DAFFODIL HILL & MERCER CAVERNS

A few days ago Lou & I saw that Daffodil Hill had opened early this year. We planned a day trip to the foothills today to enjoy this spectacle. For those of you who don't live in Northern California, Daffodil Hill is a privately owned 4 acre farm literally covered in daffodils for about a month each spring. It is near the tiny town of Volcano in the Sierra foothills. Daffodil Hill is run by donations & has been hosted by the same family since 1887.

Unfortunately we arrived to find out it was closed today due to rain yesterday that made the dirt paths & parking lot too muddy to navigate. Sigh......

Daffodils seem to grow well all over the area so we were still able to see quite a few.

There are supposedly 300 varieties of daffodils but the vast majority of them are these yellow & white flowers.

It was a beautiful day so we explored the town of Volcano before heading to our second destination, Mercer Caverns in Murphys, California.

When I was in high school my favorite car was a Jaguar XKE. Imagine my surprise when we saw these six XKEs lined up on Volcano's Main Street. Too cool!

This photo was taken from the table where we ate our picnic lunch at the local park.

The inside of Volcano's General Store - the oldest continuously operating general store in California opening in 1852. It elicited a "Wow" from Lou as he entered.

The bikers were out in force enjoying the weather & scenery just like us.

I had fun photographing several old signs hanging from the buildings on Main Street. This seems to be an older version of the "Got Milk" campaign.

This beat up old sign reminded me of the ones that Frank & Mike look for on "American Pickers".

My family used to vacation for a week each summer just a few miles from Murphys making me a semi-expert on the area. My mom & dad rented a house each year & invited us all up to enjoy the fun & relaxation. Lou & I decided to add a visit to Mercer Caverns in Murphys to our day trip.

One of the soda straw formations in Mercer Caverns. I last visited the caverns about 30 years ago. Geez, time flies.

Some more of the fascinating formations. Caves have always intrigued me with their otherworldly appearance. Mercer Caverns were discovered in 1885 & tours were started immediately using ropes & candles - I don't think so.

Since caves are living, growing things touching a formation will "kill it". These two formations were killed years ago so you can touch them on the tour.

Lou ascending some of the 440 steps that lead 161 feet down into the cave - & then back up out of the cave. We definitely got some exercise today. 

Coincidentally, my mom passed away 24 years ago today. She loved providing these trips for us. One of our favorite family activities was wine tasting & she loved Black Sheep Winery in Murphys. As luck would have it we passed the tasting room (moved from the location we frequented 20 - 30 years ago) & I asked Lou to stop. It seemed like something I needed to do on this anniversary of her passing. We tasted a few wines in her honor & I'm sure she loved it! It is still hard to believe that she's been gone for 24 years.....wow.

Black Sheep Winery tasting room in downtown Murphys. One of my favorite memories is from years ago when my grandmother accompanied us to a tasting at Black Sheep. She only drank super sweet wine like Chateau La Salle on rare occasions & promptly announced that the wine was "too sour". I rolled my eyes at the person pouring the wine who assured me they didn't mind.