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| After a hard day's work |
Saturday, July 11, 1981
Yankee Jim Bridge - North Fork of the American River
So begins my sojourn - my first day alone. Alone is hardly a proper description for the crowd around the bridge. Don, Ron and Warren, Bob, Jeff and all the Trout family: Cindy, Doc and Jay. Of course then there are all the weekenders so I'm not alone but I am.
I began a very systematic approach to a big boulder jam and a long pool. I started at the foot of the pool - my plans are to go slowly and completely clean all the rocks out. I saw a few fines go up the dredge nozzle today - not much but I'm still working my way through old tailings.
I feel out of place here - almost like I should be somewhere else - like playing hookey from school. My urge is to run into town and call somebody or buy something. The hills seem so solid and tend to stabilize my mind a bit. I have thought of no one else but Charlotte today - every rock in this stream reminds me of her. Sometimes I almost expect to look up and see her smiling face walking toward me with Lady leading the way. I surely do miss that girl!
A can of clam chowder and some tuna and crackers are dinner tonight.
Friday, July 17, 1981
Yankee Jim Bridge - North Fork of the American River
My log keeping is obviously in need of help. My first full week up here has been so full that I haven't been free to just loaf. The first part of the week was plagued with equipment problems - mostly the misalignment of the water pump and motor. For all my work this week, I have very little gold to show. But I told myself that it's just under the next boulder. By the end of the day, I am totally wiped out. The physical labor is really taking it's toll and my hands are all dinged up. Doesn't sound like much fun but in reality, I am in my element. I found a couple of chunky pieces of gold yesterday which was encouraging.
Yankee Jim Bridge - North Fork American River
Sunrise on Glory Ridge
(Charlotte was in Kansas City, Missouri during this time and this is a letter that I wrote to her about my time on the river)
Dearest C,
Everywhere I look on this river, you are there - the ridges that we named, our coffee rock, the trails. Things of nature are so stable and enduring that they are a stabilizing influence on me, reminding me of the transitory nature of our individual walk while the rocks and the river just always remain.
For sure I am getting there, honey. I know it must seem like I am taking too much time but I feel that for me to be truly free for you, I must do it in steps that feel right. I must know who I am without all the trappings of my past life. That is the purpose for this sojourn. This move up here will be one of the big steps. It is the only way I know to do this.
I do know that my life will never be right without you, dear. You are as important to me as breath itself. Without you in my life, I just go through the motions with no inspiration or feeling or excitement that you bring to me. I love you, dearest, and I am going "to get to the Pacific Ocean" come high tide or hurricanes.
I have found about 1/2 ounce of gold over the past 2 days. I found one 3 pwt. nugget and two 2 pwt. nuggets. Even that rings hollow without you here to get excited with me. My body and fingers are so sore and stiff! I am just not in shape yet for this kind of work but I love it! I will never leave these hills unless it is for something more special yet.
The people up here all seem like family in some respects but they get tiresome too and very few - Ron and Warren - are the exceptions - truly enjoy someone else finding gold.
I have found someone that I can share with - don't worry honey - he is 67 - Hubert - I think you have met him while you were living on the river. He is just delightful. He is from southern California. His partner, Al, only has one week up here and had been planning this trip for nine years. He has smashed his toe badly the first day - well to shorten the story. Hubert and Al hadn't been finding much so I suggested that they set up their little hi-banker in your spot - they pulled out 3 1/2 ounces of gold in two days! I know you will understand, sugar - huh, huh, huh? - the part about the 3 1/2 oz. is a story. They did clean your spot out but only found a few grains. I just wanted to wake you up.
I have been working very hard. Dredging is at least a 2 person operation as you would agree. No sooner am I down to my spot than I plug up or I need something and I have to struggle back up out of the water to do it. Or I will move rocks with the puller and it's a constant path back and forth to do it. I NEED you!
I will add a few lines tonight before Warren goes into town to post this letter. I will try to write to you each day instead of in my journal.
