A Sunday Drive
6:59 PMIt is April, and it rained all day Saturday, so I got all the indoor chores done. Was so looking forward to spending my Sunday getting back...
6:59 PM
It is April, and it rained all day Saturday, so I got all the indoor chores done. Was so looking forward to spending my Sunday getting back into sewing, before heading back to work on Monday.
Well....
My Beloved had other ideas, it seemed. When he was measuring the fence line we have to repair and said 'let's go for a ride', I figured we would head out to pick up supplies and we'd be repairing fence today instead of me sewing.
As Maggie loves going for rides, she was invited too.
Instead of going down the hill, he headed up.
And up.
And up.
We went for a Sunday Drive.
We drove up old highway 49 and goggled at the hillside damage from and now cleaned up landslides that had closed the highway several times this winter. We marveled at the traffic being reduced to one lane , that accommodated the current repairs of massive sinkholes and a road collapse. We passed through the small town of North San Juan, and enjoyed the always lovely view of the tall trees and mountain winding roads.
The Yuba River is running fast and high, amazing with it's white crests over submerged boulders and stunning jade green pools. A cinnamon coloured doe trotted nonchalantly across the road, and then hopscotched without any effort up the near vertical slope that bordered the other side.
Arriving in Downieville some time laer, Maggie enjoyed a walk to explore where the convergence of the Downie and Yuba rivers. We ambled down the sidewalks, sidestepping a 'town dog', who was a gentle giant. Lunch was a couple Mexican style beef tacos, while sitting behind the tiny restaurant, enjoying the river flow, roaring near our feet. The stack of sandbags on the little patio, and debris in the trees and bushes told us just how high the river had crested.
Leaving Downieville, we headed further up: through Sierra City (a village, but it boasts some of the best fly fishing in the area and several quaint but pleasant looking lodging choices) and Sattley (a hamlet at best). The view gave way from chilly but sunny green, to snow on the ground. The higher up we went, the more snow, until we reached about 5,000 feet where it all looked like a Christmas card, with fresh snow weighing down the branches of the conifers and glistening (an over used word for snow, but the best description) on the mountains sides.
Reaching a large turn out, we parked and let Maggie play. The fresh snow was a good 2 foot deep there, on top of a couple feet of more solid stuff. She had a grand time chasing snowballs and leaping through the drifts. She did look rather surprised when the first snowball she 'caught' disintegrated between her jaws, but continued the game merrily.
The turn out overlooks a pristine Alpine valley that contains the village of Sierraville. This area is mostly cattle, and was settled by some Swiss emigrants during the Gold Rush days. They must have recognized a little bit of home there, and rightly so. We traveled down into the valley and through: they also have plenty of snow for this fine April day.
If you make a right turn in the center of Sierraville (you can't miss it; it is the only corner), you head to Truckee, passing groves of aspens, amongst other lovely trees. There are times that I have to drive this area for work, and especially enjoy it in the autumn, when the aspens show gold. It is so worth the long drive.
Hitting Truckee, we took the old Donner Pass Road and were thrilled at the 12 foot high snow walls left by the plows: Truckee still has plenty of snow and the back roads are incredible.
Up, up and over: these roads are closed often in the winter months. How lucky we were to be able to enjoy them during this brief, perfect moment. Is there anything more magnificent than tremendous granite outcroppings adorned with thick layers of pure white snow on their more horizontal edges?
Heading down, now, we passed by Sugar Bowl ski resort, who's parking lots were over packed and too many folks had parked alongside the roads.
Getting back onto highway 20, which leads back down to our area, we stopped at the Little Town of Washington and had an ice tea in the old hotel built in 1857. The hotel's charm is from the creaking architecture and very funky décor, a hodgepodge of leftover odds and ends from the late 1800's and mid 1970's.
The hotel's true treasure is the wide back porch that runs the width of the building, and overlooks the river. A mish mash of planters (old feed troughs included) were sporting red tulips on this fine day.
The hotel/bar presides over the tiny town, and the locals were very happy that the little general store has re-opened after 4 years. Those 2 establishments are the only businesses in the town.
