There's Gold In Them 'Thar Hills

We are headed north for a short break and don't expect to post anything in this space for about a week. We will be visiting family and friends in Northern California, then hopefully find some snow to play in, traipse through a few old gold mining towns, sample some wine, and have a few good meals.

Below are a few pictures of Columbia, a gold mining town that has been preserved as a state historic park, which we will be sure to visit. It is fascinating to see the dentist's office and the blacksmith's shop, to examine the tools of the trade from a century and a half ago.

But, naturally, it is the Wells Fargo Office that captures our imagination most.

With creaky floors, barely decipherable hand-written ledgers, scales to weigh nuggets and dust, and a short list of services written in chalk on a blackboard, it is ironic to find that the price of gold is still updated daily.

This weekend we expect to see: Gold - $552 per ounce.

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge

Click to enlarge