#16-Welcome Mark, New Head Ranger!

Welcome Mark "Marko" Langner,
in the Spirit of the Bodie Ghosts....
You have already lived amongst us for years
and we already know you well.
Now, we "Thank You" for taking over the helm
and working on behalf of our remnants,
to keep us as best you can....
in "arrested decay" and in the hearts
and forefront of the minds of the
people that love this park and as you
also work to preserve it....
May everyone help you continue
to spread the word of Bodie,
either by mouth, snail mail or blog.
.... esp. for all of those who
have a Heart of Gold....
It is INDEED a year for New Beginnings.

#15- FOB Day Report by Jill Lachman

(click video at bottom of this blog
for music to read by)

Sunday, August 10, 2008: The day was as warm
as any bright, sunny summer Bodie day without
a cloud in the skies. Unusually green for this time
of year, it appeared as though the iris might just
have finished their brief show for the year.

People anticipated the start of the parade and
started lining Main Street from down by the jail
all the way past County Barn. The parade was led off
impressively by a Color Guard from the
Marine Mountain Warfare Training Center followed by
our National Anthem sung by a local 15 year old
Bridgeport girl, Diana Harris, whose voice rivaled
any heard on "American Idol".
Grand Marshal was none other than former
Bodie schoolteacher and longtime
resident, Alice Dolan.
Alice rode in a wagon and waved to the crowd which
lined Main Street as the parade route took her and
the rest down and back Main giving the crowd ample
chance to view it.

Mistress of Ceremonies, Terri Geissinger, was
resplendent in her period gown of copper colored satin
with ebony beading. She announced each parade
participant for the crowd as they passed the
Miners Union Hall so they could be identified for all.
It was a parade worthy of any Bodie celebration.

Besides the treat of Bodie's own "Horribles"
joining the festivities there were rigs from
around the area, let me give you a sample:
All the way from Chico, CA , came the beautiful
and very large Dapple Percheron team with
Luke and Donna Messinger; a Chuck Wagon from
Red's Meadow Pack Station in Mammoth, CA;
an authentic Bodie wagon from Smith Valley,
Nevada driven by Cub & Tracy Wolff;
a Meadowbrook cart pulled by a Shire Belgian
named "Butch" and handled by Anna and Jessie
Messinger from Chico, CA;
Hunewill Ranch chuck wagon from Bridgeport, CA;
authentic period wagon driven by Eugene &
Sherell Oreb and "Duke" the dog from Yerington,
Nevada; a very fancy delivery wagon, actually an
1880's Studebaker delivery wagon painted
black and silver pulled by a team of magnificent
Stoney Creek Shires that looked as though they had
been born and raised just to pull that smart-looking
wagon from Orland and driven by Earl & Vickie Strand;
another authentic chuck wagon pulled by 4 black mules
handled by George Cabral from Ceres, CA;
Cherokee on her mustang, Conchita from Wellington,
Nevada; and what had to be the hit of the parade
-the miniature burros from
the Smart Ass Mule Company pulling a small cart
and handled by Rick & Lori Edney
from Smith Valley, Nevada.



The day was loaded with events and fun.
There things like the pie eating contest with
delicious apple pie from the bakery and even the
Marine contingent got in on the watermelon
eating contest. With the costume rental stand,
there were a number of people in period dress,
not just those who were there to assist with the
event as Volunteers so it added to the festive
atmosphere of the day.

In additon the Old Tyme Photos seemed to be
a lively stop and there was much interest by some
about the rigors of gold pannning and what the
possibilities could bring you if you'd be willing
to work for it as they listened to the demonstrators.

Stamp Mill tours were popular and were given hourly.
Folks on Main Street were treated to a real,
old-fashioned experience with Dr. Isreal Goode
and his snake oil sales show complete with sidekick,
wagon and shills in the audience he gave us all a
good look and poked some fun at what was
commonplace in every town on any given day.

Dave Carle was there to sign his book as was
Bodie author Marguerite Sprague.
The Photo Fair Gallery was in the Red Barn and
is "always" worth a visit and possibly a souvenir.
Many Bodie residents upon visiting have been
surprised at the images for Sale and many
have purchased some to take home to
help preserve their memories of living there.

The F.O.B. membership dinner as always was a huge,
long line of waiting. There was just barely adequate
seating and as happens with many of these events-
the steaks were and chicken and I hear they ran
out of cake.
With the daylight getting thin this reporter
knowing better, did not wear long pants and was
getting a bit chilly. For as we all know, as soon as
the sun starts to go down in Bodie, so does the
temperature, therefore I did not stay for the
Annual speech nor the dance which was to be
an old-fashioned dance called by that lilting lily
of the eastern sierra known
by all as the capable Janet Carle.

