Gold Country, Sierra Foothills, California, USA - 25-26 November 2014

For most of us, when we think of Gold Country, the imagery of cowboy towns, wild west saloons, and stage coaches probably emerge. Many of these gold-rush towns, formed after the 1848 discovery of gold in California, still exist along historic Highway 49. These days, Gold Country has evolved from rustic mining towns to a charming tourist destination of award-winning wineries, classy boutiques, arts and crafts stores, culinary excellent restaurants, and memorable antique shops. A few caverns found "inside them hills" in the heart of Gold Country are also a popular attraction for the family and adventure enthusiasts. 

Over the course of 2 days, I explored 4 historic towns of the gold-rush era, namely Jamestown, Columbia, Murphys, and Angels Camp in Tuolumne and Calaveras counties. All 4 are located within the California Mother Lode zone ~ a zone filled with gold-bearing quartz veins and regarded as one of the nation's most productive gold-producing districts. Jamestown is located on historic Highway 49, Columbia on Parrots Ferry Road, Murphys on Highway 4, and Angels Camp is at the junction of Highways 49 and 4.

Close to Murphys and Angels Camp along Parrots Ferry Road is the amazing Moaning Cavern, a limestone cave located in Vallecito, California (pop. 442 per census 2010). Known to be California's largest single cave chamber with a height of over 180 feet, the massive room is tall enough to fit the Statue of Liberty. It was astounding. I enjoyed the 45 minute informative tour (cost $14.95 per adult). Some highlights:

1. Skewed depth perception inside the cave due to a lack of natural sunlight. Visually, everything looked close even though in reality, they were over a 100 feet away.

2. 65 feet down several flights of narrow wooden stairs was the middle landing platform where I saw and touched some limestone columns and draperies. When struck, these 'dead' columns made fascinating sounds. Looking up at the ceiling of the 180 feet chamber from the platform, I saw stalactites.

3. A seemingly flimsy 100-foot-tall metal spiral staircase that was built in 1922. I feared for my life when I walked down the 10-storey-high column, no thanks to acrophobia.

4. Spectacular sight from the bottom of the shaft. With time and a good dose of wild imagination, various 'images' - from Winnie the Pooh to a gargoyle - started to appear from the rock formations. They totally rock.

5. Absolute darkness when the guide turned off all the lights in the cave. Pitch black. Silence. Heightened auditory function. My eyes were opened but I couldn't see my hand in front of me. After some time, I 'saw' a white dot from the top of the cave ~ a strange optical illusion generated by the mind.

I hope you'll enjoy the photos below. May the love, peace, and joy of grace be with you and your loved ones this holiday season and always.

Sequoia National Park, California, USA - 28-30 October 2013

Once again, I heard the call of the wild and responded. This time, I headed southeast to Sequoia National Park, the country's second-oldest national park created on September 25, 1890, where I fulfilled a long-time desire to see The General Sherman Tree, the world's largest living tree (by wood volume).

On the 4 1/2 hour drive from the Bay area to the park (on hwys 101S, 152E, 99S and 198E), I passed several towns like Los Banos, Fresno, and Visalia and saw many orchard groves, farms and processing plants for almonds and citrus fruit along the flat valley. The entrance to the park is near the town of Three Rivers, pop. 2,600 at an elevation of 800 ft (or 244 m).

It dawned on me, as I was driving into the park, that autumn season is now upon us. For those who don't know, one of the perks of living in the SF Bay area is its almost-year-round beautiful weather - sometimes we get as much as 10 months of sun a year. During Indian summer (i.e. now), we get warm summer-like weather in autumn in the Bay area. So it was an unexpected treat to be in autumn conditions in the park. Still, I was told that the weather in the Sierras is unpredictable and that pleasant weather can turn hazardous and nasty within a day's range. There was a tire chain advisory for the park when I arrived the evening of October 28. Snow had fallen in the upper elevation during the day (the day before, it was dry and sunny).

Cross-Country Drive from Boston to San Francisco Bay Area - 21-27 December, 2010

The is an account of my solo cross-country drive from Massachusetts to California, taking the southern route of I-40W (for most of the way).

Day 1 (MA to Herndon VA); Total drive time - 9 hours 45 minutes; Gas total - $29.69; Tolls - $23.95

It was a beautiful, sunny day; cold in the 30's degrees Fahrenheit but dry. I drove across 7 states (MA, CT, NY, NJ, DE, MD, VA), crossed 3 bridges (the Leonard P Zakim Bunker Hill Bridge in Boston MA, the George Washington Bridge in NYC and the Delaware Memorial Bridge in DE) and paid many tolls (@ the MA Turnpike, NJ Turnpike, DE Memorial Bridge, DE Turnpike, MD Fort McHenry Tunnel and the IAD Airports Authority). By the time I arrived at the Hilton Washington Dulles Airport hotel in Herndon, VA, I was wiped out.

Bodie & Tioga Pass, California, USA - 27 June 2009

Above left: The Northern Sierra Nevada; Above right: @ Bodie Historical Park

After a hearty pancakes and eggs breakfast at the Hays Street Cafe in Bridgeport at 6 AM, I started a long day of driving and sight-seeing. First stop, the State Historic Park of Bodie (pronounced BOH-DIE). To get to Bodie from Bridgeport, drive 7 miles south on US 395, then take SR 270 and drive 10 miles east to the end of the paved road. From there, continue for another 3 miles on a dirt road to the park entrance.

There was a $5 fee per adult to enter the California State Park and they would not accept my Federal State Park pass. The self-guiding brochure cost another $2. On the cover of the brochure reads:

And now my comrades all are gone; Naught remains to toast. They have left me here in my misery, Like some poor wandering ghost.

This might explain the "ghost town" reputation; although I might never discount the possibility of ghostly spirits still lingering around Bodie. 

As a California State Historic Park since 1962, the silent Bodie ghost town has been well-maintained and preserved in a state of "arrested decay". According to the brochure, only about five percent of the buildings still remains today. The town, which flourished and prospered between 1878 and 1882, had at one time recorded a population of 10,000 inhabitants - many had moved there in search of gold (after William S. Bodey had discovered gold there in 1859). The town had developed a wicked reputation for a "sea of sins" from robberies and killings to street fights and lusts (brothels). Situated in the middle of no where at an elevation of over 8,000 ft (or over 2,500 m), it was also vulnerably exposed to the natural elements with severe cold and windy winters and scorching hot summers.

Above right: The old sawmill - logs were burned to keep homes heated during harsh winters

Above left: At one time, there were as many as 65 saloons in Bodie
 

Above right: The Methodist Church @ Bodie

From Bodie, I drove south on US 395 toward the motionless Mono Lake (the salt content of which was arguably 3 times saltier than the ocean) before heading west on State Route 120 to connect to the Tioga Pass highway. It was beautiful up there on Tioga Pass - the highway, which normally opens during the summer season, was also the highest (at an elevation of 9,945 ft or 3,031 m at the entrance of Yosemite National Park) mountain pass of the Northern Sierra Nevada mountain range.

Some of the scenery there reminded me of my former travels to Europe and South America. How nice it is to know that one does not have to travel far out of the country to admire and enjoy the great out(of)doors. Natural beauty lies too in our own backyard. :-)

Above left: Mono Lake; Above right: Approaching Tioga Pass on SR 120 West

Above: Ellery Lake

Above: Tioga Lake

Above left: On the approach to the Tioga Pass entrance to Yosemite National Park @ elevation 9,945 ft or 3,031 m

Above: Tenaya Lake

@ Olmsted Point, Yosemite National Park
Above left: Random glacial boulders; Above right: View of Half Dome

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