Adventuring: The Big Horn Mine

Every once in a while, I get to go on an adventure.  And right now, I am reliving my time in the Hwy 2 hills of Southern California chasing an apparently well known and openly accessible abandoned mine.  The Big Horn. Heard of it?  You probably have.  And if you haven't, you most likely have made its acquaintance without knowing what you were looking at, as it was in my case for months.

The hike was one of the easiest ones my sister and I have done in a while as it consisted of only four miles and no steep inclines.  We began our journey before the sun, driving the 2 hours required to reach the trailhead and along the way we were rewarded with the best sort of sunrise. Fiery pink with a whisper of clouds.  Honestly, this is the best time time of the day to drive the Pearl Blossom Hwy.  The desert is being gradually awakened with the sun and before you have time to reflect on how desolate it appears, you have already make it through into the hills.

Can I take a moment to digress about how much I love the community of Wrightwood? (With my whole two experiences of it...) Cinnamon's Bakery & Sandwich Shoppe is a MUST for a breakfast snack.  And the cinnamon rolls???  The first time I rolled up to this town I was greeted with a breath of crisp, fresh mountain air as I escaped those 75 degree winter temps of LA.  And it just got better from there.  I opened the doors and was welcomed to the classic gossip gathering for the "older" men of the community and instantly my mind went back to my small hometown.  This location has at times been the Cottage, Kountry Kitchen, Berry Patch, I-5 Cafe or the new Petro Gas stop depending on tradition, their cheapness or their opinion of the service that day.  It was like a little unexpected beautiful taste of home.  But back to Wrightwood.  We haven't even gotten to how great Cinnamon's bakery items are... they're amazing. That's it.  You HAVE TO stop in to get something if you are in town.

So after I dragged my sister in to get my hiking snack (because pastries and coffee are the best pre-game hiking snack of course), we continued down Hwy 2 watching for the trailhead turnoff.  And it being still quite early in the morning, we were greeted with only one other car.  Success!

We walked down that well worn road (because its more than just a trail) as it wrapped itself around the edges of the mountains.  Rounding mystery corners, surrounded by trees and a lack of other people, it was perfect.  As you proceed further in, you come to see evidences of the mine occasionally. A shaft here. Equipment there. Cables. Wooden parts.  And then we see our first official true shaft of the mine. And it has "free candy" graffitied on it with a stuffed cat hung by its neck in front.  Yeah.  Not creepy AT ALL.  Moving on....

We continued down that road "trail" and I kept expecting to be rewarded with a view of the mine around each turn but alas, it was further in than I expected.  Which caused me to wonder: how it was uncovered in the first place?  Legend says, the founder was hunting big horn sheep in these mountains and thus the name.  But still!  To lug all the necessary equipment in and out of these mountains, up so high when the obvious easy pass is down below where the creek is flowing.  It's just so interesting to try to imagine what is was like when he first come into this country and all the necessary moves he had to make to establish this mine.

Finally, we rounded a corner and there it was.  Another shaft.   AND THEN, the mine.  A cement foundation, metal beams void of walls overlooking the mountain pass, cables running from the base to inside the mine at various points, wooden roof and various parts that you must scale to reach the gate that leads into the mine.  Did I mention that?  WE CAN EXPLORE THE MINE.  And it was obvious that others had gone before us, not just because of the graffiti or the remains of a campfire, but because of the various colored strings leading from the gate opening into the dark tunnels of the mine.  Now.  I am a very much unashamed chicken when it comes to putting myself in potentially dangerous situations.  Although there was no evidence of anyone in the area besides ourselves (well, besides that mystery campfire), I persuaded my sister to retreat probably when about 100 yards inside the main tunnel, out of sight of the light of the point of entrance and out of cell phone service range.  BUT what we did see was legit.  The rock forming the tunnels, the faint creek running down the middle, the intact railing for hauls all indicate a very well preserved and safe area that will require a TEAM adventure and further exploration in the future.

On the way back though, let me tell you.  The whole world had seemed to wake up and deem today to be the day to hike the Big Horn Mine.  And I get it.  It is the perfect family hike for all ages.  Safe. Incredible views. And a little mystery for one to speculate on in days to come.

And so there it is.  Get out there and explore this world.  "It is more fantastic than anything made for or paid for in factories..." -Ray Bradbury

Though others may have had these very same travels, all the opinions, stories, and photographs above are my very own (with a few being credited to my sister) as we did travel together this round.  Woo!  Let's keep exploring where you're at folks, wherever you be!

A Rumination on Travel: The One Year Anniversary of SwagBeks2016

In honor of the one year anniversary of #SwagBeks2016 I have been reviewing pictures and reasons why I love to travel.  And even how I travel because it seems to be so differently characterized than many others' expeditions.  Not good or bad, just different.  And I LOVE IT.