#14- while waiting for FOB photos to arrive

In the meantime, while everyone is recuperating from
all of the fun and good times shared at this year's
FOB Day...
It sounds like the Parade and whole day
was a Real success.... Reports and Photos to follow..
For those of us that can NEVER get too much
Bodie...
Here is a little gem I found to let your
eyes musically roam around the town again.
...and remember...a yes, the wind...
either helping you cool off in the summer
or blowing dust into your eyes...
....waiting to photos is so frustrating...
Hope you enjoy this ditty....

#13- Bodie Growing in Popularity ;-)

It is easy to see by the numbers of folks on the Bodie forums
and the number of Bodie videos, and the rapidity
with which curiosity seekers, history buffs, and
photographers flock to Bodie....
The Ghost town with the NEW source of Gold in CA.
Translation... the folks that love it....
dead or alive they continually come back
to see the "Official CA Gold Historic Ghost Town" !
Being there and experiencing the history in PERSON
and getting to know the nice folks that CHOOSE
to live and work there to help preserve it for all of us
are few of the gems it still has....
along with the fact that it STILL EXISTS
for us to even go to visit.....
Visit & Respect and Preserve it....
Preserve it on film, video, and in your memories...
and have a Great time while doing it.

#12- Annual "Friends of Bodie" Day

The Friends of Bodie are once again sponsoring the
Annual " The Friends of Bodie Day "

" A Vintage Celebration
at Bodie, State Historic Park "

Sunday, August 10th, 2008

Participants will be wearing period costumes,
vintage automobiles will roam the streets and horse drawn
carriages will be abundant.



























Old Tyme Photo Booth, Daytime food booths,
Live Music, Children's Games,
Main Street Parade at 1:30PM.
Period costumes are welcomed!

For FOB members: evening activities
5PM: BBQ dinner and Special dance.

Contact Friends of Bodie

P.O. Box 515
Bridgeport, CA 93517
Phone: (760) 647-6564 Friends of Bodie
or (760) 647-6445 Bodie State Historic Park

#11-"Happy Trails" & multo Thanks to Brad

Today is the annual celebration of the Burning of Bodie
and thus a fitting day to have the Retirement Party for
the Head Ranger of Bodie for the last 20 years,
Brad Sturdivant.

Those of us that love Bodie have much to thank him for
over the years. His dedication to the preservation of
Bodie amidst the bureaucratic red tape that makes up
the State of CA and the CA State Parks system.

We know Brad will always be near to Bodie in spirit,
if not physically, and we hope everyone will help
Preserve Bodie and carry on Brad's honorable
tradition and remember what the real miracle
of Bodie is....

Thanks Brad, we tip our hats to you,
hoist a shot of the "Good Stuff" in your name,
for all the memories and good times you
shared with everyone....

So as we wish you "Happy Trails to you..."
Here is a collection of Bodie images
to share on this day....

#10- SR270 Revisited-the WHOLE way.......

In case you are going thru withdrawal yet
and haven't been able to go to Bodie
lately, here is a video to help you
relive the memory....
Thanks Dave, from Bodie.com, for this video.

Locals "highly" suggest that newcomers
do NOT speed and take this road slow
but keep an eye open for locals
that KNOW the road and go whizzing by....
It's kinda like the way home...
when you do it everyday ...
your car almost memorizes the roads,
but you MUST always watch out for wlidlife
such as pronghorn antelope, sheep, coyote,
deer, sage grouse, or rabbits.

#9- All I know is I am on My Way.....

"All I know is I am on my way".... to Bodie.
This is the song that plays in our heads....
It's called "Bodie Fever" back then it was
called Gold Fever.... and now 150 years later
the price of Gold has gone up so much
there is a New Gold Fever and many
stores are currently sold out of pans
for panning for gold. Many new folks
are staking claims. I know there is still
alot of gold left in Bodie. Thank God
it is a State Historic Park so it is
protected .... and today is it s miracle
that it still stands for all of us to
appreciate the hardship of the lives
of those that had "Gold Fever."
Bodie Fever is incurable ;-)
So just go have a good time,
make some images and pretend
you were there in the 1800's....

#8- Home of Maiden Lane and Virgin Alley

This video has a wonderful narration chalk
full of the history of Bodie if you want to learn
the history and stories of Bodie. Please grant
yourself the pleasure of watching and
listening to this video. It is very well done.
Nothing fancy but tons of history
and gives you a small feel of what
was there in it's Hay Day.

