From Sea Ranch to Cool

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After packing every inch of our trusty Toyota, we finally head off on our trip. The weather is beautiful and traffic is light as we head down the coast and then turn inland across the San Joaquin Valley up into the Sierra Nevada mountain range. We reach Twain Harte in the Sierra foothills around 3pm and spend the night with Lance, Leigh's brother.

The next morning we head north along Highway 49, the Gold Rush highway. We stop at Columbia State Park, which is a re-creation of a typical gold rush town, complete with saloons, stage coach and buildings of the gold rush era. We continue north through along many towns that have maintained historic districts of buildings and homes dating from the 1850's, all too often surrounded by the ugly sprawl of gas stations, fast food restaurants and shopping malls. We spend the night with Barbara Harrigan, our friend of many years, who lives in Pilot Hill, just south of Cool. Tomorrow we will be traveling through the Sierra Nevada and cross Nevada.

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Photos

Packing the car is a challenge!
Leigh finds a way to fit everything in the trunk and back seat.

View of The Sea Ranch
The Sea Ranch extends along about 11 miles of coastline.

Beach at the bottom of Jenner Grade
Jenner Grade is the steepest of many winding grades along the coast.

Columbia State Park
Many school groups were visiting Columbia to learn about the days of the Gold Rush.

Wildflower hill
There are many beautiful wildflowers along the hillsides because of the late rains.

View of the Sierras
Photo taken from the deck of Barbara Harrigan's house.