Jimmy and I decided to visit Barker Ranch at the end of one of the cut-off canyons. We knew this was the spot where they captured Charles Manson after he and his cult killed a few peolpe in Hollywood. Jimmy wanted a photo of his truck under the ranch gate. So we set up the shot. Jimmy moved the truck and we stood looking at the shell of a once cool ranch outside of the ranch gate. Suddenly out of my mouth came, “There is a lot of evil here.” I don’t know from where that came but it was out in the air. Jimmy went back to the truck and I headed towards the ranch gate and walked in.
All morning the weather was perfect with a dark blue sky, a few clouds and no wind. Not a leaf was rustling. As soon as I entered through the ranch gate a tornado hit me flying my hat off and almost knocking me down. Within a couple of seconds it was going. Jimmy saw it happen from the truck and yelled “What the hell was that?” I didn’t know a thing. So I walked up towards the burned-out shell of the once main house of the ranch by walking up three or four cement stairs. Suddenly out of the corner of my eye at the top of the stairs was the largest snake I have ever seen in the wild. I jumped back on the stairs and Jimmy yelled if I was ok. He thought I tripped and almost went down the stairs. Once I got my composure, I went back up the stairs with my camera. It wasn’t rattling at me so I was safe. It turned out to be a five-foot gopher snake.
Evil, tornados and snacks. It was time to leave.