A few years ago Mac and I were able to spend
the day interviewing and photographing
one of the last living men to be born in Bodie.
Bobbie Bell. He showed us his house where his
dad had added an extension on to the living room,
and his bedroom and the wild rose and rhubarb
plants that his mom had planted...as he took
a bite of the rhubarb. Spending the day
with Bobbie was definitely a treat i will
always remember. If you wish to visit
Bobbie now, you will have to go up the hill
and visit his grave site up in the active cemetery.
When I find his picture with the house
I will post it here for you all to see....
He was a REAL character just like the town
he was born in....
May He Rest in Peace......

#7- There's a Ghost town in My Heart.

What a wonderful tune to use with this video.
sorta sums it up for those of us that love Bodie.
Just so everyone knows.....
there was a little girl living back East with her mom
when her dad wrote and asked the family to come
West to live in Bodie. The little girl was so depressed
she wrote in her diary before they left.....
"Goodbye God, I'm going to Bodie."
If you noticed at the Top Right of this Blog
I have changed that quote and have on
my car license plate frame with these words...
"Good, by God, I'm going to Bodie."
So those of us that love it, put the commas
in a different place...but the original quote
came from the little girl's diary long ago....
Hope the latter become your motto also.

#6 - FOB website & BBQ- 8/10/08

Howdy all,

Well the Friends of Bodie now has another website
that I have added to our links section.

The Annual "Friends of Bodie" BBQ this year
will be SUNDAY (not Sat.) Aug. 10th.
....more details to follow.....

Please note the 1st-
Photog's Day in Bodie this year
will be June 17, 2008:
Get in 30 min before Sunrise and stay
till 30 min After sunset....outside Park normal hours!
Good for Spring bloom of Iris in Bodie and
outside Bodie flowers all around!!
That's when I usually go to the Eastern Sierra
for flowers anyway...around the Solstice ...

$50 per person
Advance reservations are required.
Aong with your "check ONLY" payable to:
Mail completed checks & notes to:
Friends of Bodie
(Photog Day)
PO Box 515,
Bridgeport, CA 93517
We do not send written confirmation of your reservation;
however, you may contact FOB to verify your reservation.
Please put ATTN: Terri on your reservation form envelope!!
For further information and reservations contact Bodie at (760) 647-6445.

#5- Cornish Miner's Day Remembered

it is very appropriate that this video have
Celtic music in the background and many
of the miner's were Cornish and of Celtic
descent. I remember many summers back
when one of the other Ranger's living there
"Bodie" Jack Shipley played the hammered dulcimer
(also recorders, guitar) on his house front porch
for us and the sound would woft across the bowl
which is Bodie and we could hear it anywhere...

It was wonderful and made you feel like the
town was alive again. Things like this happen
also on the Friends of Bodie Day in August
when the Annual BBQ is held and bands play
while miners walk in the streets.
"Bodie" currently plays with the
Wild Mountain Tyme Band and they can be
reached thru Big Gerry. I love the
"Sierra Christmas" CD.

#4- Ode to Both FOB/Brad and Bodie !

Here is a nice video recently made with
nice narration about it's history,
but there is also a very nice
section interviewing Brad Sturdivant
the Head Ranger in Bodie for
the last 20 years.... We owe him alot
for helping Preserve Bodie also.
He loves it SO much...that is why
he stayed there for so long to
help all of us have it to enjoy...
Thanks Brad......

#3- and a song about Bodie for your pleasure....

This videographer even composed and sang a tune
with his band about Bodie Town. It is fun to see
someone appreciates it also as much...
Named after Waterman S. Bodey when he
discovered some gold just North of Mono Lake
and In 1877, the Standard Company struck pay dirt
and a gold rush transformed Bodie from a town
of 20 people to a boomtown of 10,000 at it's peak !
Who knew a Signmaker that didn't have room
for the tail on the "y" in Bodey would change
the towns Name to Bodie forever?

#2- SR270- The Road Home......

They always say a photo is worth a 1,000 words.
So here is a video of the BEST road to Bodie.
When I was little neither of the 2 roads to town
was paved and they were both bumpy
ALL the way......
Today we are very lucky they have paved
the majority of the road off Hwy. 395
and now it is only the last 3 miles
where we get a "Taste of the Original"
"washboard road" that the old wagons
and mules traveled during the
days of the CA Gold Rush.....
.......Enjoy..........

#1- Long Live Bodie S.H.P.

This blog is being started as a way to spread the word
about California's Official "State Gold Historic Ghost Town."
I have been going there since before the State of CA
purchased the town and I want to share all of it's
specialness with everyone so everyone will want to
help preserve not only one of our State, but our
Nation's historic sites. It is still one of
California's Gems.