Today we followed the 49ers who searched for gold along the western valleys of the Sierra Nevadas. Starting at Oakhurst we followed highway 49 to Sutters Creek where the first gold was discovered - photo of town main street above. This section of highway that we covered was about 200 km.

Before getting started I had to fill the petrol tank. On leaving, a lady decided to race me to the driveway. She still had the hose connected to her tank. Quite a noise and spray of fuel as she ripped the hose from the pump. She stayed there and I left feeling a sense of sweet justice.

The scenery today was quite different. There were several small dams that were in settings very similar to Lake Eildon and many small towns very much like they were 130 years ago in their heyday.

Leaving highway 49 we hit the interstates to San Franscisco and joined the chaotic throng weaving in an out of exits. There were times when I was going to sell the navigator, who in turn would liked to have given the driver a thick ear. Nevertheless we made it to our hotel on the bay at Brisbane in South San Francisco.

We are here for four nights so that gives 3 days to explore th town and district.