Arrived home too late to even think about sewing, but I thought about this... sharing a lovely day with someone dear to you is the very best way to spend the day. I am sure you will agree.
Well....
My Beloved had other ideas, it seemed. When he was measuring the fence line we have to repair and said 'let's go for a ride', I figured we would head out to pick up supplies and we'd be repairing fence today instead of me sewing.
As Maggie loves going for rides, she was invited too.
Instead of going down the hill, he headed up.
And up.
And up.
We went for a Sunday Drive.
We drove up old highway 49 and goggled at the hillside damage from and now cleaned up landslides that had closed the highway several times this winter. We marveled at the traffic being reduced to one lane , that accommodated the current repairs of massive sinkholes and a road collapse. We passed through the small town of North San Juan, and enjoyed the always lovely view of the tall trees and mountain winding roads.
The Yuba River is running fast and high, amazing with it's white crests over submerged boulders and stunning jade green pools. A cinnamon coloured doe trotted nonchalantly across the road, and then hopscotched without any effort up the near vertical slope that bordered the other side.
Arriving in Downieville some time laer, Maggie enjoyed a walk to explore where the convergence of the Downie and Yuba rivers. We ambled down the sidewalks, sidestepping a 'town dog', who was a gentle giant. Lunch was a couple Mexican style beef tacos, while sitting behind the tiny restaurant, enjoying the river flow, roaring near our feet. The stack of sandbags on the little patio, and debris in the trees and bushes told us just how high the river had crested.
Leaving Downieville, we headed further up: through Sierra City (a village, but it boasts some of the best fly fishing in the area and several quaint but pleasant looking lodging choices) and Sattley (a hamlet at best). The view gave way from chilly but sunny green, to snow on the ground. The higher up we went, the more snow, until we reached about 5,000 feet where it all looked like a Christmas card, with fresh snow weighing down the branches of the conifers and glistening (an over used word for snow, but the best description) on the mountains sides.
Reaching a large turn out, we parked and let Maggie play. The fresh snow was a good 2 foot deep there, on top of a couple feet of more solid stuff. She had a grand time chasing snowballs and leaping through the drifts. She did look rather surprised when the first snowball she 'caught' disintegrated between her jaws, but continued the game merrily.
The turn out overlooks a pristine Alpine valley that contains the village of Sierraville. This area is mostly cattle, and was settled by some Swiss emigrants during the Gold Rush days. They must have recognized a little bit of home there, and rightly so. We traveled down into the valley and through: they also have plenty of snow for this fine April day.
If you make a right turn in the center of Sierraville (you can't miss it; it is the only corner), you head to Truckee, passing groves of aspens, amongst other lovely trees. There are times that I have to drive this area for work, and especially enjoy it in the autumn, when the aspens show gold. It is so worth the long drive.
Hitting Truckee, we took the old Donner Pass Road and were thrilled at the 12 foot high snow walls left by the plows: Truckee still has plenty of snow and the back roads are incredible.
Up, up and over: these roads are closed often in the winter months. How lucky we were to be able to enjoy them during this brief, perfect moment. Is there anything more magnificent than tremendous granite outcroppings adorned with thick layers of pure white snow on their more horizontal edges?
Heading down, now, we passed by Sugar Bowl ski resort, who's parking lots were over packed and too many folks had parked alongside the roads.
Getting back onto highway 20, which leads back down to our area, we stopped at the Little Town of Washington and had an ice tea in the old hotel built in 1857. The hotel's charm is from the creaking architecture and very funky décor, a hodgepodge of leftover odds and ends from the late 1800's and mid 1970's.
The hotel's true treasure is the wide back porch that runs the width of the building, and overlooks the river. A mish mash of planters (old feed troughs included) were sporting red tulips on this fine day.
The hotel/bar presides over the tiny town, and the locals were very happy that the little general store has re-opened after 4 years. Those 2 establishments are the only businesses in the town.
Arrived home too late to even think about sewing, but I thought about this... sharing a lovely day with someone dear to you is the very best way to spend the day. I am sure you will agree.
