Aliens and Ghosts

Back on the trail in the Sierra Nevada Mountains, you have to be careful where you drive.  With all the water, there have been rock slides and bridge washouts galore.  You wouldn't think much of this little creek, but just a few weeks ago it turned into a torrent that almost washed out this bridge.  That would be a bad thing for the people who live here since it's one of only two ways for them to get home.

For once those aren't bugs on my windshield or crud on my camera lens.  Those are a huge group of starlings that live under the bridge. 

Every once in awhile I would find something beautiful like this lovely white flower growing all alone.  

This is a narrow road that winds through the hills, giving you great views.  Mr. Chance will recognize all of these pictures since we rode these areas many times on the motorcycles.  This is overlooking Hunter Valley.  There's one road in and one road out which you probably shouldn't drive on unless you know someone there.  

These people are VERY protective of their little piece of heaven.  My horseshoer lived here, and one time I had to make a visit to pay him.  I got the stink eye BIG time from neighbors, so I didn't mess around.  Sadly, this entire valley was ravaged by fire not too many years ago.  It's coming back nicely, but there are basically no more trees left.

It's spring time and the red bud is in bloom.  They only grow at certain elevations.  This little section was covered with them.

If you knew exactly where to look, you would find several mines over on the hills.  Of course like any good OLD folk I cannot remember the name ... maybe Dan remembers ... but at this site a fort was built to keep watch over them.  Claim jumping was big back in the day.  If you had enough men, you just killed everyone at the mine you wanted and began processing the gold yourself.

Just around the corner was this.  I remember this road from our motorcycle days, as a very narrow STEEP hold-on-to-your-shorts road that we took quite often just for fun.  I think mostly because there was a bar at each end.

Old habits die hard.  When you are driving cattle trucks loaded with four legged critters, you have to be careful of turns.  Go too fast and the cattle will shift their weight, tipping you right over.  So to make it easier on you AND the cattle, you would straighten the road out as much as possible, crossing over the yellow lines.  

Wouldn't you know, out in the middle of NOWHERE, while "straightening" out the road, up behind me comes a Sheriff.  Well RATS!!  I slowed way down and even pulled over to let him by.   He waved his finger at me as he kept going.  I'm sure I'm not the only one that does that ... every local probably does the same thing.

That's when the alien showed up.  I did a double take when I drove by this little cave ... probably someone's attempt to find gold way back when.  See the white guy on the right?  He even has pointy ears.  No I didn't go in the cave ... for once.  Seriously, I couldn't take my eyes off it, it looked so real.

Interestingly enough, this is the Merced River as it comes out of Yosemite Valley.  At this point, before our 92 degree days, it's very low.  

All the water has filled the dams, and THAT is what's got the river at flood stage.  When the snow melts, this will be a raging river again.  In order to "save" the dam, they will release whatever it takes, which will result in flooding below.  We say build another dam to hold the water, stop flooding and supply farmers throughout the summer, but the Sierra Club and the environmentalists get it stopped every time. 

Around the next corner is the little town of Coulterville.  This little town was settled by George Coulter and originally named Maxwell Creek.  For a time, George lived in a tent, flying the American Flag, causing the Mexicans to call it Banderita.  In 1852 a post office was set up and they cast lots to name the town.  Coulterville won out.

This is the Jeffery Hotel, built in 1851 as a Mexican Fandango Hall with 30 inch thick adobe walls.  George Jeffery bought the place in 1852, rebuilding it after every fire ... and there were several in this area.  It got bigger and taller every time.  

This sits on the back road to Yosemite, so it had its share of "regal" visitors, including Teddy Roosevelt.  It is also said to have its share of ghosts peaking out the windows as you drive by.   

I've never stayed at the hotel which has 11 rooms and 7 bathrooms.  It sold not too many years ago (Mr Jeffery is buried in the local cemetery), but has gone downhill ever since.  My plan was to stop in for lunch, but the hotel is apparently being used as a private residence now.  The restaurant and bar is completely closed down.  What a shame!  Here's a look at how it used to be.

Here's a picture from the early 1900's.  I think it would make a great QUILT store!!

 As you can imagine, there are lots of stories about the outlaws that roamed the mountains.   Joaquin Murrieta and Three Fingered Jack were the most name worthy, taking advantage of the Chinese who worked the mines.  

There were originally nine members of their gang, but at some point the group decided Joaquin and Three Fingers needed to go.  Too bad for them, their ambush failed.  Revenge was in the works.  They got the seven outlaws to enter a cave (probably told them there was gold inside), whereupon they killed every one.  That left them free to gather up all the gold they wanted from the Chinese.  Why just the Chinese?  Because they were Mexican ... and they didn't want to take anything from the many Mexican miners.  Nice guys, yes?  Several years later, those seven bodies were found and reported to the Sheriff.  

Back around on my big loop, we are again at the bottom of the Merced River, below the lake.  Here's hoping the snow melts slow enough so people downstream don't get flooded out again.

My trip is not quite over.  By now my stomach is screaming I'M HUNGRY!!  My two planned stops for food were a bust.  I have one more small gold mining town to check out where I KNOW there is a restaurant.  A Mexican restaurant.  How bad could it be????