We survived the 4th then headed to Sacramento

We finally had a holiday off since it hit the middle of the week.  The park was packed for 10 days straight, a rig would move out and within a couple of hours another was in it's place.  When you are at a park for months you become to know the regulars and tend to make friends with them.  Since we work the weekends when it is busy folks tend to invite us over for a drink or dinner.  We kind of laid low on the 4th taking in the sights enjoying watching families spend time together.  On the 5th one of the regulars I spoke of took us on a boat ride.  We cruised through the sloughs checking out the houses and boats, on the return trip we passed a sea plane that docks just abit up the slough from Sugar Barge, now that's the way to travel.

                 We passed by a real Redneck Yacht club, there must have been 12 boats tyied up.

On Monday the owners had an employee appreciation day at Dave's home. All the food and beverages you could want, a good time was had by everyone.

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We left the following morning headed to Sacramento to visit some folks we meet in Quartzsite last winter.  They are into prospecting as well and we have learned alot from them.  The next day we headed to the Bear River.

                                                 Gay and Yancy getting the sluice box set up.

First you find your Glory hole, dig some material, classify it and then run it through the sluice box.

Then you pan the results hoping for some gold. 

We did find a little but the best part was spending the morning at this beautiful location with good friends. 

It was a very hot day so we decided to head for home but took a small detour that lead us over the highest bridge in California.

The next day Mark & I headed to Placerville which is located between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe. 

After the discovery of gold in nearby Coloma  in 1848 which sparked the gold rush, the small town now known as Placerville was known as Dry Diggin's after the manner in which the miners moved cartloads of dry soil to running water to separate the gold from the soil. Later in 1849, the town earned its most common historical name, "Hangtown", because of the numerous hangings that had occurred there.  By 1850, the temperance league and a few local churches had begun to request that a more friendly name be bestowed upon the town. The name was not changed until 1854 when the City of Placerville was incorporated. At its incorporation Placerville was the third largest town in California. In 1857 the county seat was then moved from Coloma to Placerville, where it remains today.

Downtown Placerville CA

When in Placerville one must check out Placerville Hardware est. 1852, this is a step back in time where you can find anything! 

                        The famous Bell Tower stand as a monument to the city's volunteer firemen.

Next we headed to Gold Bug Park & Mine formerly known as the Hattie which opened in 1888 and is a hard-rock mine located just north of Placerville.  Hard rock mining is a kind of underground mining.

Now the cool thing about touring this mine was the cool air that came out of the shafts as it was 109 degrees outside.  Seriously it was very educational and we had a good time.

On the way to Coloma we stoped at the monument for James W. Marshall who discovered gold in CA.  On January 24, 1848, an event occurred in Coloma that would radically impact the history of California and the Nation. James W. Marshall was building a sawmill for Captain John Sutter, using water from the South Fork of the American River. He noticed several flakes of metal in the tailrace water and recognized them to be gold. Though he tried to keep it a secret, the word spread quickly, and triggered the California Gold Rush of 1849.

We drove through Coloma but there wasn't much to see and it was way too hot to walk the streets so we headed back to Sacramento. 

                                          The next morning we went metal detecting with Gay and found some coins.

Thanks Gay & Yancy for a wonderful time, you are great hosts and we will be back.

On our way home we went to the California State Railroad Museum in Old Sacramento. 

I highly recommend checking this museum out, it is very well done and known as North America's finest.  There is a great 20 minute movie explaining the history and along with 20 restored locomotives and railroad cars.

The museum is located in the heart of Old Sacramento so we wandered through the streets enjoying the sights.

                                                                    Pretty cool stuff.

                                                           Boy times have changed.

After all the sight seeing we stopped in a the River City Saloon for a beverage.  The beers were cold and the staff was friendly, a great way to end a good day.

                                                                       Bottoms Up!

Busy Week

As you drive down Sugar Barge Rd you will pass "Donkey & Eeyore" and you will hear them at night braying.  When we walk or ride by in the golf cart they come to the fence in anticipation of a treat and if we don't have one they can get rather noisy but today we had treats.

We also have wild turkeys that wander through the campground.

And of course we have stinky skunks, don't need a picture of them, just use your imagination!

Last Tuesday we went kayaking.  We were leaving the kayaks in the water but it doesn't take long for them to get dirty so we have stored them under the caravan.  Mark made a carrier out of a milk crate and then we hook the front of the boat onto the golf cart.  Let me tell you we get some looks going through the campground on the way to the marina.

It was a great day to be on the water.  Some days are just to windy but today was perfect.  We stay in the sloughs and don't venture out to far as there can be too much boat traffic or the wind can pick up.  Today we made it all the way to the Bethel Island bridge.  Coming around a corner we were able to see Mt. Diablo.

                                              We passed this boat and had to laugh.

          Once we reached the bridge we had a much deserved beverage and snack in the shade.
                                    
                          On the way back we ran into our neighbors Barb & Larry on their jet ski.

  By this time it would have been nice to have a motor as we were paddling against the current but being in a kayak there is no noise and it's so peaceful.

We made it back in time to shower and get ready for the Walking Taco Bunco Party.  Now you may ask what is that?  Well, everyone brings an ingredient for tacos hence the walking taco name.  Bunco is usually a ladies game but when I organized it the gents were invited as well, all the guys agreed except Dave but we finally talked him into it and he got a Bunco.

Dave you will not live this down.  As a matter of fact the guys were very lucky and Larry won $20 for the most Buncos.

Lucky Larry

Paul

George

Bruce

Moral of the story...Buncos not just for women!  Everyone had a great time and at the next game night we will play Mexican train.

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Thursday we went on a ride with Sally & Dave along the scenic loop which follows the levee roads.

The San Joaquin River

Lush green fields as far as the eye can see.

                          Note the water ditch around the field that is fed by the levee systems.

                                                             First stop for a cold one.

                                       I am amazed at how the geraniums here grow like weeds.

                                                                         Next stop.

                                                             Looking at Mt.Diablo
                                                          On the road again headed to

                                                        Sally enjoying a shot of Patron.

                                        Next stop was Isleton for some dinner at Isleton Joe's.

And on the way home we pass the wind farm.  It was a nice day and not too windy.  Thanks Sally and Dave for a fun day.

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The golf cart is ready for the 4th.

We have been introduce to a new game.  A water bottle sits on top of a pvc pipe then you try to hit the bottle with a Frisbee and catch the bottle with a drink in your hand, crazy!

Now to make things really difficult when it gets dark you put a glow stick in the water bottle and use a Frisbee the lights up.

Not a great picture but you get the idea.  It's alot of fun and that's what it's all about.

The park is filling up fast for the 4th.  Since it is on a Wednesday some folks are coming the weekend before and some the following weekend.  Either way it is packed and very busy.  We work on the weekends and it has been nonstop but at least the time goes by quick.   

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On the 3rd of July the Hilton family, you know Paris Hilton, have shot off fireworks for some 35 years from a barge in Mandeville Bay.  They own an island that can only be reached by boat or helicopter, must be nice.  The bar/grille stays open so people can come to the Sugar Barge and view the fireworks.  It was a nice display but you couldn't hear them or feel the boom.  It was a beautiful night with a great sunset, sorry pics didn't turn out so good.  I hope everyone had a nice 4th of July and remember all of those that made it possible.