How do you uniquely experience something that millions have observed, if not in reality then in their dreams, yet in such a way that you remember it forever? Sticking out to you for more than the mere incredibleness of its historical facts? Or to dwindle down that bucket-list?  Life really is amazing because of its story quality.  Every day is a chapter in the story of life.  Every location has had thousands before you upon its very grounds, each with multitudes of stories to own up to.  So how are you going to live today in relation to how those before have lived, or are living, their lives in this very location?

When in Europe its so easy to get caught up in the architecture of famous buildings or landscapes and you want this IDEAL experience of a location that you feel should happen when you see it for the first time, or set foot in it.  Well, newsflash, sometimes you obtain that "aha" moment, but more often than not the DREAM IS FAR GREATER THAN THE REALITY because we are caught up in someone else's ideal.  Yet at the same time, how do you even experience something without having others' experiences color your very own experience?  From fiction to nonfiction readings, you glean ideas. All of your senses are violently assaulted, creating connections that fuel memories. And those memories folks? Well, what you say about your travels, those ideas will be passed on to those that surround you now as well as the next few generations.  Crazy right?

For me, I like places that remind me of home and don't remind me of home. Make sense?  Nothing is more familiar to me than the amazing land of Northern California; therefore, I cannot help but compare the French Countryside to the Bread Basket Farmland, the Alps to my Coastal Range and the Sierras, Munich to Sacramento, Amsterdam to San Francisco and the list goes on.  California is definitely the lens through which I examine the world. Yet how can it even compare? How is there even a contest? How are all these experiences now eternally etched as memories for myself and others who follow?

Riding the pond statues in Marie Antoinette's Trianon Gardens, CLIMBING those forbidden fountains, group jumps on hills to the sounds of music, sneaking through human sized "doggy-doors" to enter hidden gardens (vegetable gardens most likely...but still...), having the Seine all to ourselves as the sun is rising or setting, and grabbing seats in random cafes not knowing really how this whole ordering food in another language is going to go down--these are the things I want to remember.  All these gorgeous streets merging one into the other, twisting and weaving in terrible directions to confuse even the best of navigators, making my sister repeatedly pose like a statue in front of centuries old creations, helping my best friend become the most renowned scooter squatter in the world and picking those tucked away and almost forgotten locations that seem to still belong to another time.

This set of memories is "dedicated to the one I love"... or maybe one of my sisters...whom I do coincidentally love...

My Sister, My Muse

Following her through:

the streets of Paris...

And alleyways leading to places lost in time...

And through Marie Antoinette's Trianon Gardens...

Forcing (I mean kindly suggesting...) her to pose at:

Notre Dame...

And l'Arc de Triomphe du Carrousel in Les Jardin des Tuileries...

And La Tour Eiffel...

And the great Golden Doors...

Then together we fly at la Tour Eiffel...

And l'Arc de Triomphe...

And the entrance to King Louis's Versaille Palais...

And beside one of the statues of his gardens...

And, my personal favorite, riding one of Marie's dragon/duck statues... truly a great moment...

I also was witness to her photography skills AT:

The bushes of La Tour Eiffel...

And above the crowds of Le Louvre...

Truly though folks, she is an AMAZING photographer and an INCREDIBLE person that I am so blessed to call my sister.  We have a lot in common and A LOT of differences but it so brings a whole new dimension to these adventures of life and especially in Paris this round I was able to see the city in a completely different light!  Plus, I also got to have her photography skills stalking me as well....

Around la Tour Eiffel...

And climbing the fountains of Versialles... (wait, you never saw this....)...

Or basking in the evening sun along La Seine...

and mimicking even more statues...

Or just being overall excited to be IN Les Jardin de Tuileries and Le Louvre...

There are just so many adventures we had while in Paris and I have the beautiful pictures to prove it.  So until next time, Au revoir et bonne nuit!  I'll be dreaming about Paris for a few nights this week I think...

"Stars shining bright above you,

Night breezes seem to whisper 'I love you',

Birds singing in the sycamore trees,

Dream a little dream of me...

Paris..."

(Don't judge me by the fact that The Mama's and The Papa's lyrics seem to be running through my head right now...rather, enjoy that they now, hopefully, will remain stuck in yours...I mean, there are definitely worse fates to come to a person....)

All the opinions and adventures are in fact true stories of our lives.  It has been quite the grand adventure so far eh? And there's so much more to come...

A Wish For a Weekend

Sometimes when you visit somewhere (actually almost everytime I visit somewhere!), you wish you had more of one thing specifically- TIME.  That is precisely what I wished for after I got my first taste of Salzburg.  Home of The Sound of Music (not really, but you get the idea).  Perfectly settled at the base of the Alps. Castles.  Ancient Churches and their Cemeteries.  Monasteries. Nunneries. Oh the histories.  Oh the legends.  Wobbling down those cobblestone streets.  Panting up those eternal staircases.  Getting slightly lost in gorgeous alleyways. The possibilities are endless!

