Monday, June 9, 2025
We continued our trek up the western states of America with a goal of eventually reaching Grants Pass, Oregon by nightfall.
On Sunday we had found the weather to be warm and quite humid. Today it would be scorching and still quite humid.
Temperatures were in the high 90s to low 100s everywhere we drove today in northern California and southern Oregon.
In Grants Pass, they had a high of 102°F/39°C, just lovely for a fat guy.
In the morning, before we left Jackson, we explored this Gold Rush city a tad more.
The historical plaque in front
of our National Hotel
St. Patrick Catholic Church
high on a hill overlooking Jackson
Native Sons of the Golden West building
The N.S.G.W. is a fraternal service organization founded in California in 1875, dedicated to historical preservation and documentation of the state's historic structures and places, the placement of historical plaques, and other charitable functions in California.
The N.S.G.W. plaque on their own
building seen here in Jackson
We left Jackson at a decent hour with a simple plan, get a cup of coffee and a breakfast pastry in the next Gold Rush town located only an eight minute drive north of Jackson.
Sutter Creek was indeed that city
Population: 2,646
After all, it claimed to be the "Jewel of the Mother Lode."
It was only a minute away if we
went That-a-Way
This 1991 "Spirit of Sutter Creek"
eagle sculpture greeted us as we
entered the historic Old Town
Lots of interesting shops to be sure
No live performances this morning . . .
. . . but there would be some soon
I like colorful murals
The Amador County Fair is
just around the corner
The obscured bottom line states,
"will fix up anything"
Granddaughter Mary would heartily agree.
This must be Sutter Creek
A grand old Auditorium
A reference to Sutter Creek's
peak gold mining days
Creekside United Methodist Church
It was erected in 1862 for the whopping construction cost of $3,000 plus another $500 to purchase the lot it still stands on today.
I didn't know it was that close
Just before you get into the historic Old Town district, one finds some beautiful, well kept homes.
Like these two
Given the unrest in Los Angeles
today and the addition of
the National Guard to the mix . . .
. . . these might be safer thoughts
to bring about change
Where is Laurie?
Ah, there she is in the local
coffee shop
We had a good cup of Joe and my
cinnamon roll was ever so dietetic
Danger lurks behind that door
OLD gold mining tools
This Olive Oil tasting room/house
was of interest
A quaint B and B
Goat soaps and lotions?
A good view of Sutter Creeks
historic Old Town
N.S.G.W. at it again
A lone eagle, on the left, guarding
the "Jewel of the Mother Lode"
We had now visited only four (Mariposa, Angels Camp, Jackson and Sutter Creek) of the many towns found on Highway 49, the Gold Chain Highway, but agreed that if you are only going to visit one of these historic 49er Gold Rush towns, make it Sutter Creek.
It is deservedly called the "Jewel of the Mother Lode" for a reason.
As we were leaving town, we stumbled across this football field, home of Sutter Creek's Amador H.S. Buffaloes.
A Navy Blue Field at A.H.S.
has limited seating
If you recall, last night at our dinner in the "Undefeated Booth" exalting the 1957 Jackson H.S. Tigers football team, their Big Game at the end of the season was against the rival Amador Buffaloes. These two high schools are located only eight minutes apart, so the bragging rights that go to the winner must be intense!
As I mentioned in yesterday's post, Jackson H.S. no longer exists after it merged with Ione H.S. in the 1980s. The new school entity is still located in Jackson but is now known as Argonaut H.S., home of the Mustangs.
One final note, on the poster declaring the Jackson H.S. 1957 football schedule it stated ticket prices as follows:
Students with Student Body Cards 25¢
Adults 75¢
The Big Game $1.00
Those were the days . . .
We drove on for a few hours before using the facilities at one of glorious Interstate 5 Rest Stops in Willows, California where we found a strange object.
What exactly is that item between
the Women and Men signs?
We stopped in Redding, California for lunch.
As we were inching ever northward, I was reminded of my motto first created in college after a bad eating experience, "Don't Eat Mexican Food North of the 45th Parallel!"
Thus we stopped for Mexican food
while still in California
Finally, a few hours later, we arrived at our goal city of the day.
Grants Pass, Oregon
Population: 39,075
The Lodge at Riverside was rustic
A canoe canopy was fun
After settling into our digs for the night, we explored the city.
The climate was HOT and STICKY!
A possible dinner spot . . .
. . . but this popular spot had run
out of the pork needed to make a
traditional Cuban sandwich
DAMN!
Grants Pass loves art like this
Alice in Wonderland themed mural
Salmon a BIG in the Pacific Northwest
Evergreen Bank sponsors
these 2025 BearFest Bears
seen all over the city
My favorite Bear
Laurie voted for this Bear
A fishing bear and . . .
. . . its cub by the lobby door
of The Lodge at Riverside
Our balcony view of the Rogue River
and the Lodge's pool
Blueberry II Report
Laurie's new car is a dream to drive on a long road trip adventure like the one we are currently experiencing.
It was a good purchase INDEED!
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