Travel broadens the mind, it's said. True and, for many, travel nets us new friends. Since retiring, Jimmy and I have taken a number of Road Scholar trips abroad -- one of which was to India for roughly three weeks in November 2017. Hard to believe that was almost five years ago. Denise was on that tour with us. I'm not sure how this works, but I'm glad it does -- how you can just "click" with a person, someone who becomes a friend, a pal. That's what happened with Denise and Jimmy and I.
Everybody knows COVID put the kibosh on traveling for at least one, more like two, years, so the last time we saw Denise was in 2018 when she visited NorCal. She lives in Massachusetts, so we don't get to visit in person very often. She's back in NorCal, and we were happy to spend the better part of today on the Buttermilk Bend trail in South Yuba River St Pk, followed by lunch at Tofanelli's in Grass Valley. Fun times again!
Cool morning start, morphed into a warm and sunny afternoon. Here we are to greet you. We were on a wildflower quest, hoping enough spring color would be left before hot weather turned flowers into seeds.
We weren't disappointed, either. The hike was more of a walk, with plenty of stops to admire a flower or take a picture, chatting as we went along. Exactly what we wanted. Lupines (above) continued to be a major eye-catcher.
Holy cannoli -- another school of fish! Bet one would taste good on my dinner plate, but this is a state park and no fishing allowed. Probably the fish know that and feel safe at this spot. I might be kidding about the fish knowing.
A few wildflowers were on the wane, but others popped up to take their place. L-R, top: Pretty Faces, Canyon Dudleya. Bottom L-R: Wally Basket, Common Hareleaf (with visitors).
The South Yuba River is still flowing fast, though the water level is down. It must feel good to sit on the rocks with friends, catching some rays, soaking up that Vitamin D, and watching the river roll by.
Poppies and Lupines, the pair's a real winner!
Especially en masse.
By gum, another newbie for Jimmy and me at this park. Standing on the bridge above French Corral Creek (a tributary), we spied a big Fire Newt in shallow water. It's maybe six inches or so, good sized.
Last time we were on this trail, the group saw one or two Chinese Houses. Today's treat was a whole city of Chinese Houses perched on a hillside! We've never seen this wildflower outside of this park. Wowzers!
If you're feeling ambitious and don't mind hopping across the boulders to get "there," take your gold pan with you and give it a try. The water level is low and perhaps, just perhaps, you can find a nugget (or a flake) in your pan. The fella to the right of the red checkmark is trying his luck. Enlarge the pic. Panning for gold is allowed in the state park, but no sluices or hydraulics, etc. Hands and pans only.
We walked to the end of the trail and back, glad when we saw our cars in the parking lot (getting hungry). Really nice place to walk/hike, always within earshot of the surging Yuba as it tumbles downstream, always so scenic and thronged with wildflowers. I'm pretty sure Denise enjoyed it; I know we always do.
Denise and I rode together to Tofanelli's, stopping first at Bitney Springs to refill water bottles with sweet spring water. Oh my -- look at the food on those plates! We did our lunches justice, and I'll tell you that Denise was the only one who asked for a "go" box. Jimmy and I, well, we polished off those burgers (oink oink).
We had a lovely time. Thanks for coming to see us, Denise. Fingers crossed -- hope we get to travel together again. Maybe we'll see you this summer!
