One more exploration adventure between friends and family – Gold Country in Calaveras County.  Yes, THAT Calaveras County – home of the Celebrated Jumping Frog of Mark Twain fame;-)  Here one has the California Gold Rush history, Giant Sequoias at Calaveras Big Trees State Park, historic gold rush towns which are now funky ‘wandering’ areas and, of course, golf.

 

 

Magic had one last very comfortable parking spot amongst the trees in a wonderful setting.  Weather was perfect also – so we enjoyed lots of time in our outdoor living room while here.

 

 

Amidst the rugged oak woodlands of the Sierra Nevada foothills lies Columbia State Historic Park.  On March 27, 1850, a group of prospectors discovered gold here.  Within six weeks their findings attracted thousands of miners and “Columbia” was born.   Two-thirds of the original miners were Mexican, but by the summer of 1850 many had left due to the exclusionary Foreign Miner’s Tax, which required foreign-born miners to pay the state $20 a month for the privilege of mining.  By 1852 more than 150 stores, saloons and other business enterprises were operating. By 1853, Columbia was one of the largest cities in California with an estimated population of 25,000 to 30,000.  But, as mining dwindled in the late 1860’s, Columbia began to decline.  By the 1940’s the buildings of Columbia had deteriorated to the point that many were considered unsafe.  During that period, the state of California bought the town and it became a State Park.  Restoration efforts began on the 150 year old structures to preserve their historic value.  Today Columbia State Historic Park contains the state’s largest collection of gold rush era structures.

 

 

Water was important to the mining operations in the area.  Several ‘water’ companies were formed to build complex systems of wooden flumes, pipes and ditches to convey river water from the Stanislaus to Columbia.  With water available the miners would remove dirt and wash it through a system of sluices to remove the gold.

 

 

They also used the water shooting it through high pressure hoses to wash away the dirt around the limestone to expose the gold.   This process has left large limestone boulders in the landscape – looking very misplaced.

 

 

The second of the mining towns in the area was Sonora – Queen of the Southern Mines.  Unlike Columbia, Sonora has thrived through the years – possibly because it is the County seat.  But, there is still much history here, as exemplified in many of its buildings.  We especially loved the Old Red Church, built in 1859 and sets at the top of Main Street watching over the town – –

 

 

Natural beauty also abounds in the area.  Not far away is the Calaveras Big Trees State Park – home to two magnificent groves of Giant Sequoias.  We will NEVER miss an opportunity to visit these sage old trees and to walk among their old souls.  They DO speak to you if you stop and listen.  AND – they are HUGE!!!

 

The first of these large trees found back in 1852 created quite a stir.  A year after its discovery, the tree – sadly – was felled by ambitious speculators.  Since no saw was large enough, the tree was felled with long-handled pump augers and wedges.  It took five men 22 days to drill all the holes and even then the tree did not fall for several days.  The tree was so large that the remaining stump was planed smooth to serve as a dance floor and a two-lane bowling alley and bar were built on the fallen trunk!!

 

 

These Giant Sequoias (also known as sierra redwoods) are the largest living things ever to exist on the earth – Some living over 3,000 years.  AND – they are very tall.  The best way to look up at them is to sit on the special benches built for just that – –

 

 

From the beauty of the Sequoias to the reality of the water shortage in CA.  Several times we crossed what is now a river but used to be New Malones Lake.  One can very plainly see the water mark of the water level just a short four years ago.

 

 

Well – our last little adventure was complete and we were off to one last family visit – daughter Heather and family (Christian, Haley, Kira & Olivia) in Lemoore.  There were several wonderfully fun days with dinners, playground visits, football games, movies AND a sleepover in the Bus;-)

 

 

 

 

Hard to believe – but, we were just a few days short of being on the road for 5 months!  So – it was finally time to close up Magic and to head home.

 

 

E & G – On our way – ‘home again, home again, jiggity jig’