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RVing The California Gold Stream

The only thing I can suggest that could improve Stew Oleson's video, California Gold Steam, is to make it longer. Highway 49 through the California Gold County is one of the best trips you could take. It's beautiful, it's peaceful, it's slow going, and full of interesting sights and activities you won't find anywhere else.

History Preserved

For starters, it's a truly historic tour. Stew starts his trip at Mariposa and travels north on this beautiful highway. On the 60 mile trip to Columbia there are several small historic towns to see, including Sonora, a cozy and bustling mountain town. Since you'll be going right through here, find a place to park and take a walking tour of this charming community. And buy some candy. They always have good "homemade" candy in these little towns.

Columbia

Columbia is about six miles farther north, just off Highway 49 on Parrott's Ferry Road. Now, you can't drive through the town, so you either park in their community parking lot, or find a space in one of the ten or so RV parks in the area. My sister has her RV permanently stored at Marble Quarry, and pulls it out and moves it to a full hookup space when she goes to visit her favorite getaway spot.

Although Columbia became a State Park in 1947, the first time I came here was in the late 70s when they were renovating it. So most of it was closed down. We enjoyed a visit two years ago when everything was open. The do allow horses and carriages to go up and down Main Street, and you can catch a ride on one of these at the south end of town near the bridge. You can get some good candy in Columbia, too, along with sassafras, or a beer.

Moaning Caves

Murphys is another 15 miles north, off Highway 49 following Parrott's Ferry Road and a few miles up Highway 4. But, on your way there is another stop like nothing you'll ever see, anywhere. It's Moaning Caves, about 10 miles north of Columbia. These caverns are so deep that you could put the Statue of Liberty completely inside them. They offer walking tours and 165-foot rope rappels into the cave.

Murphys

When you're done at the caves you'll be ready to enjoy the quiet fascinations around Murphys, and maybe a beer to quite the vertigo. The Murphys Hotel is a must-see. Built in 1850, it's been preserved beautifully and is still an operating hotel, restaurant and saloon. Rooms are inexpensive, starting at $79/night. We only stayed there once, but really enjoyed the rooms. We tried to stay during another trip but they were booked, so make reservations if you want to stay at the hotel. Don't expect all the modern conveniences. If you want those stay in one of the motels in town. This is a chance to step back about 160 years in time.

The restaurant offers an Irish specials menu, with lots of corned beef, Banger sausage and Irish lamb stew, and all the Irish toddies and brews you can think of. They also have several other breakfast and dinner menus, but I don't think they serve lunch.

While you're in the saloon, ask the bartender to show you the register. The first time I went there, they showed me the original one with signatures by Mark Twain, Ulysses S. Grant, J.P. Morgan and Charles Bolles-alias Black Bart, among others. Eventually, they began showing people copies or the pages to avoid further damage to the original register. Don't forget to go see that gold nugget. It's even more impressive in person than it appears in Stew's video.

Angels Camp

If you go southwest from Murphys to Angels Camp, you'll be right where the famous jumping frog contest of Calaveras County takes place every summer. We trekked up there a few times to watch this event, so I can tell you first hand that it's a great show on one hand, and not all it's cracked up to be on the other. It can be a lo-o-o-ong contest if the frogs don't feel like jumping. So, to get them going the human contestants jump and stomp and scream and do everything they can to scare the poor frogs into jumping.

Folks, these are big frogs, but the poor things are no match for a 60 or 80-pound kid determined to win. Sometimes the kids get very excited and the worst happens, and it's a sad day for the frog. But, when all goes well, it is quite entertaining.

Well, this certainly isn't everything to see on Highway 49 and the Gold Country in California, but if you only see the things Stew showed you and the ones I've told you about, you'll have a pretty full week to look forward to. Happy RVing!