"We've Found Gold!"

If you are a resident of California, the history of the Great Gold Rush is of great importance,and will at some time in your life be drilled into your brain. :-) Consequently, you'll find yourself visiting the famed Columbia State Park, which is an old Gold Mining town, walking in the little candy shop, the one with the little jingly bell on the door, panning for gold (or in our case, watching others pan for gold) and smelling the musky scent of tools, cabins, and equipment that are centuries old. The opportunity for the Parish Family to do just that arrived a few weeks ago.


Because of some classes in Sacramento that my Uncle Scott was taking, his wife, Aunt Cindy and family, Heidi (16), Frank,(13) Miranda, (9) and Emily,(7) from Bend, Oregon decided to come along and do some sight/ family seeing. We were able to stay in a condo all together in the tiny town of Angels Camp. Somewhere I definitely want to go again! The quaint shops downtime begged you to step in, and I'd gladly go back to oblige them if I ever have the opportunity!


The days we spent to together there in Angels Camp were few, so visiting was taking place almost non-stop. Of course, we spent much time sightseeing as well. The older I get, the more I understand the reason why 'older people' (which is anyone above your age when you're eight years old.) spend so much time enjoying each sight. I used to get so impatient to move on, but now I find that I'm the one others are impatient at! Sometimes gardens and locations are simply too beautiful to rush through. They demand a wandering gait . . . a meander that allows you to take in all the sensory details.


Okay, okay, I can hear you sighing "There she goes again!!!" so on to the most important part of a post. Pictures! :-)

Here's Simon, checkin' out the condo. It was a fun experience for us; staying in what felt like a house inside, and outside, like a hotel with the pool, recreation room, etc.

The below photos were taken when we visited the beautiful garden paradise of Ironstone Vinyards. We originally planned to go here because of their 'gold mining' museum and beautiful gardens, but we ended up taking a tour of the winery itself! This expansive estate hosts up to 75 weddings a year . . . which is a testamony to their exquisite gardens.

Here we are posing with a miner. He was quite the character! ;-)

This piano, in the wine-tasting room (No, we didn't taste any! ;-) was more than a century old! I wonder what stories it could tell if it could talk.

Above is an enormous gold piece that weighed 44 pounds! It was found recently, in 1992. Anyone up for some mining??? ;-)

Our tour was quite fascinating! It did smell a little sour though. ;-)

~Columbia State Park~ We . . .

Visited the candle dipping shop,

Rode in the car quite a bit,
Visited the Merchants,

And of course, the candy shop!

Last, but NOT least, we hiked down to an AMAZING natural bridge! It was quite wide and mossy in the front, with water dripping down off it. As you waded deeper in, the cavern narrowed into a tall, narrow cave, with amazing rock formations inside. The water was icy, but we were able to swim all the way through the cave and out the other side where the stream flowed in.

God's handiwork is incredible!

Here is Mama' enjoying herself!