Saturday, August 3, 2013

THE Trip, THE Encore' :: Angels Camp, California, What a Jumpin' Little Town This Is

Copyright 2013, CABS for Reflections From the Fence

April 28, 2013 Please remember that THE Trip, THE Encore' posts are about 3 months in arrears.  Having too much fun I suppose.

After a fine MOC breakfast at the Rally, Man and I took off for a day trip, we are searching for Sequoia trees. We missed Sequoia National Forest due to the weather, it was just too early in the season, but, we hear there is a forest near Jackson California where we are camped for the Rally.  We drive through the little but, hugely charming town of Angels Camp on the way.


We stop, we park, we visit with the volunteer at the local Chamber of Commerce.  We decide a stroll down the main drag is in order.


Many small towns still operate their movie houses, this one is a fine example.  Man is always drawn to the movie houses.


Come on in and sit a spell, dinner is served.


So, what makes Angels Camp so special?  Well, jumpin' frogs, of course.  The sidewalks are lined with jumpin' frog winners, dates, owner/racer, distance jumped.


See, Angels Camp is the place where Samuel Clemens, aka, Mark Twain, sat in the Angels Hotel and first heard the story, or as they say, yarn, that became the basis for "The Jumping Frog of Calaveras".


Angels Cap was founded in 1849 (yep a Gold Rush town) by George Angel as a mining camp and a trading post.  They took 100 MILLION dollars worth of gold out of these hills. (So claims the signage I found.  Said sign was erected in 1931.)  Me thinks this frog nabbed just a spot of that gold, eh?


Angels Camp is now the home of the annual Jumping Frog Jubilee. These jumpin' frogs are all over town.  This one has a lot of shine, and GOLD eyes!


And, this one must know footnoteMaven.  Really.  Look close, there IS a crown there. And, the crown is full of BLING!  Sorry, no glasses.


In honor of the men who serve as firefighters, a bit of fun, but, a lot of honor!


Those that serve are NOT forgotten by this fun town.


And after a bit of lunch, we will go scout out those Sequoias.




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2 comments:

Sherry - Family Tree Writer said...

Love this!! I've had a small vacation today thanks to you!! So much appreciated and enjoyed!!

I will put Angel's Camp on my list of go to and go through if I get close!

I transcribed a man's letters who was headed across country to go to the Gold Fields. He hoped to strike it rich, and improve life for his family. He passed away from illness (and probably lack of good nutritional food) on the way, and his family then packed up and came to Kansas from their eastern home.

Jana Iverson Last said...

Such a fun post Carol! Thanks for your wonderful photos and virtual tour of Angels Camp. I've never been there before. Looks like a quaint and historic town.