More California

I love you, California, you're the greatest state of all. I love you in the winter, summer, spring and in the fall.
I love your fertile valleys; your dear mountains I adore. I love your grand old ocean and I love her rugged shore.

“California’s been good to me. Hope it don’t fall into the sea.” …..Tom Petty

Elliot Koeppel 8/24/24 Elliot Koeppel 8/24/24

Tip Top Gold Mine - Eastern Sierra - California

It was a beautiful day for a hike, to a place none of us had ever been. I’d read of the Cardinal Mine a few years back, and as chance would have it, our group was spending the week in the area. “Let’s hike to a gold mine,” I said. So we did.

Elliot Koeppel 9/21/20 Elliot Koeppel 9/21/20

Ballarat - California

My plan was to stop at Ballarat and then continue north, connecting with CSR 190 and thence to Lone Pine to spend the night. I made it as far as Ballarat. Most plans don’t survive contact with the elements.

Elliot Koeppel 7/29/20 Elliot Koeppel 7/29/20

Lester Dale Mine - California

I’m not sure what attracts me to places like this, but I’m certainly glad they are still around to find and explore.

Elliot Koeppel 7/22/20 Elliot Koeppel 7/22/20

Reward - California

I found Reward just north of Lone Pine and a few miles east of Hwy 395 along the Manzanar Reward Road. Finding the old ghost town was a reward in itself. The first thing that caught my eye was the multi-colored slopes ahead of me as I drove towards the site.