amboy Church was fixed up since I was there.

Roy Rogers and Dale Evans Honored With Plaque

Above, the plaque dedicated yesterday. Photo by Gary Julian.

This last weekend, Roy Rogers (and Dale Evans), were remembered by the Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus with a plaque dedication in Apple Valley, California. They were longtime residents there and had their Roy Rogers Museum in Apple Valley and nearby Victorville.

Above, Roy Rogers and Dale
Evans with Trigger in the 1950s.

The Roy Rogers Museum was later moved to Branson, Missouri but has since closed down and its collection auctioned off.

Interestingly, Roy Rogers's horse Trigger and dog Bullet are stuffed and on display at the John Wayne: An American Experience exhibit in Fort Worth, Texas.

Clampers from far and wide hit the "Happy Trails" and attended the weekend event at the Horsemen's Center in Apple Valley. 

I had a close encounter with Roy Rogers and Dale Evans back around 1988 at the Warner Center Marriott Hotel restaurant in Woodland Hills, California. We were having breakfast there and their party came in and were seated at a table next to ours. 

Unfortunately, I was unable to attend the clampout as I have one in Arizona coming up with the Lost Dutchman Chapter (covering Arizona and New Mexico).

It was a nice tribute to the "King of the Cowboys".

Satisfactory! (And so recorded!)

General Patton's Desert Training Center

Above, a monument by E Clampus Vitus in the Desert Training Center. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Sometimes I wonder if travel-oriented websites get their ideas for articles from my blog.

On January 2, RV Life posted an article on General George S. Patton's Desert Training Center in the deserts of California and Arizona. I had just returned from there on December 28 and blogged about the trip. The trip included a visit to the Gen. Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Summit on Interstate 10. The article also mentioned the museum.

Above, the General Patton Memorial Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Included in the article is a photo of a monument commemorating the 36th Evacuation Hospital that was placed by the Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus.

The article begins with:

In our previous entries, we have been exploring forgotten sites along California’s Interstate 10 in the Mojave Desert. If you love touching history and walking in the footsteps of those who made it, you will also want to be aware that I-10 cuts right through portions of General Patton’s WWII Desert Training Center.

If one is a World War II history buff and have a fondness for exploring places in a RV, the article should pique their interest.

To read more, go here. 

Wiley Well Rest Area Plaque

Most, if not all of the roadside rest areas in the Mojave Desert along Interstates 15, 10 and 40 have a monument/plaque erected by the Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus, most often commemorating General George S. Patton's Desert Training Center for his tank corps. There's plaques sprinkled throughout the desert commemorating things of historical interest.

One such plaque is at the Wiley Well Rest Area outside of Blythe, California. Yesterday, I stopped for a coffee break there and went out to photograph the monument.

Here's the photos:

Fire In Sylmar/Northern San Fernando Valley

Above, XSNGH Glenn Thornhill and yours truly.

It is definitely fire season in California.

A wildfire has broken out in the Sylmar/Northern San Fernando Valley overnight. It stared in the Sylmar area and has spread into Porter Ranch.

XSNGH Glenn Thornhill and his family have been evacuated from their home and are safe. (There goes his clamp-out plans for this weekend with the Billy Holcomb Chapter.)

According to CNN:

(CNN) - A fast-growing, wind-driven wildfire swept into the northern Los Angeles area overnight, forcing hurried evacuation orders for tens of thousands of people, closing portions of at least three major freeways and sending firefighters scrambling to save homes. 

The Saddleridge Fire, which started Thursday and exploded to 4,600 acres by early Friday, jumped across the 210 and 5 freeways overnight as it spread into northern Los Angeles neighborhoods. 

An undetermined number of homes have been destroyed, and mandatory evacuations were called for more than 12,000 homes -- often while occupants were sleeping -- in and near Los Angeles' Porter Ranch neighborhood, the Los Angeles Fire Department said. 

"We need people to leave now while they can," Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore said early Friday. 

This is just one of the several blazes in Southern California fueled by strong Santa Ana winds, with gusts around 60 mph. Many parts of the region are under red-flag warnings -- meaning high fire risk -- into Friday afternoon. 

