Sunday, August 23, 2009

Gold County Part 2

We returned to the Gold Country for a couple more days this past week.

Craig wanted to see an undergroung natural cavern. We went to Black Chasm Cavern in Volcano. We got there at 9 am. No one else was there so we had a private tour with a very young, very nice, tour guide who had only worked there for nine days.

Picture taking

rare helictite



We then drove to Columbia. This has been a state park for decades and both of us remembered it as more touristy when we were there as teenagers (long before we knew each other).

Engine Company No 1 firehouse


Carriages

We stayed in Jackson again but mostly ate in Sutter Creek. We had the most amazing dinner at J&D Steakhouse. Craig had the prime rib that was gigantic. He rated it as one of the best he has had. I had Black and Bleu Steak Salad - Blackened steak and bleu cheese crumbles in a lettuce bed. Including tip - $46.00.

Sutter Creek main street


Sutter Creek - the creek


Of course I had to visit yarn stores. I purchased some recycled silk yarn from Lofty Lou's in Placerville. I picked up some Queensland Sugar Rush and Cascade Eco Alpaca at A Hole Affair in Jackson.

The major downside to the whole trip was that it was hot (high 90s). Had we gone the week before or this weekend it would have been at least 10 degrees color. But we had a swimming pool at the Jackson Lodge where we always stay. It wasn't heated so it reduced your core temperature substantially.