Travels of Nannie & Bubba

September 5, 2013 Yuba River State Park

Today we aimed at Malakoff Diggins State Park, but we went the long way around and stopped for lunch at this lovely spot, the Yuba River State Park. The water sure felt good, the rocks were fascinating, and the company was excellent. It doesn't get much better than that! Sadly, the Bridgeport Covered Bridge has been deemed unsafe due to structural problems. This area still has some gold flakes left in the gravel and prospectors regularly pan for gold up- and down-stream.

Covered bridge info.

The entrance to the bridge is fenced off; this was taken thru the fence.

Beautiful design.

LOOK at the SIZE of these fig trees!

Bubba bought a miner pan and proceeded to pan for gold.
He found a few flakes, too! (well, it looks like gold....)

Just upstream from where we were messing around on the Yuba River, Bubba found a mom and her fawn.

Looking at rocks.

That water felt mighty good!

A flume has been created with rocks and the water went thru it mighty fast!
We think maybe the folks on inner tubes use it.

September 4, 2013 Upper Cascade Canal hike, Nevada City, CA

Today we hiked the upper Cascade Canal trail, and it was lovely! The canal is for irrigation and is maintained by the NID. I don't know who decided to put a hiking trail beside the cool clear water, but it was a great idea. As is usually the case, we started out in cool weather (I took great pleasure in complaining about being "cold") and ended up hot and sweaty. But we saw lots of beautiful things, and enjoyed every minute!

Cool clear water flows beside the nice flat trail.

Bubba tests it: yes, cool and clear!

We had to hold hands so we could look waaaaaaay up without tumping over....

Lovely stream glittering in the sun.

Cardinal monkey flower. (courtesy of my sister)

California Sister butterfly. (courtesy of my sister)
cool, huh? Sister Butterfly seen by two sisters....

Garter snake enjoying the sun.

Ruthie & Jimmy walking along.
Awwwww......

August 31, 2013 Bourn Cottage at the Empire Mine, Grass Valley, CA

As part of our Empire Mine excursion, we opted to tour the Bourn Cottage. The owner of the mines, William Bourn, Jr., had this "cottage" built near the mine and lived both here and at his home in San Francisco. As part of the tour, actors play the parts of the principal characters, including Sarah Kidder (first female railroad president in the world), who was often at the cottage. The formal gardens are breathtaking, even in the fall - they must be spectacular in the spring and summer! This mansion was so close to the mine that special diamond-shaped windowpanes and heavy leather curtains were used to help soften the deafening sound of the stamp mills crushing the rock. Mrs. Bourn was happy to spend time here because electricity was installed in the house (from the mine) long before it arrived in San Francisco. The period costumes and actors made the tour of this house something special!

The Bourn Cottage (more like a mansion....).

Reflecting pool - once a swimming pool.

The water in the fountains was dyed a pretty shade of blue.

The menfolk with Sarah Kidder - watch it guys, she's packin' heat!

Bubba is stitting on the biggest wisteria vine we ever saw....

August 31, 2013 Empire Mine State Park, Grass Valley, Nevada

Toured the Empire Mine State Park today, and it was fascinating. It was a huge operation and the mine was vast. We could have spend days touring this place, but alas we got a late start and it was too hot....

Beautiful old building, huh!
This is the front - the back of this building is all dusty and dirty and faces the mining operation.

The mine closed in 1957 and it appears that they just walked away.
The mine is now filled with water within 150 ft. of the surface.

One of the offices - the round object is a safe.
There were lots of safes, big and small. Remember, this was gold being mined!

The Secret Room contained a scale model of the entire mine, made out of colored wires.

This is the cable tram that brought out the ore, and also took the miners down and up.

This doesn't show the angle of descent, but it was steep and very dark!

The miners rode a manskip going in and out of the mine.
As part of the "experience" this thing shook as the lights went out. Yeow!

These things must have made a huge noise....!

August 30, 2013 Golden Chain Highway (Hwy. 49)

Today we traveled from Quincy down to my sister's house in Nevada City, California. We opted to take the twisty-turny road called the Golden Chain Highway, and my goodness, what a drive! The east side (uphill) was so smoky from the Rim Fire at Yosemite that visibility was pretty limited, but just the road itself was amazing. (think: lots of switchbacks) The west side (downhill) was much less smoky, but not completely clear. We stopped for lunch at a picnic area on the Yuba River, and of course we had to climb down to the water...

These huge log trucks are everywhere...

Smoke from the Rim Fire down by Yosemite obscures the next mountain.

Up & Over!

And coming down the other side.

One lane bridge in Downieville.

Hmmmm. Whatcha think this sign means....?

Cooling my feet in the Yuba River. Wonderful!

Yuba River, where we ate lunch.

August 28 & 29, 2013 Quincy & Taylorsville, California

We spent 2 nights here in Quincy, which is surrounded by mountains. Such a lovely spot! We did a short but steep hike down to Indian Falls, and we also drove up into the mountains to Taylorsville. Enjoyed this place, would stay here again someday.