We’re finally starting to catch up on our blog!

After a fast trip through Ventura we headed north to California’s famed gold rush country where Leslie’s brother Toby lives.  I helped with some home improvement projects and we took time to explore some of the history of California’s early days.

Judy (our sister-in-law) arranged for us to go on a hiking tour of land adjacent to Beale Air Force base that was used in World War 2 to train infantry troops and tank drivers.  These thousands of acres, now in a land trust and very tranquil and pristine, are in a gentle valley, with bunkers built along both sides of the valley just like this one.

The sod (camouflaged) roofs have since collapsed but we tried to imagine what it must have been like for young 18 and 19 year olds learning how to storm these bunkers, most of whom maybe never came home again.  The diagonal concrete wall was designed to protect the occupants in the event of an explosion in the bunker – only half of the bunker would take the hit.

The valley was also used as a training field for tank drivers.  These concrete obstacles (Dragon’s teeth) were designed to stop – or at least slow down – tanks.  We have no idea if tanks could get through these defenses or not, or maybe they simply blasted their way through.

So during our time with Toby and Judy in Nevada City, we did a little work but lots of play!

Waterblasting the upper deck which overlooks the heavily wooded backyard.

Priming the deck.

Who did all the work??

A deer family hanging out in the backyard was a common sight.

A really pleasant afternoon burning brush.

Spinning around the old miner’s trails in Nevada City and Grass Valley.

Dumpster diving with new son-in-law Jim and Toby.

A very fun and surprising snow day in early April!