Julian

Happy New Year to you. We ended and began the new year celebrating with friends and look forward to this continuing as we embark on our 2014 travels. We plan to meet son Jeff in San Diego, if the weather permits him to leave Albany, NY. The three of us will explore desert lands in CA and NV. We have started our trip in Julian near Anza Borrego State Park, a place of stark beauty.

Our campground is on the Great Southern Overland Stage Route of 1849. This is a barren place in 2014; we dread to think of what it was like 150 years ago. Gold brought out the first settlers and one of the few remaining gold rush towns is Julian. It was founded by Drury Bailey, a Confederate States of America veteran, in 1869, a bit late into the rush, and faded like most of the other mountain towns. The Pioneer Cemetery is the final home for residents both early and current. Bsilry'd grave shows the CSA designation that we first saw in Atlanta.

But the earth yielded another “mine” for the residents, apples. This is a prime apple growing region and almost every store in town sells apple products. We had to test a piece of pie. It was delicious, almost as good as Jerry’s.

The town caters to tourists and there were a surprising number of them enjoying a mild first Sunday in January. A group of volunteers entertain visitors with an amusing playlet, so bad its funny.

But the most important event of the day was the Forty-Niners win over Packers in bitter cold Green Bay. Go Niners!