Places, Earth
Tuolumne County
Tuolumne County
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Places, Earth
Tuolumne County |
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Day One - Yosemite For the last four overnight trips and a half dozen day trips, my wife chose to stay home with her dogs. This time she insisted that she wanted to go, but we couldn't find anyone to watch the domesticated wolves (AKA dogs). Once again, it was just Francine and me. Francine is my 21year old Sable wagon. It was Saturday, Monday would be Independence Day. The Tuolumne County Fair is always held the weekend before July 4 and that was one of my objectives. I left almost on time and immediately had to detour around a closed freeway leaving town. Forty-five minutes later, after cutting through Santa Clarita, I was finally heading north on I-5, a distance that should have taken fifteen minutes. I was still a half hour behind schedule when I stopped at Tejon Pass Rest Area. It would be easy to miss the Interstate 5 / Highway 99 split if you aren't paying attention, but I was going straight onto Highway 99. I continued north through the San Joaquin Valley as Johnny Cash yielded to Sons of the San Joaquin. I cruised past fields, orchards, and agricultural facilities. Mefford Field with its B-17 and F-4 passed by. I stopped a few minutes at Chester H.Warlow Memorial Rest Area. At Fresno, I turned east onto Highway 41. Sons of the San Joaquin were still playing as I slowly climbed east out of the San Joaquin Valley. I got gas at Table Mountain. Shortly before I reached Oakhurst, I received the same transaxle warning that I had received in the February and April trips. I had the transmission checked and there was no problem in the May trip. I stopped the car in Oakhurst and when I restarted, just as before, the indicator light was off. A few miles before reaching the south entrance to Yosemite National Park is the Yosemite Mountain and Sugar Pine Railroad. Growing up on family trips to Yosemite, I had often asked to stop here, but we never did. Finally many years ago and again three years ago, I went with my wife and we enjoyed the railroad rides. Today I was still over hour behind schedule, so I waved as I drove by. |
| As I got closer to the Yosemite National Park entrance, I noticed small signs, the first said "Wait 90 minutes." The next said 60 minutes, the next 45 minutes. Shortly thereafter I reach the end of the line and waited about 15 minutes, entering the park about 12:20. Until recently, anyone could visit a National Park any time, but recently some parks have begun to require reservations during the peak season. I learned this only a month earlier when most of the reservations were taken, Thirty percent of the reservations are held back until one week before and while I started calling the minute they were made available, I got one of the last issued. It only took five or ten minutes to reach my first stop, Pioneer Yosemite History Center. I had visited three years ago, but my camera malfunctioned and I lost half of the photos. I looked at the exhibits, talked with the man in the blacksmith shop, photographed what I had missed before, and rode the 1898 stagecoach. OK, it was only about a five minute ride, but I was running behind schedule anyway. |
| As I drove north, I noticed several places with large stands of dead trees. Later I was informed it was from the Rim Fire in 2013 (Only days after my visit, a new fire threatened the famed Mariposa Grove - climate change is real and really caused by people). Continuing on, after a time, I entered a long tunnel that opens to Tunnel View. There is parking and nearly everyone stops to photograph the spectacular Yosemite Valley below. Once I reached the valley floor, an immediate left turn followed by another brought me out on the other side of the valley. A right turn onto Highway 140 West and another right onto Highway 120 West and eventually a right turn onto Evergreen Road and I was on my way to Hetch Hetchy. |
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Hetch Hetchy was once a beautiful valley and John Muir argued to preserve it, but San Francisco built the O'Shaughnessy Dam and created a reservoir flooding the valley. Some groups are lobbying to dismantle the dam and restore the valley. Once parked, I wandered across the dam taking photos, then through a long tunnel to a trail along the shore. I had hoped to hike to a waterfall, but it would have taken two or three hours and the gates close at five and all day-use people need to be out. It was already 3:00 P.M. I walked a few hundred feet past the tunnel and turned around. The reservoir is beautiful, but the valley was prettier. I headed out and continued on Highway 120 and Highway 49 to Sonora. I would have liked to have stopped in Groveland,
but it was late and I just wanted to get to my hotel. I checked into my hotel, ate dinner, watched a video, downloaded my photos, and worked on this article. Day Two - Historic Buildings and a Fair I awoke early, got ready, ate, and started my adventures for today. First I attended Mass at Saint Patrick's which was an adventure as both Mapquest and maps on my phone got me lost. Finally I saw the tall steeple and found my way. It is an old fashion building, fitting for the location. I returned to the hotel, changed clothes, and grabbed everything I need for my next stop. I passed the fairgrounds where I would go later and photographed a Shay locomotive from the Sugar Pine Railway. In town, the Veterans Memorial Building had a pancake breakfast and the sign said "free museum" but the museum was closed. I darted traffic to photograph the County Courthouse, Sonora is the only incorporated city in Tuolumne County. I photographed other buildings on the historic main street, actually Washington Street. Finally I arrived at Columbia State Historic Park. I arrived at the opening time of ten. There weren't many people yet to get in my photos, but that would change soon. I wandered for over three hours. I joined the 11:00 tours a little after it started and the park ranger leading