the 1 or willow? cardigan or champagne problems? the last great american dynasty or gold rush? exile or ‘tis the damn season? my tears ricochet or tolerate it? mirrorball or no body, no crime? seven or happiness? august or dorothea? this is me trying or coney island? illicit affairs or ivy? invisible string or cowboy like me? mad woman or long story short? epiphany or marjorie? betty or closure? peace or evermore? hoax or right where you left me? the lakes or it’s time to go?
This is what mid winter in Gold Country looks like. Trees are starting to get their leaves back, berries are red, and the views are still gorgeous. These photos were taken on my last hike of 2020 on the Monro Ridge Trail in Coloma. It’s a lovely trail that takes you up to the top of a ridge and gives you a view of the South Fork of the American River, roughly the exact spot that gold was first found in California. There’s so much history on these trails that it feels special to get to hike them and see the same views that so many miners once saw too.
It’s mid winter here in Gold Country and the trails are starting to get green again. After a big storm two weeks ago and then lots of sun, spring is just knocking on the door ready to come. It has been so lovely to try out some new and familiar trails the past two months, especially some that are very close to where I live. This trail is in Cronan Ranch Region Park in Pilot Hill just down the road from Coloma. The South Fork of the American River winds through the hills and valleys here creating a gorgeous view.
Autumn in gold country is full of gorgeous gold color in the trees. The end of the season was coming so I headed out in Placer County to Auburn State Recreation Area for a long afternoon hike on the Robbie Point Firebreak Trail. This trail goes along the North Fork of the American River which I have only recently started exploring more. And while it looks fairly similar to the South Fork, the elevation is higher so we got to see more pine trees along the trail.
In other news, today is the six year anniversary of the start of this blog. So thank you to all the followers both new and old for exploring California with me.
the 1 or willow? cardigan or champagne problems? the last great american dynasty or gold rush? exile or ‘tis the damn season? my tears ricochet or tolerate it? mirrorball or no body, no crime? seven or happiness? august or dorothea? this is me trying or coney island? illicit affairs or ivy? invisible string or cowboy like me? mad woman or long story short? epiphany or marjorie? betty or closure? peace or evermore? hoax or right where you left me? the lakes or it’s time to go?
Portrait of A Chinese Man ca 1853 - Daguerreotype, taken by Isaac Wallace Baker. Until the Xinhai Revolution in 1911 Chinese living abroad were forced to wear a queue, as an expression of their loyalty to the ManchuQingemperor.
“When people talk about the Gold Rush, they have a certain image in mind of white forty-niners. But in fact, the Gold Rush was a major, international event that drew people from all over the world.”
— Ming-Yeung Lu Asian Cultural Program Coordinator
“A lot of the white miners at first willingly sold the Chinese abandoned claims, thinking the Chinese were just simple-minded people, stupid enough to take over these mines they considered worthless,” he added. “But the Chinese worked these mines very thoroughly and it turned out they were hardly worthless, that they could still, in fact, mine a lot of gold from them, at which point the white miners became envious and antagonistic.”
Significant Contributions By 1870 there were 63,000 Chinese in U.S., 77% of whom were in California. That year, Chinese miners contributed more than $5 million to state’s coffers through the Foreign Miners Tax, almost one quarter of state’s revenue.
In 1882, Congress enacted the Chinese Exclusion Act, the only American law to specifically bar one group from immigrating to the United States.
Emily Dickinson // illustration by @/peopleiveloved on ig // Miranda July,No One Belongs Here More Than You//Taylor Swift,Gold Rush//Ben Davis, Sr. // artwork by @/lettersformagnolia on ig // radio silenceby@ninasdrafts // illustration by @/today.i.am.sad on ig
This beautifully refreshing and delictely fragrant Gold Rush is the best of both worlds between a Bee’s Knees and a Whisky Sour. It is a particularly delightful cocktail to enjoy in the garden, on a sunny Spring afternoon, watching bees buzzing all over the blooms! Happy Friday!
Ingredients (serves 1)
8 ice cubes
60 millilitres/2 fluid ounces (4 tablespoons) Single Malt Whisky (some favour bourbon, but I reckon this drink benefits from the floral and herbal notes of The Glen Grant’s Arboralis)
