April 27-28 - Hiking the ditch trail and Beale’s Falls and Rough and Ready

On Tuesday, Bill and the 4 dogs and I hiked the Cascade ditch trail behind Shan and Carl’s house. I’m intrigued by the California ditch trail system. California has all these canals or ditches with water in them. Residents who live off of the ditch can use the water. Since Carl and Shannon have the Cascade, they can use the water. Bill eased the RV with the ditch water. 

Great place to get in a 3 or 4 mile hike. 

Then on Wednesday Bill, 3 dogs and I drove to Penn Valley to hike to Beale Falls. It was a little hot, so the dogs needed to spend some time in the water. 

Jax got in to his belly to cool off. 

More wildflowers along the way, lupine and California poppy. 

Made it to the falls. Was surprised to see so much water with the dry weather. Another nice trail. 

On our drive to the trailhead, I had seen a sign to Rough and Ready. It’s an historic town and I wanted to check it out. So, on our way back, we did. What an interesting place. This town was established in 1849 as a mining town during the CA Gold Rush. They preserved some of the buildings. 

In the center is the opening to the mine called Rough and Ready. 

Came back to Shan and Carl’s to rest and wait for them to get home. 

April 21-26 - Hiking, and some small projects

Since our last post was the monumental pavilion project, we’ve been winding down with smaller projects and even had some time for hiking and biking. 

Carl took us hiking along the South fork of the Yuba while he went for a run. 

This is Jax, Shan and Carl’s dog. 

Not a lot of snow run-off this year so the Yuba is low on water. 

Saturday, Drew and Erin took us to a great brewery in Dixon, CA, the Ruhstaller Farm. They grow their own hops and reused an old grainery for their building. Great tasting beer. 

This is their dog Winnie. 

Back to Drew and Erin’s house for a nut burger dinner. Was so excited when Drew lengthened the table we had brought out to them last summer. So happy it’s being used and loved like we did. 

Bill and Drew finished up a small paving project. 

Then back up the hill so Bill and Carl could work on Carl’s ditch water tank install. 

And just so you know I have something to do, I sewed a window seat cover. I had to sew a 36” zipper!  Largest zipper I ever sewed. 

Shan and I spent a little time shopping Grass Valley. The Holbrook Hotel has just reopened after a huge renovation. It is gorgeous. It’s the oldest continuously run hotel in CA. It was first built in 1862. 

Their bar

Since we’ve been here, we’ve had mostly blue skies. But Sunday some clouds moved in. They were happy for a little rain. They are about 20” below normal with rainfall. There wasn’t much snowfall as usual. 

Shan and I wanted s’mores but it was raining ... microwave them when you’re desperate!

This is the first I had ever tried microwaving a s’more. Its a little stringy. . 

Even the moon looks like it’s wading snow(or rain) as my dad used to say. 

Monday was still a little rainy but we got a 5 mile bike ride in before they got more rain. 

We biked the lower ditch trail that went to Scott’s Flat lake. 

Almost flat with just a few hills. 

April 18-20 - getting closer on the pavilion

The pavilion conclusion is getting closer and closer. Since we needed more height in our helpers, Drew and Erin came up ... Drew for height and Erin for ladder safety, Shan for strength, and Bill’s brains. The pavilion really pulls their outside together. Looking great. 

April 17 - Testing Drew’s new smoker

Back down at Drew and Erin’s for their friend, Robbie’s birthday celebration and to try the brisket that Drew smoked. 

Delicious meal, met Robbie’s parents, good times. 

April 16-17- the Pavilion Project begins

It’s pavilion building time. Uncovering the boards was first with Lenny’s help. Then digging the footers. 

Setting the footers took a lot of thinking and math. Would it be square?  

Next is the roof section. 

One roof panel almost done. Working on the other. Getting closer. Next will be hoisting the panel up. Stay tuned. 

April 12-15 - hiking, wildflowers, and projects

Carl and Shannon told us about a 7-mile hike with fields of wildflowers. What they failed to tell us was how many stones and rocks we would have to traverse. This was probably the toughest hike I’ve done. 

Acres and acres of wildflowers. 

It was also a grazing ground for cows. See the cows?

Lenny and Banjo made it the whole 7 miles but were tired pups when done. 

Was surprised to see there was water coming over the waterfall. 

 


A good day, a good hike but I’m ready for some food and bed!

April 10-11 - the move to Nevada City

Before we left our Loomis campground, we walked into the town of Loomis. Loomis. Loomis takes its name from one the of town's pioneers, James Loomis. At one time, James Loomis was the whole town—saloon keeper, railroad agent, express agent, and postmaster. In the early part of the 20th century, Loomiswas the second largest fruit-shipping station in Placer County.

There’s a large fruit warehouse that was made into a nursery and cafe. It’s fun to just walk through and look at all the plants. 

Left Loomis and headed north to the Nevada County Fairgrounds where we will spend the next week at their campground. 

Shan and Carl have a couple projects for us to help them ... a new gas fire pit and a pavilion. Started with the fire pit. 

After listening to Faith Church’s modern worship, we headed to hike Buttermilk Bend, along the South Yuba with Shan and the dogs. The wildflowers were in full bloom. 

The dogs had to get in the water for a bit before we headed back to Shan and Carl’s. 

There definitely wasn’t as much water flowing down the Yuba as usual in the spring but there was enough to dip our toes. 

Nevada city at night reminds me of downtown Bellefonte with their lights.