Penn Valley and Nevada City, Gold Country
The Penn Valley cabin we stayed in.
This is the start of the long Memorial Day weekend. For me it is a four day weekend because I have every other Friday off. We are off to spend three nights in a secluded log cabin in Penn Valley which is in the Sierra Nevada foothills. Penn Valley is close to both Grass Valley and Nevada City in the Gold Country.
(Click on the photos for larger versions)
As it was a working day for lots of people, we set off at 10 a.m. after the rush hour. The major part of our journey was on the 680 freeway, over the Benicia-Martinez Bridge, up to Interstate 80 to join Route 113. From here on the journey started to be interesting, maybe because it was new territory for both of us and you know how we love to explore new places. We were driving north through a part of the Central Valley where the main industry is agriculture. Partly submerged fields were on either side of the road indicating that rice is the main crop in this area.
We entered a small town and saw a sign which said ‘Historic Knights Landing’. An ideal spot to stop and stretch our legs we thought as we had been driving for two hours. The town seemed to consist of just one street. Some of the houses were historic but we could not see any downtown area so it was a quick stop. Back on the road again, we crossed the mighty Sacramento River and headed for Yuba City. With apologies to the residents of that city but I was not impressed. All we saw was one shopping center after another. We did stop at a Starbucks for a coffee though.
With Yuba City behind us we continued along Route 20 through Marysville towards Grass Valley. Our surroundings became more and more interesting. Ahead we could see the snow-capped Sierras in the distance and we began to climb into the foothills. On the map I noticed that the next town along was called Timbucto0 but we never saw any signs of it at all. Being curious I checked when I arrived home. There was indeed a town called Timbuctoo. Legend has it that a freed slave found gold in the area and asked that the town be named after Timbuktu in Africa where he was born. It was a booming town in the 1850′s when hydraulic mining was at its peak. When that form of mining was banned in 1884, the town slowly declined and now only the remains of one structure is left and Timbuctoo is officially a ghost town.
Gas light post in Nevada City. I guess somebody goes around each night lighting these.
Just before the small town of Penn Valley our directions were to turn left heading towards Lake Wildwood. Before we reached the lake we made another left onto a private road. Along this road we suddenly had the most amazing view in front of us of Yuba City and the Central Valley with the Sutter Buttes behind. Not long after that we arrived at the home of Chuck Frank, the owner of our log cabin. His home is also built from logs but is much larger than our cabin, Chuck, his wife Kathy and daughter Holly welcomed us into their home and took us onto their wrap around balcony. In one direction we had another view of the Sutter Buttes and below us a fast flowing creek, complete with several small waterfalls, with a heavily wooded ridge in front of us. Chuck pointed to where our cabin was but it was hidden behind some trees.
There was no way our Prius would be able to get down the slope to the cabin so we were given the keys to a four wheel drive truck. We loaded our luggage into it and set off. Chuck drove ahead in his ATV to show us the way. We could only to so far down in the SUV. The rest was on foot down a steep 300′ long rocky path to the cabin. And there was our home for the next three days – a lovely, one bedroom log cabin just above the babbling brook. Total seclusion. Inside we had a living room, kitchenette and bathroom on the ground floor with a door onto a balcony overlooking the creek. The bedroom was in a loft and to get to it we had to climb a steep wooden ladder. I felt like Heidi.
As soon as we had explored the cabin, we set off to walk along a track which led to the top of the waterfall. Chuck and Kathy said it was possible to pan for gold in the stream and in the cabin were a couple of pans and a metal detector. They gave us a few hints on how to look for gold. On this occasion we were just happy to soak in the view and take photos.
Earlier I had asked Chuck about wildlife. There were plenty of deer and coyotes and maybe a few rattlesnakes. They have lived here for eight years and have never seen either a beer or a mountain lion near the cabin, but three weeks ago they did see three wild peafowl.
At 3.30 we made our way back up the path to the SUV, then on up to our car before heading into Nevada City which was about 15 miles away. We have booked seats for a show in town which starts at 8.15. Before that we wanted to take a walk around the town and get something to eat.
Nevada City is a picture perfect town. Built in the gold rush days, the buildings are mostly old and lots of the houses are cute Victorians with lovely gardens. In most shop windows were displayed sepia photographs of Nevada City in the good old days. We checked all the menus posted outside restaurants on Broad Street to see where we wanted to eat tonight and Citronee appealed to us the most. It opened at 5 so, with time to kill, we went into the Mine Shaft for a drink beforehand. Inside it was dark and several TV sets were tuned to different stations. The two closest to us were showing a basketball and a baseball game. I won’t say it was crowded but it certainly was not empty. We were greeted by the barmaid and ordered a couple of beers – I always ask for a shandy which is beer with a dash of 7-Up. The atmosphere was friendly and casual and we struck up a conversation with another customer about basketball.
Downtown Nevada City
Just after 5, we sauntered up the Broad Street to Citronee. The restaurant is very pleasant inside and we were immediately shown to a table in the front part. At first we were the only customers sitting in that section though the back section had quite a few people in it. We ordered a starter – anchovies on crostini - and sipped our wine as we waited. Just before our main course arrived our server came over and asked if we would mind moving to a different table. A party of 7 had walked in without a reservation and the only way they could fit them in was by moving us. Of course we were quite happy to oblige and as a thank you we didn’t have to pay for the starter. For our main course, Tom had filet mignon and I had chicken. Both dishes were superb. It was a great meal.
Our evening was not over as we had booked to see a show called ‘The Be-Bop Stop’ at Off Broadstreet on Commercial Street, which was only a short walk away. The theatre was not very large and set out in cabaret style. We had good seats towards the back on a slightly raised platform. We were sat at a small round table with a red check tablecloth. On the stage, a guitarist was playing well known songs from the fifties. He was good and had everybody singing along. The atmosphere was very relaxed and friendly. We had drinks served at the table. Tom had a hazelnut coffee and I had a hot chocolate. The show was described as ‘A Nostalgic Musical Comedy’. We were not really expecting a top notch performance, afterall Nevada City is a small rural town, but we were very pleasantly surprised. The plot, costumes, acting and especially the singing were marvelous. During the intermission we ordered deserts. Tom had the chocolate truffle cheesecake and I had Maui Pie. Scrummy.
What a fantastic night out we had in Nevada City. All we had to do was to find our way back to the cabin and negotiate our way down the track and then the walk to our destination. Of course a flashlight is an absolute must. Fifteen minutes later we were ensconced inside, looking out of the large picture window at the myriad stars and with the sound of the creek lulling us to sleep.
June 25 2010 07:46 am | Special Places
Sue Buchanan on 01 Jul 2010 at 3:07 am #
I wish I’d been hiding in your camera case. Sounds like my kind of place.
Mike on 13 Feb 2012 at 5:06 pm #
Can you put me in touch with Chuck Frank in Penn Valley please? I see the cabin I stayed in on your site and have lost his email address.. I know Chuck and his lovely wife Cathlene and his daughter Holly. Thank you
Margaret and Tom on 15 Feb 2012 at 9:45 pm #
Hi Mike,
I guess the cabin isn’t listed anymore but I think it’s still available. Margaret has received a reply from Chuck and will be sending you their contact information shortly.
Regards,
Tom