Love Always,
L
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| North Fork American River at Shirttail Creek |
Yankee Jim Bridge, North Fork American River
Pre-dawn
Dearest C,
I received three more letters from you yesterday as I had to run into Auburn for parts. I sense your insecurity and self-doubts. I wish that I could help but those really are a product of your person with a little help from your friends. Just know that I love you very much and I will patiently help you find a restore your faith in yourself, good feelings about yourself and self-love, the most important of all. I think that those attributes must be given to us as very young children by the love and attention of our parents, both of which we mostly lacked. If only we as parents could realize the importance of early love and uplifting. Allow me, my love, to be your loving parent and friend for that purpose because you are worthy of my love and support.
I know that what I have been doing has affected you immensely but I have only followed the course that seemed right at the time. Despite your pain, hindsight still makes me think we are doing okay - you and me.
I want to chronicle our success here at the river by days not only for your information but to preserve it.
Saturday, July 25, 1981 ~ 11.5 pwt
Sunday, July 26, 1981 ~ 30 pwt
Monday, July 27, 1981 ~ 4.5 pwt
Tuesday, July 28, 1981 ~ 4.5 pwt
Wednesday, July 29, 1981 ~ 4.0 pwt
Thursday, July 30, 1981 ~ 17 pwt
71.5 pwt
How about that!!! I am pleased with the success from a point of security in knowing that it is doable. You and I could have easily moved anything that we have so far and I am talking about ~ $1200 to $1500 worth of gold in less than a week. Of course I realize that this success maybe spotty but even over a whole month that much is money in the bank.
Hubert came by and told me to tell you that the sun is hitting Glory Ridge. I told him our names and he uses them all the time including coffee rock. he is a delightful person, full of stories and tales. And he is a good worker. We are talking about tentative plans for wintering in Arizona but don't panic - it's just talk for now because those kinds of plans are ours and no one else's.
Well, SB, Hubert is going into town and he is posting this letter for me so I better close. I love you honey, miss you heaps, bushels and gobs and need you bunches.
Love Forever,
L
Camped out at the North Fork American River - Life is good!
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| BBQ Chicken with veggies and wine |
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| Good dinner, honey. |
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| And breakfast was good, too. |
Yankee Jim Bridge, North Fork American River
Our Home
Charlotte: Spent the day cleaning out both trucks, sorting, packing and preparing for the move upriver. A VERY hot day! We retired to the river to cool off late in the morning and wondered why we hadn't done it sooner. Cleaned up and went in to town to have dinner with the Step's. Mike will not marry us because we are both divorced. Oh well, it wasn't meant to be. We'll look elsewhere. Another night under the stars.
Friday Evening, August 28, 1981
Yankee Jim Bridge, North Fork American River
Our Home
Well, we went back into town today to search for a minister that will marry us and feel good about doing it. We went to the Methodist church and met with Rev. Findley. Spent the morning talking with him about why we want to be married. It seems we have found someone but he wants to see our divorce papers? Then off to Auburn to start the legal process of obtaining a license and then on to Newcastle to get our divorce papers. After much running around we got our blood tests and started the process required by law. Once at our storage units in Newcastle, Larry found his papers right away. After a long search through many boxes we never found mine. The plan is to go to Stockton on Monday to get a copy of my papers. We went across to the hardware store to buy chain for the grip hoist and then home to the river at last.
Saturday Evening, August 29, 1981
North Fork American River
Up River From The Yankee Jim Bridge
Larry: Well, we finally made the move upriver today. Spent the morning hauling everything down to the river and then loaded our little 12' aluminum boat and headed up. The trip up was hard work because we were moving against the current. Thank goodness the river was low. It felt good. It feels good to be tired from hard work. We located a beautiful place to camp between two huge boulders on a sandy beach overlooking deep pools in the river with lots of fish to watch. We set up camp and fell into bed.
Sunday Evening, August 30, 1981
North Fork American River
Up River From The Yankee Jim Bridge
Larry: A night all alone under the stars, isolated from everyone - reminded me of our night alone in the desert, a truly God-filled, glorious experience. Alone in the wilderness with either total silence like in the desert or the sounds of nature here on the river. Our first night up-river was unnerving what with all the animals visiting camp and some camp residents such as the pack rats. At one point during the night, I sat up in bed and turned on the flashlight because of all the racket. A family of pack rats had managed to disassemble our 3 tiered sprouter and had began to carry the parts off. We will have to get used to them.
