Thankful Buddha of the Snow

 

Thanksgiving snow @ maj in NSJ

Oh, The Places You'll Go!

This was a fun trip, with a rendez-vous in the middle avec nos amis francais. Driving to/fro was a pleasant experience, I dawdled along the way stopping and exploring. The curvy road passed through beautifully scenic countryside, populated more oak, pine, madrone, willow and manzanita. I'm reminded that I feel much more at home in places where the tree out-number the people.

Hwy 49 crosses the county lines at rivers, usually right in the middle of a bridge. I stopped as often as I could when I crossed rivers. It was that kind of trip. Counties crossed (N->S):
Nevada
Placer
El Dorado
Amador
Calaveras

Oh, The Place's You'll Go! Auburn

Oh, The Place's You'll Go! Coloma Bridge

Oh, The Places You'll Go! Scenic Hwy 49

Oh, The Places You'll Go! San Andreas

Oh, The Places You'll Go! Murphys

Hmm. These frogs are around town in Murphys as part of a community-art fundraising thing (I think). Frogs are a sort of local mascot, popularized by Mark Twain in The Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras County. This particular frog sometimes lives here in front of SNAC (Sierra Nev Adv Co). It *sometimes* lives here, but has been known to completely disappear overnight. I asked the SNAC clerk about it and here's what I understand: some pranksters (possibly inebriated) managed to abscond with froggy-dearest, tossing him into their pick up truck late one night. Apparently some astute locals observed this misdemeanor and attempted hot pursuit. Unable to apprehend the thieves, the Sheriff's dept. was called, newspapers reported 'Missing', and righteous tongues clucked their dismay. Some time later, froggy-dearest was spotted 10' down an embankment in the creek crossing Sheep Ranch Rd. nr. Stevenot vineyards. Froggy was rescued and restored to its proper place on Main Street in Murphys. So now you know.

Sierra Nevada/Calaveras Webcams

Here are some links to the Sierra Nevada webcams along Hwy 4. Enjoy!


Arnold Webcam

Dorrington Webcam

Bear Valley Webcams:

 Base Camp Cam

Polar Express Cam

Oh, The Places You'll Go! Sutter Creek

Oh, The Places You'll Go! Cool

Cool was crowded, probably because it was such a small town (road construction played its part too). I don't know, but I'm guessing this is pretty much all there is to the town of Cool:

Oh, The Places You'll Go! Grass Valley

Grass Valley

Del Oro Theatre (from the rear!)

The fellow checking the electric meter is a permanent Trompe L'oeil feature

A nearby parking lot has enjoys this mural:

A window into his soul?

Oh, The Places You'll Go! Placerville

Wish my camera was working better--I'd have more photos of Placerville if it were. Next to the marker for Snowshoe Thompson is the historic marker for the Placerville Pony Express Station and Terminous:

Oh, The Places You'll Go! Auburn

Day 9, 11/10/2010 - Road Adventure

On the road again,
Can't wait to get back on the road again

Friends from France / Cabin Trip.
Here's my proposed route.

Day 7, 11/8/2010 - Critter Count

Early morning bird and frog song, with crisp autumn air. I relished hours working outdoors in the sun on a glorious autumn day. I am practising being easy going and accepting. It's harder than you'd think, but easier here than elsewhere.

Critter count - 4 deer (3 does, 1 two point buck)
2 Alligator Lizards