And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Well I'll be. I learned to drive in one of these as a young lad of 8 or so on our ranch above Fiddletown. It was about the same shade of orange as the one bottom center, but very much faded out. We had a trailer as well painted red, also very faded. One result---when I was stationed in (the former) West Germany (mid 70's) I was one of maybe three people in our unit who could back a jeep-trailer combo in a straight line.
You bet! It was just my mom and I. Sadly she lost her battle with cancer when I was 13, at which point I had to move away. For the prior four years, we ran a guest ranch, offering folks a chance to come and be a part of a working ranch. A part of that attraction was chance to pan for gold.
We played with all kinds of "old timey" stuff--built a sluice box and a rocker. Great fun, and great education as to what a back-breaking way to make a living, and why most of the 49er's went broke. I did find one nugget about the size of my little finger nail. We were working the very top of a watershed, about 20 yards downstream from the head waterfall, which was only about two feet high. It only carried runoff when it rained. Always felt that that nugget hadn't been moved very far and wanted to explore further, but never got the chance.
Here is a link to an 1866 map of Amador county. Zoom in on Township No.6 and the upper right "Burden's Ranch". That's where we were. The original 160 acre 1/4 section was a grant to Thomas Burden as a Union Civil War veteran. I still have copies of the grant, signed by Chester A. Arthur, Secretary of State, for Ulysses S. Grant, President.
I've done a bit of prospecting myself, and you aren't kidding that it's hot, dirty work. My best spot was also a dry wash that ran only during a big storm (so this year it probably washed some gold), and me and my buddy would confusingly find both rounded and rough gold, but all real small stuff. Supposedly, the source was discovered by a "Swede," and cleaned out, or so the local gossip had it. We did the sluice box thing, ground sluicing, and once we even built a little dam on the gully. Great fun for twenty something young men. I'll have to post a picture sometime of my meager gold pile.
Small world. When I attended Chico State, I took a wine tasting class (about 1980). As I was over 21, I didn't have to spit it out.(Yay). One of our guest speakers was Lee Sobon.
For sale??
ReplyDeleteI wish.
DeleteWell I'll be. I learned to drive in one of these as a young lad of 8 or so on our ranch above Fiddletown. It was about the same shade of orange as the one bottom center, but very much faded out. We had a trailer as well painted red, also very faded. One result---when I was stationed in (the former) West Germany (mid 70's) I was one of maybe three people in our unit who could back a jeep-trailer combo in a straight line.
ReplyDeleteFiddletown! Nowadays there are big vineyards and wineries all over that country. Ever do any gold prospecting while you lived there?
DeleteYou bet! It was just my mom and I. Sadly she lost her battle with cancer when I was 13, at which point I had to move away. For the prior four years, we ran a guest ranch, offering folks a chance to come and be a part of a working ranch. A part of that attraction was chance to pan for gold.
DeleteWe played with all kinds of "old timey" stuff--built a sluice box and a rocker. Great fun, and great education as to what a back-breaking way to make a living, and why most of the 49er's went broke. I did find one nugget about the size of my little finger nail. We were working the very top of a watershed, about 20 yards downstream from the head waterfall, which was only about two feet high. It only carried runoff when it rained. Always felt that that nugget hadn't been moved very far and wanted to explore further, but never got the chance.
Here is a link to an 1866 map of Amador county. Zoom in on Township No.6 and the upper right "Burden's Ranch". That's where we were. The original 160 acre 1/4 section was a grant to Thomas Burden as a Union Civil War veteran. I still have copies of the grant, signed by Chester A. Arthur, Secretary of State, for Ulysses S. Grant, President.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/g4363a.la000012/
I've done a bit of prospecting myself, and you aren't kidding that it's hot, dirty work. My best spot was also a dry wash that ran only during a big storm (so this year it probably washed some gold), and me and my buddy would confusingly find both rounded and rough gold, but all real small stuff. Supposedly, the source was discovered by a "Swede," and cleaned out, or so the local gossip had it. We did the sluice box thing, ground sluicing, and once we even built a little dam on the gully. Great fun for twenty something young men. I'll have to post a picture sometime of my meager gold pile.
DeleteWineries indeed. My mom used to by red table wind from the D'Agostini Winery in glass one gallon jugs with the finger ring.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.sierranevadageotourism.org/content/dagostini-winery-no-762-california-historical-landmark/sieE1E34B1335BB4C78C
Small world. When I attended Chico State, I took a wine tasting class (about 1980). As I was over 21, I didn't have to spit it out.(Yay). One of our guest speakers was Lee Sobon.
http://sobonwine.com/
Mrs. CW and I went to a winemakers dinner years ago with Mr. Sobon in Amador City. Good memories, good food, and the best wine!
DeleteRight. Red table wind, by the gallon. Yeah, not goin' there.
ReplyDelete