Following the Gold Rush

After getting the new shock absorbers and an oil change, we headed for California Rt. 49, the Gold Rush route.  We went through the towns of Jamestown, Sonora, Columbia, Angels Camp and on to Murphys, stopping for awhile in each one and savoring the flavor of the old days.  Had a cold drink in a haunted saloon, where the bartender told us of the lights being turned off and on.  Ended up for the evening in Murphys, and had our anniversary dinner at the Murphys Hotel, in the very room where President Grant, among others, had dined.  We decided to splurge and get a room at the Murphys Hotel, only not in the haunted part.

The following morning, after not having been tortured by ghosts, we had breakfast at the hotel and continued north on Rt. 49 through the towns of Mokelumne Hill, Jackson and on to Sutter Creek, where we took a tour of a gold mine, 400 feet below the surface.  We actually saw gold veins still in the rock.  Our guide was a real gold miner who currently led tours of the mine they were attempting to reopen.  You could pan for gold after the tour, but we just watched as one of the panners attempted to teach a young boy how to flip his wrist just right in order to separate the gold from the dirt.  I don't think he was very successful, but he had fun.

We were then on to Placerville, heading east on Route 50 towards Lake Tahoe.  Found a great campsite at Kyburz, along the American River, where they had first discovered gold.  Had leftovers, enjoyed a beautiful evening, read and settled in for the night.