In celebration of having the whole three-day weekend off together (it's the first since I quit my job), we decided to hit the road for one night.
Saturday we got out of town early enough. We drove south on Highway 49 and stopped at various small towns and historical markers along the way. The most exciting one was Mark Twain's cabin which is a replica but the chimney is original. Wow was it tiny. Because of the rain (yes rain on Memorial Day weekend in California!), we went to Jamestown and toured an old railroad station and museum and also rode on the old steam train. On our way back to Angels Camp, where we were staying for the night, we stopped in a historical state park called Columbia. It's an old preserved miners town. The buildings were mostly brick, the streets shut down to traffic and the shop keepers dressed in period clothing. We had sasaparilla in a saloon and walked the trail to the old schoolhouse.
On Sunday, the skies seemed promising and we headed straight up the mountain to Calaveras Big Trees state park for a mile and a half hike through Giant Sequoias. Unfortunately, it started raining again halfway through the hike so we were all cold and wet by the time we got done. The trail and trees were stunning anyway. We stopped in Murphys for a warm lunch and to walk the streets of the cute old town. Finally, before we headed home, we went to Moaning Cavern and climbed down a 100 foot spiral staircase. Wow, what a huge cavern and what nerve wracking climb down.
We had a wonderful, two day, family trip. It's so nice to be able to get out together and go see new places that are basically in our back yard.
To view more photos, go to http://www.smugmug.com/gallery/5023630_W8uK4#301666539_9sfkd
and here
http://thielfam.smugmug.com/gallery/5034349_jYxGU#302379934_hEt3f
No comments:
Post a Comment