View from Virginia City, NV
By TheRealDawn
@dawnald (85137)
Shingle Springs, California
December 30, 2009 10:33pm CST
I took this photo of the mountains while we were in Virginia City last week. Virginia City is one of the most famous old mining towns in the US, site of the famous Comstock silver strike. Now it's basically a tourist town with saloons and shops and so on. When we were there it was pretty cold, 20's Fahrenheit, with a fair amount of snow on the ground. First thing we did was hit a saloon for some hot chocolate for the children and hot buttered rum for us. They had a St. Bernard named Pondy (for Ponderosa) who had a "rum barrel" on her collar. Virginia City is at about 6200 feet elevation, so no wonder it was cold. They had a candy shop with Bit o' Honey (yum), so I stocked up. That stuff is hard to find. After that we drove home as the MIL was panicking at the thought of the clouds coming in over the Sierra Nevada. I guess she didn't want us to turn into the Donner party: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donner_Party We made it home safe and sound though, not more than a few drops of rain and no snow. Maybe we can go back next year when it's warmer and check out the train ride.
4 people like this
7 responses
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
2 Jan 10
wished i'd known that.i had a huge bag of bit o' honey earlier in the year i couldn't get rid of.
i was watching a show last night on virginia city,looked like a pretty cool place to visit.
i was watching a show last night on virginia city,looked like a pretty cool place to visit.
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
31 Dec 09
It looks wonderful. I would have loved to have seen it. I also likes the idea of hot buttered rum! That sounds great. I do hope that you get to go see it again in the warmer weather. I don't remember the Donner party incident so will read the site you gave. Many thanks and Happy New Year
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
31 Dec 09
Nasty bit of California history. The Donner party tried to cross the Sierra too late in the year and got snowed in. Not all survived and there were allegations of cannibalism...
@cynthiann (18612)
• Jamaica
31 Dec 09
Yes I just read it and it was just the thing to cheer me up on NYE. Many thanks Dawn
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
2 Jan 10
Probably very much like it and every other touristy old western town!
@ANTIQUELADY (36440)
• United States
31 Dec 09
Sounds like a fun time was had by all. that's great. I haven't seen bit of honey in years. guess u could share if u are so inclined, lol. Happy NEW year , dawn. Hope 2010 is all u want & need.
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
31 Dec 09
Sure, got a few left over....
Happy New Year to you too!
@PeacefulWmn9 (10420)
• United States
31 Dec 09
How very beautiful! It sounds like a place I would love to visit. :))
Karen1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
31 Dec 09
It's just outside of Carson City and not all that far from Reno and Lake Tahoe. More pleasant in the late spring or early fall though!
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
31 Dec 09
hi dawnald isnt Virgina city also used in that old series on television Bonanza, the old duffers here still watch that hour after hour. ugh. any way Virginia city had a lot of history. it was years ago when we were there and it was cold then too as i remember it. Oh bit of honey, I have looked for that for ages and never find it. i love the stuff.Oh that is such gorgeous country there but I always think of the Donner party.one of the things I remember so vividly when we were there was the two and three locomotive trains that go up over Donner pass so I guess they really needed the extra power too. yes 6200 is really high. I was born and raised on the South Dakota plains and the elevation there on the prairie was 4600 and the black hills were much higher. Up at Mt Rushmore and place like that its much higher and colder in the winter too. not that its all that warm in the winter on the plains either. glad to be here in Ca.
1 person likes this
@dawnald (85137)
• Shingle Springs, California
31 Dec 09
I'm sure that's why the dog is named Pondy! As far as Bit o' Honey, what I have discovered is that if you hit a tourist area that has a candy shop (like salt water taffy), they often have a Bit o' Honey bin. It is hard to find and I really love the stuff!