The Saddleridge Fire started around 9 p.m. ET and jumped the 210 and 5 freeways, and some parts those roads and the 405 were closed as orange embers lit up the night sky. By late Thursday it had gutted 60 acres; but some four hours later, it had grown to more than 4,000 acres, fire officials said.

To read more, go here. 

ECV Plaque Off U.S. 95

Above, the monument just a few yards from U.S. 95. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

While driving U.S. 95 near Needles, California, I spotted an E Clampus Vitus plaque/monument that was erected back in 1987 by the Billy Holcomb and John P. Squibob Chapters.

It was part of the Holcomb Chapter's project to commemorate the Desert Training Center camps of Gen. George S. Patton's tank corps.

This one was for Camp Ibis.

Above, the plaque. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

"Seeing The Elephant" by Sid Blumner

Above, XSNGHs Glenn Thornhill (left) and Sid Blumner in 2017. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

XSNGH Humbug Sid Blumner has authored a new book, Seeing The Elephant.

Seeing The Elephant is a history of the Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus and Blumner's "adventures" in ECV.

Above, the front and back covers.

It is available in paperback at Amazon. I just ordered a copy. As they say at Mad Magazine, $9.95 Cheap!

I first met Sid Blumner in 1984 at the Billy Holcomb Chapter's Hart mining town clampout in the Mojave Desert.

If you are a clamper, you should snag a copy of Blumner's book. It can be ordered here.

SATISFACTORY!

Happy Birthday, XSNGH Glenn Thornhill!

Above, yours truly and Glenn Thornhill at the Hart monument in 1984.

Happy Birthday to XSNGH, XNGH Glenn "Cowpie" Thornhill!

Above, Armand and Glenn with Steve Born at Tapo Canyon in 1988.

One may wonder how he became to be known (at least around here) as "Cowpie".

Here's the story: 

Back in the 1980s (I think it was either 1985 or 1986), we had a clamp-out at Vail Ranch with Platrix No. 2, ECV. One morning, I started up a campfire. Nearby, were piles of cowpies (cow dung, for those of you who are city slickers). It was hard to avoid them as they were all over. This is only natural as we were camped in a cow pasture on a ranch.

Above, at Vail Ranch.

I was sitting by the fire and Glenn came up and said something like, "Jeez, you had to make a campfire right next to a cowpie!" And he proceeded to kick it away. Although it looked dry on the surface. It wasn't. When he kicked it, it got all over his shoe. That was funny! It was even funnier seeing him jumping around trying to get it off his shoe (those were the days when we were still young enough to even jump around).

So that's how he became to be known as Glenn "Cowpie" Thornhill.

Above, Glenn addresses the Memorial Day celebration at Pioneer Cemetery in Sylmar in 2016. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I once drew a cartoon of this little episode. It is somewhere around here. I was hoping to find it to scan it and post it here. But no such luck.

Anyway, this is his day. So...

Happy Birthday, Glenn!

Stroll Down Memory Lane

This morning, I was scanning some old photos for yucks on Facebook, so I thought I would share them here as well.

Above, yours truly and Glenn Thornhill at the plaque dedication of Hart mining town in the Mojave Desert
 with the Billy Holcomb Chapter, ECV in October 1984. This was one of the first clamp-outs we attended.

Above, Robert McArthur, Glenn Thornhill and Arleigh Kerr at Kerr's wedding, February 1985. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Purple Gang of the California Republic at Arleigh Kerr's wedding, February 1985.

ECV In Wikipedia

Above, the Godzilla, King of the Monsters plaque dedication. Photo by Jean Carbajal.

The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus has its own Wikipedia page.

It covers the beginnings of ECV at the time of the California Gold Rush (First Incarnation) to its revival (Reestablishment) and Clampers of today (The Current ECV).