the tour took us into two stores not usually open and provided an abundance of information. Columbia is a living ghost town, one of the best preserved from a significant and exciting period in California history. Several blocks are closed the vehicles except horse drawn and there were two stage coaches running this day. There are numerous museums and displays and stores and food venders. The pizza place is supposed to be great and I almost got pizza, but didn't for logistical reasons. We enjoyed El Jardin Mexican Restaurant three years ago. I was worn out and ready to leave when I noted the Schoolhouse on the map by the parking lot. The school was on the opposite end of town and a few blocks more, so I drove there. The Schoolhouse is two stories and while you can't walk in, there is a glass vestibule allowing visitors to see most of the rooms. While not part of the park, the town cemetery is adjacent to the school. The Saint Anne's Catholic Church, which only holds Mass three times a year, was open, so that was the next stop. The church was established in 1856 and could use some help. I had only one main objective left for today but on the way back I photographed the Red Church for a few minutes. Three years ago we had also photographed the church, but it was getting late and they were re-roofing. I wanted some better shots. I stopped at the hotel a few minutes to regroup before heading off to the Mother Load Fair held the weekend before Independence Day. I parked a way off but huffed and puffed my way to a line that got much longer as I parked. I enjoy smaller county fairs and I enjoyed this one, but there were no animals. I wandered through two pavilions, one for merchandise, one for exhibits like crafts, baking, quilts, art, and photography. Outside were many more vendors and providers of food. Beyond were the rides. People were spinning, swinging, both, going in circles, and up and down. There were also games of chance like getting a beach ball into a goldfish bowl, or at least that is how it felt. I was on my way out when "Pretty Kitty" started playing stimulating music, so I stayed a little longer. On my way out I mentioned to an employee about no animals and he told me way down the side in the back. Sure enough, there they were, pigs, sheep, goats, cattle, and birds. One feisty chicken kept pecking at me as I tried to photograph the chicken in an adjacent cage. Happy that I found the animal barns, it was time to leave. I enjoyed a quiet evening in my room and prepared to dive home tomorrow. Day Three - Mill, Bridge, and Home I got off later than I hoped and headed west on Highway 108. Many years ago, we had stopped a short time at Knights Ferry. My wife waited in the car as I walked across the covered bridge to discover ruins of a mill on the other side. In consideration of my wife, I didn't stay long but sincethan I wanted to return. Today I returned. I was already in the town of Knights Ferry photographing the historic buildings, so I'm not surewhy I listened to Maps on the phone when it said turn left onto Cemetery Road for 1/4 mile, turnleft onto Morrison Road for 3/4 mile, hard left onto Frymire Road for 1 1/2; miles, turn right ontoCemetery Road, turn right onto Sonora Road, and then I returned to where I started. Then it leadme left and right all over that small town, down a dead end street, into a church parking lot. I finally turned the phone off. Following my instincts, I found the parking lot at Knights Ferry Recreation Area. There are three general activities here, the mill and covered bridge, hiking, and the river. A short distance down river is rafting. I hate automated parking but fortunately it said that I could display my National Park Senior Pass on the dash which was easier. The mill ruins are not large but there are many opportunities for interesting photographs. I walked across the covered bridge, took a few photos looking back, and crossed the bridge again. More photos of the mills and I was on my way home. I backtracked on 108 about ten miles to La Grange Road / CA-59 south toward Merced. I hadn't seen a gas station since Saturday and was getting low so I hoped there would be one in Snelling. As I pulled into town, the first things I saw was the old Courthouse and Library so I pulled over to photograph them. A block later I found a gas station where I filled up and that tank took me home. Finally after driving through a bit of Merced, I found Highway 99 southbound. A few minutes later I passed the Palm and the Pine although the fur tree didn't look too well. I somehow missed Chester H.Warlow Rest Area and the next was still closed. Again, Mofford Field passed by, but this time on the other side of Highway. My audiobook concluded and again Sons of the San Joaquin serenaded me as I climbed out of the majestic San Joaquin Valley. There was not the usual traffic at the junction of Interstate-5 and Highway 99 and I powered up the Grapevine. The transaxle light came on again just as I pulled into a parking space at Tejon Pass Rest Area. Again the light was off when I restarted the car. When I was almost home I topped off the gas tank for next time. My family seemed happy to have me home. |
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| Note:This is not the official site for any of the places shown in Places Earth. Places Earth is not responsible for accuracy of the information. Hours of operations, prices, exhibits, and sometimes locations are subject to change without notice. |
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Support this Web Site I hope that you find this web site helpful. It started because of my love for Architecture and interest in History and a desire to share my photographs and tales of my adventures. I don't allow paid advertising. This web site is for your benefit and enjoyment and I make no profit on it. For twenty years it has been supported primarily from my regular paycheck as a Set Designer. If you are in the need of a designer, please see my Set Designer portfolio site Set Design Portfolio. |
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