On December 7, 2001 Funhog placed the Ide Adobe Letterbox near Red Bluff
in Tehama County , California. This park is the site of the homestead
settled by Massachusetts emigrants Susan and William B. Ide in the spring
of 1846. By June of that year, the government of Mexico decided to reclaim
their lands in California and to evict American settlers. Not at all
pleased with this plan William Ide led an uprising of his fellow
homesteaders called The Bear Flag Rebellion. Unaware that the United States
government was already at war with Mexico, the rebels seized Sonoma and
made it the capital of their newly formed Republic. The Bear flag was
raised on July 9 and William Ide was inaugurated as president. The Republic
was short lived. Ide returned home by November but did go on to serve in
local government until this death in 1852.

to the trailhead: from I-5 just north of Red Bluff follow exit signs to the
Ide Adobe State Historical Park.

to the Letterbox: Standing on stone you will be gazing on an idyllic living
tableau: a gargantuan oak spreading its limbs over a tidy adobe home The
entire scene is perfectly framed by unpainted timbers. The letterbox is
just to your right behind a loose, flat stone.