To Columbia,CA and back...

[Safari Tim]

We just got back from a three nighter at Columbia State Historic Park. We statyed at Marble Quarry RV park. A nice older little park.

The kids got to pan for gold, ride a stage coach and eat in a saloon. We also went up to Murphy's CA and took a tour of Mercer Caverns. Which was quite an adventure carrying my 30lb toddler up/down about 300 narrow, wet stairs!

This was the first time we took the trailer out after the polish job last year. It got us several nice comments.

Trailer worked perfectly except one little problem. I could not get the hitch off the ball! I tried reversing a little in the TV, going forward, bouncing up and down on it like a crazy person. Nothing worked. Luckly the neighbor camper came over and gave it a shot while I bounced up and down on it and he got the lever to go.

Arriving at home had the same problem. I ended up hitting it with some silicon spray and got it to release. But it's a real pain. Expecially at the campground.

One funny note. The neighbor who helped me had a brand new trailer he only used once or twice before, saw me raising my hitch with my electric jack. He said, they make those electic? So, I told him, Ya, that's the way they did 'em in 1971 .

Here is a photo at the site.

[Big Dee]

Great polish job! Looks great!! Summer is almost here...

[Porky Pig]

Aaahhhh ...Columbia State Historic Park ... one of my all-time favorite places in the Sierras. We always make a point to have dinner at the Hotel ... great food and service.

Your Safari looks great, Tim.

[85MH325]

Hi Tim!

Did you get to tour the Murphys Hotel? It's a great old place. We spent a week there one night in the room where Sam Clemens stayed...

It's definately worth the night away from the Airstream!

Roger

[Safari Tim]

We just walked passed it. Did not know too much about Murphys. I was not planning on going up there but we decided on the Mercer Cavern so we walked up and down the main street there.

We ate in a little place called the Pick and Shovel I think and went through a antique store.

[flyfshr]

Looking good Tim. I'll bet it was the brightest trailer in the park. Shine, shine...everywhere a shine

FF

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by Safari Tim

We just walked passed it. Did not know too much about Murphys. I was not planning on going up there but we decided on the Mercer Cavern so we walked up and down the main street there.

We ate in a little place called the Pick and Shovel I think and went through a antique store.

Oh wow... it's worth a trip back up just for the old hotel! It has burned to the ground twice and been rebuilt. The iron shutters were installed to keep wild fires from entering through the windows! I've seen the old hotel in a number of western movies, but I can't name any of them right now...

The list of famous and historical guests that have stayed at the Murphys is just incredible. U.S. Grant, Black Bart, and Sam Clemens being among a few of the notibles. The list is actually quite lenghty.

The bar downstairs is a relic from 1860. It's been years since I've been there, but I believe that the bar itself or some portion of it survives from the original hotel. The floors are rough-cut timber. It's truly an experience walking into a building that looks just as it did in U.S. Grant's time.

Now, you can stay in the rooms that the notables stayed in with period (read here that the beds are ridiculously short!) furniture and the convenience down the hall... as we did, or they have a newer 'motel' wing with modern rooms as well. Murphys, as I recall, also has an RV park with a few spaces not too far from downtown, or at least it did in the late '80s...

If you're a history buff, Murphys CA and gold country are a must-see!

Roger

[Safari Tim]

Sounds neat Roger. Like I have been told, always miss something so you have a reason to return ;-)

[85MH325]

Here's a link with a photo and brief history... for planning purposes of course!

http://malakoff.com/goldcountry/mcmurh.htm

Roger

[maxandgeorgia]

Roger, thanks for the posts on the California Gold Country. In our traveling, we have enjoyed several mining areas-in particular, the Yankee Fork in Idaho and Bannock-Virginia City in Montana. I hope we get to California in a year of two, and when we do, the gold mining area is on my list of "don't miss" places. I've printed your information for future reference. Thanks again.