Rick McBee's Writings
Explore the magic of new ideas and books to read as well as see what books I have written, my favorite photos, my opinions on may subjects, including Science, Africa, the Caribbean, the Civil War, my Book Reviews, and Much More!
The Prince of Serendipity Strikes again for Richard Clow and “Rough Enough”
Talk about a really amazing coincidence today! Out of the blue comes an email from one of my new followers who just happens to be the Great-Great – Step – Grandson of Richard Headley Clow (1847 – 1926) CW veteran 1864-65) about whom I wrote the book “Rough Enough” in 2013. Check it out!.
The really neat thing is this, and I quote from his note to me:
” I have one letter from Richard Clow to his father from Petersburg another from later describing an attack on a wood cutting party. Homesteading documents I have as well. I also have grandpa Clow’s dad’s saber and saddle carbine.”
What it looks like is, that out of the blue we have another connection back to Petersburg, VA where Richard was in the 56th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry after joining up in Boston during the Civil War.
Then there appears to be another letter about an Indian attack at Fort Buford, Dakota Territory about 1869-72 when Richard was there, at a totally different site from the one which I describe in the book.
Additionally! We may now located the saddle carbine and sword that Richard Clow would have carried as First Sergeant at Fort Buford, D.T. in 1869 – 1870 See Fort Buford before he mustered out of the 13th Infantry.
All current artifacts known to have belonged to Richard Clow are now in The Museum of the Rockies on Montana State University Museum Info. His original letters and diary are in the Montana State Library with copies in “Rough Enough.”
I’m hoping to get a copy of the letter and photos of the two weapons with permission to put pictures on my blog and also put that info into the Baker Camp, OR newsletter for the SUVCW.
Keep posted!>)
Come into Gretchen Lowell’s Parlor!
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Heartsick is one of those books you won’t want to put down as long as you don’t get put off by several of the flashbacks in which Detective Archie suffers through the psychotic tortures inflicted by the fiendish psychological killer, Gretchen.
What truly amazed me were author Chelsea Cain’s character descriptions, traits nuances of character and tiny human flaws that can lead any of us down the road towards insanity, murder, manipulation or victimization. Cain is a master of this psycho-suspense genre, placing her characters in seemly normal Portland, Oregon where one would least expect to find murder, dissection, and mayhem in the basement of one of those classy old houses up near the rose gardens.
Do we love or hate Gretchen Lowell for her serial killings which she will only reveal to former victim, Archie Sheridan? She is like a sweet smelling flower within which lies a predatory spider. We, like the unwitting flies and bees, approach, settle down into apparent tranquility, only to be sucked into the web of her schemes to control and kill. You’ll love the intrigue as Archie tries to pull his own life together with Sunday visits with Gretchen in prison, while trying to chase down another Portland serial killer.
Ouch, my thighs! Mt. St. Helens climb
What a way to have fun! Take off early from Portland (20Sept2016) and climb Mt. St. Helens! It’s hardly light as we set off through the two and a half miles of spruce forest. Note how the size of the trees decreases as we gain altitude and enter the lava fields. Then we’re out on the scree, rocks and pumice for 10,000 stairsteps upwards for the next 4000 feet.
Now we climb, up, up, up for the next two hours until we near the seismic monitor on the mountain where we will eat breakfast. More steps, the moon begins to wane above Ken as we clamber over boulders. David poses next to one of the winter climbing markers. We search for the best way through this tangle of mountain debris. Mt. Adams to the East looms 70 miles away.
Now it’s lunch time and we scoff down liquids, PBJ sandwiches, mountain mix and candy bars. Then it’s on up the mountain with more boulder clambering as clouds begin to rise on Mt. Hood. Ken and David pose before Mt. Adams, we look across the remnants of a once mighty glacier with only a few crevasses remaining in the ice field – almost gone! Ice crystals coat the rock from last night’s rain at lower elevations – still frozen solid at mid-day.
The last flat place before the final scree/pumice leading to the rounded summit could be a moonscape if you pasted in the astronauts and took out the distant trees!
The summit at last 4 and a half hours after our start! Right to left – Rick, David and Ken all looking pretty happy! Only 3 and a half hours down to go! Look at that last picture!
The Mt. St. Helens Crater with new mount forming below us 1000 feet down in the basted out remains of the once perfect cone mountain. Beyond is Spirit Lake with tree skeletons – the burial site of the old codger, Harry Truman who refused to leave his cabin prior to the eruption. Beyond in the mists the massif of Mt. Rainier is barely visible contrasting slightly with the clouds.
What was the title? Ouch! My Thighs! But look again at the top and the scenery and the smiles on the faces of the 3 guys and you see we had one heck of a great time!
Well worth it!
Book Review – Rogue Lawyer by John Grisham
My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Here’s a great book for your enjoyment. The fact that I got through it in two days, meaning of course that my wife was a two day book widow, shows how engrossing this book is! What a great smooth entry into the book – The guy who has every thing against him – tattoos, piercings, looks, a heinous crime. He’s guilty from the word go! This is where I love Grisham’s writing. The crisis is right there on page one and the momentum continues through the book! We have the psychopath, the crooked cops, the power hungry DA, the mobster, the cage fighter, and the ball and chain broken marriage of the lawyer himself. Wow! A great plot, great transitions from section to section and a wonderful ending.