We hiked out to the bridge and drove into Colfax. A fabulous breakfast was had at the Fruit Exchange Cookery. Then on to church to listen to our marryin' preacher's sermon.
Friday Evening, September 4, 1981
Yankee Jim Bridge
Charlotte: We moved all of our personal gear back down the river using our boat. The river is much lower that it was a week ago. Managed to run over my foot with the boat and I think my toe is broken. Tomorrow is the day. Guess I might have to wear sandals.
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| Wedding day morning |
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| After the wedding! Mr. and Mrs. |
Yankee Jim Bridge
Coffee Rock
Well, this is the day. We have personal vows that we will say, here on coffee rock, before we head into church. We'll have 2 best men, "Movin' on" Bob (He got that moniker because he was always moving his dredge to a new location.) and Jim Roper - dear new friend, zoologist, who will meet us at the church because he is traveling from back east to Seattle area. It's supposed to be hot today. We'll head into town to get some money for our trip to the ocean for our honeymoon before heading to the church. Don't know if any family will show but "family" from the river will attend.
Sunday, September 6, 1981
Spent Saturday night in the overflow area at Salt Point State Park. It is Labor Day weekend! We arrived quite late and had to pitch our tent in a blowing gale in a patch of sticker burrs! What a wedding night!
Sunday, September 6, 1981
We have found a campground back down the road called Ocean Cove. It is more to our liking so we will move there today when someone leaves. When we arrived in Colfax yesterday morning, we discovered that it was Labor Day! and all the banks were closed. What to do for cash? We went to the little grocery market in Colfax and the owner, Rita, loaned us $200 with at least that much gold as collateral.
Monday, September 7, 1981
Ocean Cove Campground
This is an undeveloped camping area right on the beach so we could pitch our camp almost anywhere. Spent most of yesterday fishing off of the rocks after we got moved. (An update: We spent our 30th wedding anniversary at the same camp ground and it has been improved a bit. Talk about deja vu!)
Tuesday Evening, September 8, 1981
Went out in a skiff at Timber Cove Marina today. Caught two ling cod and several rock fish. Had dinner at the Cattleman's Restaurant in Petaluma and now we are settled in at a motel, showered and full and in a real bed.
Monday, September 14, 1981
North Fork American River
Happy Birthday Larry!
Larry: Age? Irrelevant to the meaning of life. Full moon tonight!
Monday, September 15, 1981
North Fork American River
Yankee Jim Bridge
Larry: Well, what to say about the last two weeks. I have a new wife and a new life on the river.
I turned a year older yesterday - 41 with a new bride in tow.
Hubert left us a bouquet on the truck this morning.
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| Home Sweet Home |
Shirttail Creek (caught up in Shirttail Canyon)
Larry: This past Wednesday we moved our mining operation back to Shirttail above Angel Falls near the China Wall. It was probably the most difficult pack in I have ever done. We set up a beautiful camp right beside the place where we were dredging. Seems too good to be true - a perfect set-up. The threat of being evicted by the rangers because they don't allow overnite camping in this area, is a cloud over our heads but what the heck - the worst that can happen is a ticket and having to pack our camp back up to the truck. It justs seems like such a perfect place for a home for newlyweds. Yesterday was an easy day - flat tire tube on the dredge, short dredging time - a few fines in the box. I think we will move up one pool. Our evening was glorious. After work, as the dusk crept in, we sat and drank cold beer and talked. Then when darkness came, we cooked supper - fried squash and onions, cucumber and mayo and a can of Jack Mackerel. Very good eats. Then we retired to the tent to read from Follow the River. What a day. Heard something climbing on the ridge above the tent, Lady barked and then we heard the scream of a mountain lion.
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| Are you sure this how to find gold? |
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| Yes! |
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| There's gold in here! |
Shirttail Creek
We moved the trucks back down to the bridge yesterday morning. If the trucks are not parked near our camp, perhaps the rangers won't find us. Finally found bedrock where we had started........ down about 12 feet...... a very deep pool.....all smooth and clean. Lots of work to find that out. Moved up about 40 feet and did a little crevicing late in the afternoon. Managed to find about 5 grains - it paid for the gas.
