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lunasun

(21,646 posts)
Sun Feb 11, 2018, 10:24 PM Feb 2018

A question from a traveller. I am going to be driving from Sacramento to Sonora later this year

I am a flatlander from Chicago and rarely drive in mountains

Can you help me out with a question ?
Is that drive all mountain driving? .. . Will I fall off a cliff or something going there , or it it an easy drive in a small rental for a flatlander ?
Gold county so I'm thinking lot of hills , not mountains . Like ...there's gold in them hills
I'm not going up into the forest just the towns of Sonora and Columbia college but I see further east of there the roads close in winter so I wasn't sure if I'm just going into the towns how rugged it is from Sacramento
I once rented a small auto car for some driving somewhere I really needed something like a Jeep
That's why I'm asking . Can't wait to check out the area .

22 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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A question from a traveller. I am going to be driving from Sacramento to Sonora later this year (Original Post) lunasun Feb 2018 OP
Nah. Pretty easy drive. Roland99 Feb 2018 #1
Thanks for your answer Roland99 that's sounds good lunasun Feb 2018 #3
Any chance of making it to Hetch Hetchy or even Yosemite? Roland99 Feb 2018 #10
Easy trip Timewas Feb 2018 #2
Thank you I saved that route . I appreciate you answering . lunasun Feb 2018 #5
Incredibly boring. ghostsinthemachine Feb 2018 #7
I do agree Timewas Feb 2018 #16
No mountains ghostsinthemachine Feb 2018 #4
Mark Twain hmm I have to check this out now. Just came back from MO last month lunasun Feb 2018 #6
Big Twain country ghostsinthemachine Feb 2018 #14
Yes Now looking into that . So much out there I didn't know . Thanks again lunasun Feb 2018 #17
How does one identify a Twain horshoe? Just asking. Nitram Feb 2018 #20
Back when I found it, 63 or so ghostsinthemachine Feb 2018 #21
Wow! That's cool! Nitram Feb 2018 #22
I should have made mention of Mark Twain Roland99 Feb 2018 #9
Calaveras count. ghostsinthemachine Feb 2018 #15
I thought you meant Sonora, Mexico and was wondering where the mountains came in. Shrike47 Feb 2018 #8
Oh that would be nice I would head for the gulf waters down there in Mexico lunasun Feb 2018 #11
You might want to say "Sonora, California" left-of-center2012 Feb 2018 #12
If you have a lot of trouble staying on the road then PoindexterOglethorpe Feb 2018 #13
Sonora TallMike Feb 2018 #18
Thanks . I'll check out the saloon. Yes I want to enjoy the sights lunasun Feb 2018 #19

Timewas

(2,174 posts)
2. Easy trip
Sun Feb 11, 2018, 10:34 PM
Feb 2018

You can go south on 99 and cut east through Oakdale and take 108 to Sonora damn near freeway all the way and no real mountain driving at all...

ghostsinthemachine

(3,569 posts)
7. Incredibly boring.
Sun Feb 11, 2018, 10:49 PM
Feb 2018

Only if you are in a big hurry. So much history on highway 49 to miss, opting for the ugliest freeway ever. (99).

Timewas

(2,174 posts)
16. I do agree
Mon Feb 12, 2018, 01:52 AM
Feb 2018

With this 49 is a great drive in summer weather much much more interesting than the "ugly" route I laid out for him, my response was based on his concerns with "mountain road" driving.... personally I would take the 49 route...

ghostsinthemachine

(3,569 posts)
4. No mountains
Sun Feb 11, 2018, 10:40 PM
Feb 2018

Hills. My favorite drive. I love the Gold Rush towns along the route. Columbia is an elevation gain but still not into the snow line. I think the hotel in Columbia is a highly rated restaurant. I'd look it up before making plans things have a way of changing.
Sutter Creek is nice.the Belloti Inn was a great dinner spot (italian, basque style). Again, be sure. Lots of gold rushness. In the town.

Jackson too. Hit the Italian market when there.

If I was me and leaving Sacramento I would go out The Jackson Highway, (highway 12) past Rancho Murrieta and hook up to highway 49 there. The drive from Placerville to that point isn't worth it. All kinds of great stuff, lots of Mark Twain history.

ghostsinthemachine

(3,569 posts)
14. Big Twain country
Mon Feb 12, 2018, 01:47 AM
Feb 2018

I found one of his horseshoes once in Cameron Park at a ruined gold rush building.

Calaveras county is the site of the jumping frog jubilee, and there are a few landmarks along the way.

ghostsinthemachine

(3,569 posts)
21. Back when I found it, 63 or so
Mon Feb 12, 2018, 02:03 PM
Feb 2018

Okay, longish story.
My grandparents managed ranches for one of the areas largest land owners, Cameron. When we would visit, we would become archeologists, by rooting through this ruin across the street. All rocks, a building caved in.we spent hours digging up horseshoes, bullet casings (the real find), containers etc. I was going through the days treasures and saw this shoe. A used shoe.

It had a marking, SC, on the center of the top. I, under my parents instruction, sought out the local historian, to check it out. I did some reading and research too, trying to tie Twain to the area. Not just the area, but Cameron Park specifically. I found a newspaper article where he was near. (Keeping in mind he was a reporter with the Sacramento Union, so it was likely).
The historian came to the ranch and verified that it was Twains. Turns out the ruin where I found the shoe (and a ton of other cool stuff) was a former blacksmith shop. Apparently, some people marked their horseshoes. I cant remember the reasoning he gave, but it was commonplace. The historian also had a few, or seen a few of Twain's shoe as well.

Roland99

(53,342 posts)
9. I should have made mention of Mark Twain
Sun Feb 11, 2018, 11:07 PM
Feb 2018

Recently downloaded his complete works on my kindle. My grandparents had a wonderful book collection and it includes his works. My grandfather introduced me to "Punch, brothers. Punch in the presence of the passenjare" and the jumping frog of Calabasas County

ghostsinthemachine

(3,569 posts)
15. Calaveras count.
Mon Feb 12, 2018, 01:49 AM
Feb 2018

Just saying. They still hold the contest. Site is on highway 49 at Calaveras count fairgrounds outside of Angels Camp.

left-of-center2012

(34,195 posts)
12. You might want to say "Sonora, California"
Mon Feb 12, 2018, 12:33 AM
Feb 2018
I suspect most of us never heard of "Sonora, CA"
and thought you were driving to Mexico.



PoindexterOglethorpe

(25,750 posts)
13. If you have a lot of trouble staying on the road then
Mon Feb 12, 2018, 12:44 AM
Feb 2018

you might possibly drive off a cliff in the mountains. If you normally can stay on the road, no problem.

TallMike

(161 posts)
18. Sonora
Mon Feb 12, 2018, 10:13 AM
Feb 2018

2.5 hours by hwy 49 and 2 hours by 99. Take the 49. Hills and a few twisty bits but a much better drive. Take your time, enjoy the sights. Yes, Christopher's in Columbia is an amazing dining experience. Really top notch. The what cheer saloon adjoining it is nice too (Hi Heather!).

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