Tobin to Rock Creek Hike - April 20, 2008

I drove down to Tobin this past Saturday, partly because it was forecast as a cold weekend, and mainly because I wanted to see Dorothy & Jeffery. The plan was to take a hike from their house, down the hill to the east end of the Railroad bridge over Highway 70 through the Feather River Canyon. We hiked westward, over the highway and the highway bridge (which is why it's called Twin bridges by locals). Shay-pup was a valiant member of our hiking group...as many of you may know, it's not easy walking across ballast, which is what the rocks are called that are used in laying these tracks. We ended up at Rock Creek village, which is a PG&E housing community where men and their families used to live and work here in years past. A couple of the homes are still in use today, but most of them are not. It was a brisk and windy day, but beautiful for taking a hike.

The railroad bridge looking west

Dorothy starts off. Note the highway bridge to the left.

Looking down through the walkway/tracks to the Feather River below.

Jeffery, Shay and Dorothy.

Looking back at the Twin Bridges.
The rocks are so pretty shaped by the high water over the eons. (Click on picture to enlarge)

A little waterfall and mossy grotto.

The tracks right above Rock Creek village.

California poppies!

River rocks below the bridge at Rock Creek.

Lupine! (but you can't eat them...)

Jeffery & Shay.

Not sure what these are, but they're pretty!

Looking west along Highway 70, the way we came home.

Theme postcards (for those who can relate)

More of the postcard collection...these few are addressed to either Mr and/or Mrs. J.A. Irving of 908 1/2 F Street, Sacramento, CA. or Mr. James A. Irving of East Auburn, CA.

"The Awakening---Well I'll be d--d! Here I am in jail again"
Postmarked July 26, 1916

"Cheer Up!! Better be up against it than down and out"
Postmarked June 21, 1911

"Father won't be home tonight"
Postmarked June 25, 1912

"Isn't she the killing thing"
Postmark 1911?
(women suffer, too)

"I'm on the water wagon now"
Postmarked February 27, 1909
(I love the comments penned by the sender-"A.C. and J.A.I. had better follow suit")

"Weather Forecast (Storm expected)"
Postmarked January 18, 1909

"Gone but not forgotten"
Postmarked October 14, 1908

Postcards from the turn of the last century

Grant's dad gave him a box of old postcards about a year ago, and we looked through them at the time. Most were written to Grant's great-uncle and they are dated from 1907 onwards. Most have been written on, so you get the jist of life from one man's perspective. Some even have stamps (1cents!). I thought I'd post just a sampling as I go through the whole box again. I will continue to post more, now that I have a scanner. Enjoy!

"My Wife's Gone to the Country"

"What I like the best about you is that you have me"

"On the Way to Reno"

"This is what the stork brot to our house. I wish it wus a (dog)"

The Faithful Husband's Toast
"Here's to my wife-wish her long life!
She's mighty good looking, unriveled at cooking
Knows all about medicine, as inventive as Edison
Just plumfull of grit, has no equal for wit
Sees the point when I joke-insists that I smoke
Never chews the rag when I get a jag
She knows how to sew and still calls me her beau"

Annual Table Mountain picnic gathering

The gang of us~ Jane, Hugh, Dick, Jay, Dorothy & Jeffery, and Sara & Grant (we missed you Virginia & Kathleen!) ~ took our usual trip out to Table Mountain, just outside of Oroville, California. We picnic'd, flew kites, looked at flowers (which is why you'll see some strange butt photos), took walks, and visited together. Grant managed to keep kites aloft for most of the time we were there. I wore my muck-boots, which in former years were much needed, but ended up changing back into regular shoes due to the dry conditions this year. It was chilly when we arrived-around 11-ish-but warmed up nicely as the day progressed. One magenta species of wildflower didn't start opening til noon and suddenly there were large patches of it everywhere. We also got spooked by a dust devil passing through, collapsing Jay's (unoccupied) lawn chair, giving my hat a yank, tangling Hugh in Jay's ship kite, and twirling a paper plate several hundreds of feet, where it stayed in the whirlwind and continued to be spun in about a 10 foot wide circle. A little girl ran after it and rescued it for me!

Jayne, Jeffery, and Jay

Grant getting the first kite ready

Dorothy, Hugh, and Grant

Jeffery and Dorothy

Jay and Jane...Jay stretching his bum leg

Grant readying the long-tailed kite.

Jane looking coordinated and Dorothy looking "hollywood"

Dick, Hugh, and Grant

Jay attempting to get the eagle up into the updrafts.

A view west at the "smallest mountain range in the world" Can't tell you who's bum that is.

The gang from afar

Jay attempting once more to get the eagle to fly.

3 kites in flight

Jane checking out the flora with Dorothy.

Jeffery and Jay wearing the Eagle's feet

Happy March 10th birthdays!!!!

One of my favorite pictures of my mama, Susan (Cooledge) Leonard Loomis, March 10, 1933. Mom is standing in front of her house in Massachussets. Happy Birthday, Mama!!! XOXOXO

Our friend Dick (Richard) Couchman, March 10th, 1941. We've been pals since 1987-ish and continue to be to this day. We love you Dick! ((Hugs and smooches))) Happy Birthday!!!

Happy 16th Birthday Ashley Irving!

Ashley (at age 10) jumping for joy at the thought that Dad is going to let her drive on the way home from a day of exploring and swimming up at Three Lakes. As of this coming Monday (the 10th) she won't need to sit in Dad's lap to drive. Happy Birthday, March 5th!

Christmas Cards

Thank you Lucy for borrowing these cards from Mom and scanning them so I can post them on this blog for posterity. These are from back in the days when I used to make my Xmas cards every year, and Mom kept hers! Makes me want to start drawing again.

Ben & Sara - November, 2005