We awoke at 6.00 on Wednesday morning to a wet bed! The skylite above our bed had a neat little hole punched in it, perhaps an acorn or pine cone dropped on it. It had rained solid from Midnight, so a fair amount of water had dripped in. We had wet duvet, bottom sheets, mattress topper and memory foam topper and it was miserable, so we packed up early. We left Yosemite in pouring rain, heading for Folsom Lake SP near Sacramento, taking a last look at the Yosemite Falls, which was now flowing quite fast. We drove north on very winding roads back up to 7000ft (and snow) then down onto US120. We stopped at a little roadside cafe for a brunch, we really enjoyed the 50's Americana decor and the excellent Pancakes (with warm syrup). Driving on we turned north onto US49. This road meanders up through the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, through the area known as the Gold Rush Country. This was the area that gold was discovered in California in the 1850's and is dotted with lots of small towns which still have the victorian wooden buildings, with their balconies and wooden sidewalks so distinctive of the 'Western' style. In fact many westerns moviesw were filmed here.
Folsom Lake is a 177 mile drive, so we stopped overnight at Jamestown, famous for the Jamestown Railway, which we discovered (after we had left) was the railway used in Back To The Future III. Spielberg also had the town built at the end of the railway, but it burnt down in a wildfire. But first things frist, we needed to do some washing, both to dry the bedclothes and clean our clothes. After the washing we did get time to have a wander down the Jamestown Main Street, before going on to Sonora, which also has a Main Street, but is much busier as it still takes the through traffic. We stopped there for an evening meal in a local grill called Outlaws. We had the Blue Plate Special, which was Steak Masala, corn on the cob and scallop potatoes. It was delicious, the steak was huge, tasty and tender. We really enjoyed that one and I claim it as one of the best meals we have had on this trip.
On Thursday we packed up in the rain, but were determined to see as much as we could of the Gold Rush, so we stopped off at the Columbia Historic State Park.
Trip 9 - California Dreamin'
On this trip we set out to immerse ourselves in the culture and the nature of California. To discover its textures and see some of its natural wonders. We discover that California is very big. It is not a state that you can just pass through, it is, more than any other place we have visited, more like another country. It is a land dominated by mountains, the spaces between and like nowhere else, water.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.
Our start in the heavily populated area to the East of Los Angeles, known as the Inland Empire, is crowded into the lowlands surrounded by magnificent mountains. The feeling is of a cauldron which is trying to boil over the mountains to the fresh air of the rest of the state.
To the South is a band of Desert, which is the buffer to Mexico, which we did not explore on this trip.
We travelled North through the mountains (everywhere in California you can see mountains) to the desert, and on again to the huge Central Valley, mile after mile of intensive agriculture. Culture here is dominated by food, flatness, low income and trying to impact on the 'sameness' of the flat lands through music and festival. It is the communication and administrative corridor that links all other areas of California.
To the East is the huge mountain chain of the Sierra Nevada which clearly demonstrates the magnificence of the natural world, both in its geology and nature, reflected in the pysche and pride of most Californians. It is Eldorado, dominated by Gold!
To the West of the Central Valley are the coastal mountains, San Francisco and the magnificent coast. More isolated cultures, from mixed resources, communities seperated by mountains.
To the North of the Central Valley more mountains and a culture which looks more North towards Oregon than South to Sacremento.
This blog details our journey through California, where we pick and choose, or just scratch the surface, of this diverse and beautiful state.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment