Murphy

Last weekend my mother, stepfather, John and I made our way to Murphys to visit Don, my mothers uncle and his children. Located in Calaveras County in the Sierra Nevada Mountains between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite National Park, Murphys is a small town replete with well-preserved historic buildings, now selling tourist garb and of course wine.

It was a mere 3 hour drive away, as we drove father away, we saw less franchises, fast foods and strip malls. I had rented this quaint cottage for the weekend. I told the rental agent we were not going to get there before closing time, so they just left the key under the matt. I don’t think they would be that trusting around here. John had to leave the next day for an important meeting, so he drove up separately, we found him at the one gas station in town. A little mishap, then we located the cottage.

The cottage was a lovely 2 bedroom, hardwood floors, and a simple and comforting ambiance. Oh and DSL. Sweet! A few minutes rest and we wandered into town. Walking was still a challenge for me, but John made sure I didn’t stumble. All the shops open at 11 and close promptly at 5 so by then it was just window shopping. Dinner was at the Murphy’s Hotel. Delicious crab cakes! My aunt had worked there oh about 50 years ago.

Murphys Historic Hotel and Lodge, a registered State Historic Landmark which once hosted such luminaries as General Ulysses S. Grant, Mark Twain, Horatio Alger, and Charles Bolton, aka notorious outlaw “Black Bart.”

We made our way back and rested the rest of the evening. The next day by the time John and I woke up the ‘rents were out walking. I promised John pancakes so we walked back into town and found this diner called Grounds. The food was fast and good, the services very competent. Sadly no pancakes but he did get waffles. Walking back we explored the tourist shops and the area. One thing that did catch my eye was old carriages or surreys that would be out in the field just sitting there. I must have seen over a dozen all in different conditions.

By the time we made our way back to the cottage, there was company. My mothers cousin, Susan and her husband Von were there.

<geek rant/muse>

Now during the course of the day as I met Susan’s children and grandchildren I tried to figure out what is the proper title for cousin a few times removed and just gave up. 1st cousin and 2nd cousin I can understand. But the twice removed stuff is beyond me. We share the great-grandparents and Uncle Don , the patriarch, is my Grand Uncle but that was the limit to my grocking it. What do you call your mothers cousin grandchild. 4th Cousins? “Cousin” was just fine. This is also why I am just “aunti christine” to my cousin Jeffs baby.

</geek rant/muse>

Susan and Von took us to IronStone Vineyards. This is a winery, museum, and concert on the grass. It even has a nugget specimen, a huge 44 lb flakey gold rock found in 1992 and stored in a true bank vault. Ironstone has regular public events including concert series, black and white movie nights and more. English Beat is performing next month, if I wasn’t so damn busy with well the wedding, I would have taken been *very* tempted.

After the wine tour, we all drove to Susan and Vons house. They only live about 5 minute drive from Murphy’s but its so isolated up a hill, it feels like you are deep in the woods. Its lovely. Within a few hours Susan’s children, grandchildren, Uncle Don and her sister Sally arrived.

I loved meeting all the different family members and they got a chance to met John. I think they liked him.