Last night we hiked down to the bridge for chili - Joyce D fixed it - but we were a bit late and barely got any. We didn't mind and got to see the folks at the bridge. Of course, we had to come back and fix some supper.
Friday, September 25, 1981
Shirttail Creek
It's been another hectic week. Sunday, after church, we drove to Sacramento to look for a camper. After all afternoon we found one all the way back here in Meadow Vista. We went back Monday afternoon to confirm our hopes and we bought our new home for $1100.
Yesterday morning we started in on the boulder pile at the head of the pool where we are camped. Right away it seems apparent that it hasn't been worked so our hopes are running high.
Monday, July 26, 1982
Our home on King's Hill in Iowa Hill, CA
Back home to ready our little home for company. Brother, Dennis, is bringing his family out from Missouri for a visit. Wondering how they will do with this wilderness life? They have never been camping before. Readied some gear for the move to the creek in the high country. Had a real surprise visit from our pastor and his wife. It was awkward at the best and it was with some relief when they left. They brought us 5 pounds of cheese from the food give-away - a real blessing. Last night we BBQ'd deer ribs - next time they will be cat food.
The Creek
Well, here we are at our new diggins. We packed everything out of Shirttail yesterday - what a job in that heat! A friend helped some. It was with mixed feelings that we left the Yankee Jim Bridge. We'll miss our "family" - our shirttail relatives - but we are filled with hope as we leave for new diggins and better mining prospects. By the time we had driven up here and had a beer, we hit the sack and got ready for our big pack down to the creek this morning.
Wednesday - later, July 28, 1982
Our first day of mining in this new creek - our suit heater works great and man do we need it in this high mountain creek. The over-burden is non-existent, and we found gold! mostly in crevices. The area is beautiful - crystal clear water, unspoiled forest and a place to set up a permanent camp. C found a nice flake stuck in a vertical crevice - strange. We seem far removed from everything - we are and it's wonderful. Mark & Mike found 1/2 ounce yesterday - a 3 pwt. nugget was the biggest piece - encouragement for us all. I hiked the grip hoist down to the creek already so we can start pulling boulders - I figure the grip hoise and cable is about 150 pounds. I'm glad to have that out of the way. I'm still filled with anticipation about our gold up here - after our first good day. I'll be able to relax a bit. I need to ask God for peace and trust in Him to provide. Our take for the first day 40 grains.
Thursday, July 29, 1982
What a fabulous place this is - one of God's finest, as Hubert would say. Huge old trees tower above the crystal clear water. The creek is just one magnificent pool after another. We had a beautiful day - found lots of gold including a 2 pwt + nugget and a 1 pwt'er. We had dredged to the edge of the water and were preparing to leave the spot when Don M picked up 3 small chunkies where we had left off. Excitedly, we continued - almost out of the water. Shutting the dredge off, I spied the largest nugget in the box and let out a yell.
Later in the afternoon, I found a few hellgramites and proceeded to snag a few rainbows - 4 10" long. Then using a huge bait, I sneaked up to this deep pool and let the current carry the bait into it. I felt a light tap -tap and let out line knowing that a good fish would scare off by tension on the line. Then I set the hook and knew immediately that I had hold of supper. A 14" German brown leaped from the water, frantically trying to shake the hook. The fish tasted as good as he fought. We gave thanks for our wonderful supper. Tomorrow, we switch pools and try for our hot spot from above. Our take for today 171 grns.
Friday, July 31, 1982
Take for the day - 70 grns.
Saturday July 31, 1982
King's Hill
What a hectic day of futile scurrying about. We got up at 4:30 so as to get into my daughter's by 7 - we made it by 9 and just missed them. Then we rushed back to Roseville Auction only to strike out with Cassanova, the jeweler but he only buys chunkies. So - back up to Auburn where we settled for 70% on our amalgamated fines at the Golden Swan. Then to the bank and out to Payless and on to Weimar X-Roads. We were an hour late and no Dennis. We waited for about 3 hours in the blistering sun in front of the store to no avail. We actually drank pop.... it did not quench our thirst. So, we left a note and a map and came on home, weary from our travels. C cooked up a wonderful venison steak and we dined fine. Can't help but wonder where brother Dennis and family are. No phone can be a challenge at times.