Town Squares

Imagine setting up your booth at the local farmer's market with buildings prior to the 20th century as your backdrop?  I'm sorry Chico but your markets are slightly lacking in this department.  I know its not your fault, just a result of location and your slightly more recent establishment as a town thanks to Bidwell and men like him who followed thru with their dreams and explorations.  Yeah, Salzburg traces some buildings (such as Hohensalzburg Fortress) to having foundations from the Roman Empire Era. Ah. So grand.

Or perhaps maybe you would like to dine upon this restaurant's patio?  And may I add with its lovely striped umbrellas offering you shade should it begin to get too hot?  I think I will say yes...

Perhaps you prefer fountains?  No problem.  We've got you covered.  Also within this square (though not pictured) were several teams of horse-drawn carriages available for hire as you take your lovely tour of the wondrous Salzburg.

Starving?!  Yes.  You have come to the right place.  Der Salzburger Wurstelstand.  All I know is I saw "Hot Dogs" and NEEDED to stop.  PS.  Hot Dogs might be my most favorite food in the world.  I know.  I've been tormented my whole life by people trying to discourage my love of this great food and attempting to explain how they are made and whatnot; but...I do not care.  I will always enjoy this classic, charcoaled specialty courtesy of your local campfire.  

River Walk - The Salzach River

Whenever you debark from a train and need to reach a destination, try to find a path that will lead you by water.  It rarely disappoints.  And ALWAYS head towards the castle. Duh. Is there really any competition when there is a castle in the mix?  Just look at it!  Sitting on the "hill" so perfectly, evidence of the insane strategic defense choice since the beginning of this region's discovery and settling by a variety people groups.

Oh the buildings lining the river!  How beautiful they all are in their many differences!

Churches

Again, of course.  They're right up there with castles in my book.  Especially when you can envision Maria floating down the aisle in her gargantuan wedding dress to the tune of "How do you solve a Problem like Maria?"

And then we have the nunnery over here with its absolutely beautiful and peaceful private courtyard-garden-cemetery.  Serenity at its utmost beneath the walls of the fortress looming above.

High within the fortress itself we have an even more petite and ancient church building, again, showcasing its own lovely courtyard-garden-cemetery.  Nonnberg Abbey.  I entered this one actually and took no pictures just because I wanted to remember more how it felt than how it looked.  Walking into the cool as a cave interior, the only other person inside was an elderly nun sitting in one of the wooden pews.  Huge pieces of stone floors, wooden trim all around, the doors closed behind me as I stood in the still semi-darkness.  Silence all around.  No humming. No murmured whispers of tourists.  No shuffling of feet.  Just silence.  But a restless sort of one.  What is a church building without people?  Its just another building, albeit a beautiful, exceptionally historical one.  Revered yet not holding any value in and of itself.  Some boast in their churches... "Some boast in chariots and some in horses, but we boast in the name of the LORD our God. " Psalm 20:7  Do these people know who their God is that they claim to serve?  Have they hunted Him down with all of their being, desiring to know Him as He declares Himself to be in His Word?  If this is how that nun I shared this small sanctuary with at this moment, regardless of language and culture, viewed my Lord then perhaps we are indeed sisters and will see one another again in eternity?  Who knows?

THE Fortress Hohensalzburg

Up alleys and stairs after stairs after stairs....

We finally reach the fortress walls!  INSANE.

And so we enter one of the many "courtyards" of the castle.  There is a full on village in this fortress.  Stairs closed off leading to portions of the fortress long untouched, cobblestone paths leading to each of the different quarters, an overlook above the far walls yet outside the fortress walls, an observation deck, and private apartments boasting their very own beautiful little entryways.  Yes, I can easily imagine it being a bustling village of trade and interaction.

Mirabel Gardens

Don't you just want to bust out in "Do-Re-Mi" when you enter this garden?!  The song is running through my head as I'm writing...  So, of course, when we entered we wanted to recreate a few of the scenes from the movie.  Only a few were successfully captured.  We were definitely running down the tunnel instead of riding bikes (unfortunately), they sprinted to tap the nasty gnome/troll heads in the random garden (just look at their speed in that photo!), we would've run around the edge of the fountain except for the man sunning himself in his speedo on the very public bench so we declined that, but we finally stood excitedly on the VERY STEPS of the song finale.  And we may have hopped a few up and down while reciting as much as we could remember from that very lovely harmonized portion of the song.  *sigh*  

Salzburg, we love you.  We are so thankful you exist and for the rich history evidenced in every corridor, town square, bell tower, fortress, alleyway, garden and everywhere else these slight detours led us! 

Though others may have had these very same travels, all the opinions, stories, and photographs above are my very own (with a few being credited to my sister and best friend) as we did travel together this round.  Woo!  Let's keep exploring where you're at folks, wherever you be!