It was a very long drive to Northern California, but a very beautiful one. This was my first time going to the northern part of the state. When I reached Susanville (No.CA), I was overwhelmed with a sense that I has somehow been there before. I knew that for some unexplained reason, this was a trip I was supposed to make. I had no idea what was in store for me in the next 2 weeks.
The drive was hot, and as soon as I arrived at Happy Camp, it was get a room for the night, and hit the shower! When I checked in, I was suprised to see that Q had arrived there just before me! So I took care things, and with a towel on my head, went to greet Q. I was so happy when I saw him, and realized that Susan (AZ) was there too! I think it caught them off guard when I greeted them. Susan was looking for my red hair. She had a funny look on her face trying to spot some hint of red. I had to laugh. Well after hugs & laughing, we sat down to chat for a few hours. We were all wondering how this whole thing was going to turn out! And how much GOLD we were all going to find!
Monday Morning we headed over to the New 49er's and registered as members. There we met Bill Stumpf. He was very nice, I was greeted with, "So your Laura!", and a hug. I just about fell over! We explained to Bill that we had checked out the town and where we were supposed to set up central camp(We were not too happy with what we had seen). So we asked Bill to assist us with a good site. After minimal thought, and "I know a really great place!", we headed off to Indian Creek. WOW! What a beautiful area! Tall pines, large creek!, and a really great swimming hole! YIPPIEEEE!!!!!!!!
Well Q headed off to the creek to start one of many, many days of very diligent panning! He panned his little heart out! (He just wanted all the GOLD! hehehehe) Q, I was to find out over the next several days is a very sweet guy. He always had a great smile on his face! And was always there bright & early for my coffee! hahahahahah!!!!!! by the time he would finish his cup... "He was on his way!" hahahaha........ Q knows what I mean :o) And by the way Q... thanks again for the wonderful gift.. I really do like it!
The next few days were lots of fun, Susan was showing me places that were part of the claims we could play on. There is so much up there, you need two weeks to take it all in! Q was still panning his little heart out everyday..........
Susan and I were always up bright & early every morning. We had a wild hair......... after discussion about little jokes in the chatroom, we headed to Yreka to get... what else.... White Feathers!. We had a hard time finding them in Happy Camp, so it took a long drive to get them. (White Feather is a nickname I have been given since coming to Lost Treasure Chat, My pic says it all...)
This first week with Susan & Q was great, Q was always hiding down at the creek, what persistence! GO FOR THE GOLD Q!.. hahahahaha!!!!!! His persistence paid off, he did get a nice nugget, he said it was the shape of Guam!.. (where he is from)
Well the first week flew by, met several people there that were doing just what we were. We had been warned about some of the characters there, human, and animal. So we were sure to beware. From the "Town Drunks" to the bears & scorpions!
Well Friday was finally here! The big day for everyone to arrive!!!!! YAHOOOOO!!!!!!!!
Susan and I were so anxious for them to all get there! As the day rolled on, we knew approximately what time each person was supposed to arrive. Well....... NO ONE YET!!!
We were wondering if everyone was alright. and as the late afternoon rolled around we were a bit frustrated!.. So we decided to have a couple of drinks... after two I was really getting frustrated that no one had arrived... "Jesse!!!!! No Chile for you!...... RC!!!! No BBQ!!!!!!.... Jim!!!! No Huevos Rancheros for you!".. hahahah Susan and I were laughing...
Well, we decided to go into town and check. I was zipping down the canopy on the tent, cars are pulling in... The first car was Q.. and he had Cat!.. then right behind, was another car, It bellowed out the loudest "Wolf Whistle" I had heard in ages! I thought I could whistle loud! It was JIM!!!!!, and his family (Susan-CA) He jumps out of the car and with a voice as loud as the whistle yells "I'm here!!! The party can now begin!" ( It was about 9:00pm.. I thought "let the beating begin" for making us worry! After lots of laughter , and hugs, they set up camp. Well shortly there after (it gets really dark there) up the road comes headlights! And more laughter!!!!! Hearing this laughter cracked us all up.. it was Jesse & RC!!!!!!!! Sounded like they were having a ball already! Come to find out, Jesse wanted Dairy Queen, (every one on the way... and RC wouldn't stop) they ended up going 20 miles out of the way to get Jesse a "Fix!" hahahahaha We had a good laugh at that one..... Then we hear another vehicle.. and yelling & more laughing! It was Bob~O!!!! and he wasn't alone!!!!!! He had the Bridge Trolls with him (The ones we were informed were the town alkies!) He came in said HI! let me get rid of these guys! And was gone in a flash! Susan and I died.. we thought we were going to have trouble with them, since they knew where we were.... (We later learned that these two were "Big Frank" and Mark, two really nice guys... not at all what we had been set up to expect, but yes, very enthusiastic drinkers!) Bob~O also, I found to be a very sweet guy, as well as the rest.. Jesse is a nut... just like I thought he would be....... but very nice... (we won't tell anybody that.. might ruin his reputation.) RC..... I think is great too!
RC... you amazed me.... I didn't think you would talk so much! hahahaha And I'll tell you what.. RC is ONE SMART COOKIE!!!!!!!!!! Cat... you really suprised me...... you talk more on line than in person...... you are a wonderful gal....... Hugs to all of you.........
This first night was a hoot!... up late & laughing the whole time!!!!!!!
About 1:30 I decided to call it a night... Went to my tent and quickly fell asleep..... All of a sudden I hear a loud voice say "CAN WE HELP YOU!!!!!" Scared the hell out of me! Then I hear the guy from the camp below us.. drunker than a skunk, say he was checking on us.... This big voice says we don't know who you are, and these ladies are our friends, we have known them a long time!...... Well, at that point I knew we were safe.. (It was Jim-CA) So they scared this poor guy.. who we later found out was a real TOAD!!!!!! Tried to pull a stinky on us by "claim jumping" an area Susan & Q found their nuggets on. I thought he was going to get his head pounded down to his knees, Jim was so angry with the stunt this guy pulled!.. you can read about that in Jim's story...
The warnings we had got from the 49er's finally came to light...... Bears!!!!!!!
We had several encounters with bears our last couple of days there.... One decided to come into camp and make a mess.... tore a big hole in my canopy, and waited around for us. Jim & I returned to camp to find this mess.... and then out from behind their tent... here came the bear....... scampering away like a kid caught in a candy jar..... We didn't think that it would come back while anyone was in camp... but during the night, he came back and decided to stand on my car.. (so much for the brand new paint job!) I was really cussing bears now!!!!!! Did make me a bit edgy that it would come back during the night. Never know what they will do if they are startled.
So started the story of "Bear Patrol" hahahahahahaha...........
Now I just have to be thankful to the bear........... But it didn't stop there....
We were up late the night before we were to leave.. .. and a black bear came back to camp.. you can read the rest in Jim's story....... Man.. he can move fast!!!!!! Scared the daylights out of that bear! And gave it a good reminder not to come back!
Well Saturday came.. and time to pack up camp... I was asked to visit Jim's family's place in So. Ca. I was happy to.... But sure hated to leave on Sunday... that was the hardest road trip I ever had to face......... But I am home again.. and still laughing in the chatroom about all the fun everyone had there... and as far as my feeling I had in Susanville... well........ I found my answer........ And it is more than I had even imagined...
Sure do miss you T.B. See you on line....... 88 xoxoxoxoxoxoxoxoxox...............
Can't wait until next year...... Sure hope to have T.B. by my side then... and we can go together.......... And hope that next year EVERYONE can make the trip!!!!!!!!!!!