The Wikipedia page begins with:

The Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus (ECV) is a fraternal organization dedicated to the study and preservation of the heritage of the American West, especially the history of the Mother Lode and gold mining regions of the area. The fraternity is not sure if it is a "historical drinking society" or a "drinking historical society." There are chapters in California, Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, Utah, Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Outposts in other western states. Members call themselves "Clampers." The organization's name is in Dog Latin, and has no known meaning; even the spelling is disputed, sometimes appearing as "Clampus," "Clampsus," or "Clampsis." The motto of the Order, Credo Quia Absurdum, is generally interpreted as meaning "I believe it because it is absurd;" the proper Latin quotation Credo quia absurdum est, is from the Christian apologist Tertullian (c.160 – c.220 AD), who rejected rationalism and accepted a Gospel which addressed itself to the "non-rational levels of perception."

Above, the Amboy and Roy's Cafe plaque by the Billy Holcomb Chapter. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The page does mention in The Current ECV the practice of placing plaques of places and things. It also includes the 2006 plaque commemorating the 50th anniversary of Godzilla, King of the Monsters by Platrix Chapter No. 2 in Los Angeles (pictured at top).

To view it, go here.

Post-California Clamping

Some may think that my move to New Mexico may curtail my involvement in the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.

Fortunately, being retired, that is not the case.

While clamp-outs with Platrix Chapter No. 2 may be curtailed, it is not due to the distance, but making sure Sierra (my cat) is cared for. Animals (four-legged) aren't allowed at clamp-outs. I could attend clamp-outs with the Billy Holcomb Chapter out in the wilds of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties as those would be closer.

Even closer yet, is the Lost Dutchman Chapter No. 5917. They cover Arizona and New Mexico. Their next clamp-out is April 6 - 8, 2018 in Cave Creek, Arizona. I will try to attend that one since it is only four hours from Gallup, New Mexico.

They annexed New Mexico in 1999, announcing thus:

NEWS FLASH Date May 24,1999 

DUTCHMAN ANNEXES NEW MEXICO 

In a news conference today, Humbug 'roundevil' Johnson announced that the take-over of New Mexico Territory by Lost Dutchman Chapter 5917 ECV was approved by the Board of Proctors of the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus at the annual meeting in Sonora, Alta California on May 22, Clamper Year 6004. The combined area will be named New Arizona and will have an Eastern Boundary of 103 degrees, 03 minutes West Longitude. 

Johnson said the reason for this shameless land-grab was that numerous Missionaries, Clampers, Explorers and Proctors had investigated this area and all reported NO credible evidence of intelligent or any other form of Clamper activity in this vast wilderness. It was therefore necessary to take this step to preserve Inviolet the Precepts and Purposes of the Order. 

Johnson also stated " We will continue to Colonize, Clamperize and Proselytize this land until such time as there are enough Clampers to form an Outpost with the future aim of resurrecting the now defunct Quivara Chapter #4 . Only then will Lost Dutchman feel secure about the future of this Territory". 

   WE ARE NOW Chapter 5917 + 4... What Say the Bretheren

RVs Are More Popular Than Ever

Above, the Billy Holcomb ECV Spring clampout "RV city" near Barstow. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About 9-10 years ago, I hardly saw any RVs on the road.

Today, it is  a different story.

According to CBS Tampa:

CBS Local — In the digital era with social media, online shopping and, eventually, driver-less cars, recreational vehicles (RVs) are surprisingly more popular than ever.

RV sales, which include any type of trailer and motorhome, are now at never-before-seen record levels, and their buyers are getting younger, CNNMoney reported.

About 430,000 RVs of all kinds were sold last year, marking a 15 percent increase from the previous year, according to the RV Industry Association. Sales have been steadily rising each year following a one-year decline in 2009, which has been attributed to the 2008 financial crisis.

To read more, go here.

Washed The Beast

Above, The Beast at the car wash. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

It is amazing how dirty vehicles get just sitting for a little over a month in a parking spot.

That was the case with The Beast as I just got back from taking it to get fuel and a wash. I hadn't driven it since getting back last month from the car wash after the Billy Holcomb Chapter's clampout in the Barstow area.

Although it is nice that there's shade trees where The Beast is parked, they also drip sap, leaves and bird crap.