Harvest time in Hood River
Here we are already at the beginning of September and because of the early spring we are already picking, canning and drying our produces from the McBee garden.
Here’s a dozen quarts of canned prunes: 
And here’s my dried apples ready to start up 135degrees F for 24 hours. 100 apples gives about 3 gallons of dried apples. Great for winter eating.
Enjoy the fall, winter is almost here.
Seeking Kindle Reviewers for ‘The Ghosts of Ukuthula’
I am currently seeking a few good blogger/reviewers who are interested in the subject matter, African Liberation in an adventure, action novel format.
Check out my Creat Space Site for the book and after reading it, let me know if you would like a free copy of the Kindle version and want to review it. I’ll need a secure email – like gmail or your can email me directly from here My email link That gives me someplace to send the one time link to the book. Get back to me as you feel the urge. Three warring factions, a black CIA officer on the run and a beautiful backup agent with her beau who are designated to pull him out. History, action and adventure all along the way!
Beginning the 3 day Free @ Kindle for Rough Enough
A quick reminder to all of you who have been waiting for that once in a lifetime opportunity to get your hands on “Rough Enough.” It’s now FREE for the days of August
19, 20 
and 21 of 2016. Go to the Amazon Author Webiste for Richard McBee
Also, don’t forget to try your luck on the GIVEAWAY chances for
“The Ghosts of Ukuthula” which also ends on August 21,2016.
It’s at Amazon’s giveaway site
Good luck and if nothing else happy reading of “Rough Enough”
Take the Quiz! Do you know Africa!
I have just posted a 10 question quiz on Goodreads about “The Ghosts of Ukuthula”. If you have read the cover of the book and the synopsis at Createspace Homestore or My Amazon Books then you will be able to answer some of the questions. There are no spoilers in the questions. Quiz at Goodreads on “The Ghosts of Ukuthula”
Maun Botswana, 1972 before the rains
Maun Botswana, 1973 after the rains
For some of the African language questions you can have a choice for finding the answers: 1. Read the book, 2. Look them up on one of the language dictionaries attached to your computer, or 3. Make like a chimpanzee and just poke around until you get it right!>)
For the hardest questions about a couple of characters you might actually have to read the book!>)
Don’t forget the chance for a free copy of this title at Amazon Giveaway until 21 August 2016.
Kindle Book Sale – Civil War Nonfiction “Rough Enough” Aug. 19, 20 and 21, 2016
As Advertised in “THE UNION VOLUNTEER” August 2016, Vol. 11, No. 8, I am having a brief free book sale of “Rough Enough,” the story of my great grandfather, Richard Clow, beginning in 1864 when he first enlisted in the Union Army. He was eventually assigned to the 56th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry on the front lines of the siege at Petersburg, Virginia, stationed at tiny Fort Alexander Hays.
Richard’s letters home to his sisters during this time help the reader understand the hardships and dangers of life on the front lines and how quickly a 17 year old had to grow up. His words to his sister, saying that the bloody assault on Petersburg, which forced General Lee out of the city after nearly two years of siege, was “Rough Enough” became the source of the title for the book.
Be sure to check out the Oregon Sons of Veterans of the Civil War and what’s happening: Current Activities of the Camp Baker Chapter #6
“Rough Enough” follows Richard for another 15 years of his life as he built forts in Montana and N. Dakota, fought Indian battles, worked for famed fur trader Charles Larpenteur at Fort Buford married the sutler’s step daughter, Mary Bingham.
You will enjoy the well researched story line, the tidbits of history that most people don’t know about in this part of the old west, and Richard’s luck in 1876 when he eventually settled in Deadwood, South Dakota during the time that Wild Bill Hickok was killed.
I hope you will take advantage of this special offer and then write me a review on Amazon of you opinions and comments. Free Offer starts this coming Friday the 19th of Aug. and Runs through Sunday the 21st. Contact SUV Oregon Here!
Rick’s New Work – Drug Wars in Peru
My next book, Sendero Rojo, The Path of Blood, spins a tale of South American action and adventure in the highlands and jungles of Peru.
Drug lord, Pancho Martinez, has been paying big money to buy off the politicians, police and army so his cartel can produce tons of pasta basica de cocaina in the Amazon jungles.
Maoist freedom fighter, Chico Gonzalez, hates the drug trade, but needs money badly to buy the explosives and weapons of war for overthrow a corrupt government. He will give protection and supply slaves to the drug factories as long as the big buck keep flowing his way.
But the war on drugs brings in the U.S. A. and DEA and MAG advisors show up to help out. When Pancho’s son gets killed on the streets of Miami, someone is going to have to pay, big-time! Carla Rodriguez and her partner, Valeria Sanchez of the DEA will have to use a tourniquet to help CIA agent Jacob Kkwe stop the flow of blood.
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