The Grapes of Wrath - Chapters 17 - 19

In Chapter seventeen the book describes how all these people that are moving to California form a sort of "community" every night. It tells how there are certain rules that everyone know they must follow, even though nobody has ever actually said them. It also shows that these people are very helpful to each other. Whever someone dies or needs some extra money all the people in the camp spare a few coins and leave them at their tent.
Chapter eighteen was very long, but quite eventful. It stars out with the Joads traveling across New Mexico, and then they finally cross into California! Before they can get into the good part of California they must cross about three hundred miles of desert. They decide that the best time to do this would be at night so they decide to rest during the day alongside a big river where others had also chosen to stop. The men bathe in the water and finally have a little time to relax when they start talking to another man and his son who are on their way back from California. He says that they are on their way back to the pan handle because he couldnt make enough money in California and if he is going to die he wants to die with people who actually like him. After talking with this man for awhile I think the Joads kind of start to wonder if this may be true, since they have heard this same kind of story serveral tims now. But like Uncle John said, "We're going there ain't we? None of this talk can keep us from going. This talk ain't gonna do us no good."
While the men are relaxing Ma and Rose of Sharon are in a tent trying to get grandma to rest when a sheriff comes by and threatens that if they aren't gone by tomorrow he will have them run off. In this chapter Noah also decides that he wants to stay behind and live off this river. He only tells Tom though, and before Tom can stop him he is already making his way down the river. As Grandma comes to tell Tom about the sheriff, Tom tells Grandma about Noah and they decide that it is best for the family if they just take off across the desert now, instead of waiting for night.
The journey goes pretty well, the car doesnt break down, and they make it across the desert in good time. But as they are all standing on the side of the road admiring the beautiful valley full of orchards and fields of crops, Ma tells the rest of the family that Grandma died last night while they were crossing the desert. Nobody says much, but you can tell it affects them all greatly.
In Chapter nineteen it talks about the general population moving toward California. It describes these towns called Hoovervilles that are set up at the edge of every town and are a place that the Oakies can live. They are mainly camps that people set up by building houses out of tents or even paper they find in nearby landfills, but before long the sheriffs come and tell them they must go because they are a health hazard and they are going to burn them down. The chapter ends and the Joads are moving around through different Hoovervilles as they make their way towards what they think will be job opportunities and a better life.