I will be taking it to my cousin's early next month and will stop at a truck wash in Norco to wash the roof. RV roofs should be cleaned at least twice a year.

The Beast dried quickly as the temperatures in the San Fernando Valley have been going up. It is already in the 80s.

Beast Cleaning Done

Above, the cab. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

As planned, I completed the cleaning of The Beast yesterday.

The bathroom, galley and other places inside the house portion of the motorhome needed cleaning as a fine layer of dust and sand from the Billy Holcomb Chapter clampout managed to get in.

Above, the dinette area. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the bathroom. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The exterior and the front cab area were cleaned at the coin-operated car wash and the living areas of the interior were cleaned at home. 

After all was completed, I rewarded myself with a cup of...coffee!

Clamper Plaques

While at the Billy Holcomb Chapter's Spring Clampout this weekend, I purchased a book of clamper plaques from 2008 to 2012.

With the book came a CD of the volume of clamper plaques from 1994 to 2007.

Included in the CD were two of interest to me.

One was the monument that was erected at the Gen. George Patton Memorial Museum at Chiriaco Summit in 1998 and, the other, the Godzilla, King of the Monsters plaque at the Frank del Olmo Elementary School in Los Angeles. The one at the Patton Museum features a couple of young (19 years younger, that is) fellers.

Here they are as presented on the CD:

The two young fellers:

Above, yours truly and Glenn Thornhill.

Billy Holcomb Chapter, ECV Spring Clampout

Above, a clamper bar made from a military vehicle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Spring Clampout of the Billy Holcomb Chapter of E Clampus Vitus is now history.

It was an enjoyable clampout, except when the desert winds in the Barstow area kicked up to around 50 m.p.h. and blowing sand, awnings, lightweight tables and other things around.

Friday was the warmest day of the three-day clampout. It was around 95 degrees. On Saturday, the temperatures hovered around the 70s and down to the 60s today.

As I am getting over bronchitis, I spent much of my time in The Beast so that I didn't have addtitional breathing problems with blowing sand and dust. I made it through.

Above, an early Platrix ECV plaque at
Calico Ghost Town. Photo by Glenn Thornhill.

On Friday, it was generally a laid-back day with the highlights being the Greybeards' (or Humbugs') Dinner and live entertainment later by "The Honey Buckets", a bluegrass band. They were pretty good. The Greybeards' Dinner consisted of shrimp cocktail, steak, chili, corn on the cob and other fixin's.

Saturday consisted of cooler temperatures and more wind but we were entertained by the P.B.C. interrogation. Breakfast, lunch and dinner (more steak) was served Saturday before the night's big event: the final initiation rites.

XSNGH Glenn Thornhill took an excursion to nearby Calico Ghost Town to photograph an early Platrix plaque (1936) after Saturday's breakfast.

Sunday consisted of a pancake breakfast before everyone broke camp to attend the monument dedication in Barstow at the Route 66 Mother Road Museum and Amtrak Railroad Museum.

Despite the winds, it was a good clampout and I was able to see some guys for the first time in ten years.

More photos:

Above, our camp just when the winds began to kick up. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, XSNGH Glenn Thornhill at the Greybeards' Dinner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the Greybeards' Dinner. The CHP officer at right was a guest. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, yours truly at the Greybeards' Dinner. Photo by Glenn Thornhill.

Above, Friday night's entertainment. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, Gary Julian and an interesting fire container. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, another view of the clamper bar built from a military vehicle. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, one of the decorations of the clamper bar. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, a vintage truck. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the cook crew getting Saturday's breakfast ready. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, ex Sublime Noble Grand Humbugs Glenn Thornhill and Sid Blumner. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the area to be used for the Hall of Comparative Ovations Saturday night. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, there were tents and RVs of every size and description at the clampout. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the monument that was dedicated today. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, the monument's text. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, The Beast at the Route 66 Mother Road Museum and Amtrak Railroad Museum. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, heading back to L.A., I did some driving on old Route 66 before getting on Interstate 15. Photo by Armand Vaquer.