The Long and Winding Road

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Cem and I planned not to plan this trip. We wanted to leave our options open and let the feeling of the moment determine our route. After Vegas, we didn't want cities and traffic so instead elected to go to the High Sierras instead of the California Coast. There we would be able to explore Gold Country (a long-held wish of Cem's) and Yosemite. We have no regrets. Cem got to pan for gold in the preserved mining town of Columbia now a state park. After getting a lesson on how to properly pan from a period-dress guy named Steve, we both set about with absolute concentration to get the gold out of the gravel. They actually spike the troughs so you won't come away disappointed. Cem was so determined to get as much gold as possible, I didn't have the heart to tell him it would take all day to get enough teensy weensy bits to cover the cost of admission. I'm still carrying the tiny vial with gold flakes in my purse and wondering if will end up with Cem's constant pack rat stash in the desk at home. We panned until two bus loads of 4th graders arrived and created total chaos amongst the panning troughs. After that was my wish -- Yosemite. If you've never been there, you must go. It is the most jaw-dropping awesome place I've ever seen in my life. Sheer granite cliff faces soaring - well I don't know about these kinds of facts - but I'm guessing 10,000 feet, at least it felt that way. And over many of these granite faces pours waterfalls. It was crazy getting there. We took an insanely winding road ascending more than 6000 feet in under an hour through Groveland. At first, Cem was unimpressed as all we could see was forest as we climbed. Then all of the sudden it opens up to Yosemite Valley and your looking down at such dizzying heights of sheer flat rock that I of course got vertigo. From there, we descended into the valley with curves mirroring those we took to go up. I had to look away at one point it was so intense. At the bottom of the valley, you have to crane your
head up just to see the tops of the cliffs. It was simply amazing. Cem was impressed. He is still talking about it. Kimberlee, you'll be happy to know I did insist on a glass of wine at the beautiful Awahnee Hotel. There Cem and I debated whether it was sacriledge to put a posh hotel catering to the whims of the obviously wealthy in such a place. Sipping a glass of lovely J Pinot Gris, gazing blissfully at the waterfalls, I could not find it in me to be a hypocrite. We were both somewhat mollified when we read the history of the hotel. It was built in the early 20th century by some high society guy who was worried about preserving Yosemite and preventing development. He figured if he could get the priviledged to value the place, then he could save it. It obviously worked and for that I am truly glad. The sun began to sink behind the cliff face and sadly, we took our leave and began the long winding trip back to Sonora. I should add that we loved Sonora. It seems like every town in this part of the Sierra's are adorable. Many of them have existed since the Gold Rush era and maintain their Old West Mining town character with wooden sidewalks, brick buildings and hilly streets. Cem said he could live in Sonora too.

But Portland beckons, we are almost home, our new home that is.

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Photos

Gold Cem
He's peering closely looking for the glitter (they're hard to see being flakes and all)

The Gold Scale
Thought this was pretty cool - read the inscription