Drive Through Sacramento Valley

Valley Hills - Central California  2026

Dilapidated Structure - Central California  2026

Interesting drive back home: I got turned around in Merced and had to switch on the GPS lady - she was able to get me to Highway 99 north. But then she found an alternate route cutting across the Sacramento Valley utilizing a series of small two lane roads. 

I don't know how much time was saved, but the drive was nicer than freeway traffic. I had to stop at one intersection for pix of hills and a falling-down structure.

Mariposa Creek / Road Closed

Mariposa Creek - Mariposa  2006

I had made sure to bring along everything that I would need for a photo trip into Yosemite. As I drove out of Mariposa on Highway 140 I was pleased that I had gotten an early start. Then I saw the electronic sign ahead: "Highway Closed at Bear Creek Bridge."

What!!??

I pulled over and checked out the Yosemite website. Yikes . . . sure enough the road was closed between Mariposa and El Portal due to a landslide. 

Then a U-turn and back to the motel, where I was able to verify that indeed the road was closed. I quickly tried to run through various options in case I stayed an extra day in Mariposa. But I had spent a lot of time the day before taking photos in the foothills along highway 49. Luckily I was able to cancel the motel reservation.

Before leaving I went for a walk along Mariposa Creek. Nice!

Road Conditions Screenshot 2006

Mariposa Sightems - 2

Street - Mariposa  2026

Truck, Clouds - Mariposa  2026

Some rain, but not enough to get the streets wet. Dinner at a Mexican restaurant, then prep for the next day's trip into Yosemite.

Mariposa Sightems - 1

Garage, Clouds - Mariposa  2026

Shed - Mariposa  2026

 After leaving Hornitos I drove the short distance to the town of Mariposa and checked in to my motel. Then walked around with a Sony RX100 and an iPhone. (Top photo - iPhone.  Bottom one - Sony.)

St. Catherine's Church (Hornitos) - 2

Tombstone, Church (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Cemetery (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

I've photographed this church several times before, starting in the 1990s. The dramatic clouds seen in yesterday's post were still there for this visit. 

I used a Nikon Z7II.

I couldn't quite decipher the inscription on the tombstone, but I was able to look it up on the web:

St. Catherine's Church (Hornitos) - 1

St. Catherine's Church (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

I've posted this view before on the blog, but this time I could include some dramatic clouds!

Monday Goat Blogging

Goats (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

In Hornitos. They were in somebody's backyard; I could hear them before I could see them.

Hornitos Views

Agricultural Equipment (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Oaks, Clouds (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Nice clouds! Photos taken with a high-res Nikon Z7II. 

Hornitos Sightems - 2

Gas Pump (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Display (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Stuff seen during a short walk down the main street; photos taken with an iPhone.

Hornitos Sightems - 1

Road, Clouds (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

Wheelbarrow (Hornitos) - Mariposa County  2026

After leaving Coulterville I took the side road over to Hornitos. One of my usual stops.

Coulterville Sightems - 3

General Store (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2026

Roses (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2026

After I walked around and took some photos I got back in the car to navigate the highway 49 switchbacks going south.

Then the side road to Hornitos.

Coulterville Sightems - 2

Two Chairs (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2026

Jeffery Hotel (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2026

Coulterville pix first appeared on the blog in 2019. Since then I've always stopped through on my way to Mariposa.

Coulterville Sightems - 1

VFW (Coulterville) - Mariposa County  2026

Coulterville Main Street - Mariposa County  2026

Wait. I don't have any veterans ID on me. Which means that I can't enter the Coulterville VFW!

As I recall, there was a VFW Post on Okinawa, but I don't know if I ever visited the place.

Monday Horse Blogging

Horse - Stanislaus County  2026

Horse grazing near the Stanislaus River. Of course, he stopped grazing when the photographer showed up.

Highway 49 Views

Switchbacks (Highway 49) - Mariposa County  2026

Valley View (Highway 49) - Mariposa County  2026

Lots of viewpoints available on the route, some looking out onto the valley below.

Below, Mike's powerful Toyota RAV4 at one of the turnouts.

Toyota RAV4 - Mariposa County  2026

Lake Don Pedro

Bridge, Lake Don Pedro - Tuolumne County  2026

No trip through this area would be complete without stopping for a photo at beautiful Lake Don Pedro!

I've noticed this bridge while driving through in the past . . . this time I actually drove across it. Not that exciting actually.

Wildfire

Road, Trees, Clouds - Tuolumne County  2026

Burnt Trees, Clouds - Tuolumne County  2026

I noticed the burnt hillside in the distance while I was driving on highway 49 and managed to stop for photos where a side road joined the highway.

Fencepost / Chinese Camp

Burnt Fencepost - Tuolumne County  2026

Fire Damage (Chinese Camp) - Tuolumne County  2026

I paid a visit to Chinese Camp last year. Very little new construction happening since then.

Stanislaus River - 2

Stanislaus River, Clouds - Stanislaus County  2026

A color photo to compare with yesterday's black and white photos. 

Stanislaus River - 1

Stanislaus River - Stanislaus County  2026

Loaner Station - Stanislaus County  2026

Nice clouds! The loaner station was new to me. 

Monday Cow Blogging

Cows - Stanislaus County  2026

Just across the street from yesterday's photos.

Stanislaus County Views

Hills, Clouds - Stanislaus County  2026

Hills, Clouds - Stanislaus County  2026

Photos taken from the side of the road leading to Knights Ferry. 

Escalon Sightems - 2

Azores Band Escalon - San Joaquin County  2026

Building, Clouds (Escalon) - San Joaquin County  2026

"In the early 1980s, many Portuguese migrants came to California in search of opportunity while maintaining their culture and identity. Among them was John da Silveira, who, along with local Portuguese immigrants, sought to continue the musical traditions of their homeland. Their dream became reality when they formed a small band in the Nunes dairy of Escalon, today known as the Azores Band of Escalon."

1980s? That's pretty recent.

Escalon Sightems - 1

Museum Window (Escalon) - San Joaquin County  2026

Mural (Escalon) - San Joaquin County  2026

I used to drive straight through Escalon on my way to the mountains, but recently I've stopped and walked around a little.

That mural has been shown before on the blog, but this photo is better.

Rainwater Ponds

Rainwater Pond - San Joaquin County  2026

Rainwater Pond - San Joaquin County  2026

Across the street from yesterday's almond trees. Haven't been able to figure out what this industrial-looking site was for. (Almond processing?)

Almonds

Almonds - San Joaquin County  2026

Almond Trees - San Joaquin County  2026

I was driving east on highway 120 when I decided to turn down a side road at random and go off the main highway for a bit. I found this grove of almond trees, with a nice crop on the branches and a lot of almonds lying on the ground. (Maybe knocked off by the previous day's heavy rains?)

McDonalds (Pleasanton)

Egg McMuffin Meal, Sony RX100 - Alameda County  2026

McDonalds KPop Demon Hunters Poster - Alameda County  2026

The start of my most recent road trip, driving from Marin County to Mariposa County via Highway 49. 

Alas, I wasn't aware of the Saja Boys breakfast meal when I got the same ole Egg McMuffin that I always get.