Day Seventeen

For probably the first time this trip we didn't need to be up for any reason. No flight to catch, booking to be at, check out to beat or breakfast to find, so made the most of it. Ate breakfast sat at the table in the cabin and eventually got ready to go out after 11am.

First stop today was Columbia SHP (ca.gov). Basically a preserved gold rush town. We started by paying for the opportunity to pan for gold. There were choices, for example you could hire a pan and have a go or pay more for a lesson and have your first pan dirt guarantee you gold. We went for the latter. Was given a pan which already contained dirt and presumably gold and a small plastic container for storing your gold. Got told that the bloke outside would teach us how to do it. Went out. He took our pans and then used them to show us how to find gold. That meant we then couldn't find it as he had already done so. We then got to have a go on dirt which presumably didn't have gold in it. Spent some time doing this until we got too hot and bored finding no gold. There were plenty of gemstones of one kind or another but no gold. Here is Ann finding no gold.

Wandered up the main street having a look around. Ann bought a sarsaparilla. Looked in museum. Bought a magnet. Took the odd photo.

Building

Stage Coach

Stage office

Realising it was getting on we went back to the car and drove to the next stop. Railtown 1897 SHP. This was another state park but this one is a preserved railroad. We started out by getting an ice cream as we were hot and hadn't had lunch. Bought a magnet as well. We then wandered around. Unfortunately trains only run on the weekends so we couldn't take a ride. Didn't realise this when we initially planned the route of our trip. The reason we wanted to come to this place is that it has been used an awful lot in films and TV shows, most notably as far as we are concerned in Back to the Future III. Had a look around the place and did get to see the actual engine that pushed the DeLorean up to 88mph.

Station

Turntable and shed

The train from Back to the Future III

Car converted to train

Saw all there was to see. In truth it was actually not that good. Very unAmerican in terms of the quality of the place. 

Headed to get gas as we were running low and we'll need lots tomorrow. Then headed back to the cabin. Had a relatively early dinner as we hadn't had lunch. This means Ann is very much awake as I write this at 7.38pm. Planning an early night as we are back to getting up early tomorrow so we can get packed and out by 6.30am.

States visited - 4

Gold found - 0