We traveled up to Bridgeport, Ca to camp and see some of the sites. We found Masonic Mine ghost town not far from our campsite up in the hills towards Nevada. After checking that ghost town out, we decided to see another, Bodie, Ca. Both places were awesome, but Bodie was simply amazing. A lot of the buildings still were furnished from when folks lived there in the early 1900's. Then on Sunday with our allergies acting up, we decided to head back home by way of Yosemite. We couldn't go all the way through because of some fire had closed the road from our side of the mountain range down. So we hung out and enjoyed the views that we had, which were just unbelievable.

Here is a few from our camp grounds.

These pictures are from Masonic Mine ghost town. The town once had a population of about a thousand souls during its productive years that ended around 1901. Gold was first discovered here in the 1860s. Because the mine was located some distance from town, which housed the mill, ore was transported via an extensive tram system. It is fortunate for the ghost town visitor that most of the ruins are still here including the tram system.

This was looking down onto the Bridgeport Reservoir, where we were camped at, on our return from Masonic Mine.

These were taken at Bodie, Ca ghost town. In 1859 William S. Bodey discovered gold near what is now called Bodie Bluff. A mill was established in 1861 and the town began to grow. It started with about 20 miners and grew to an estimated 10,000 people by 1880! By that time, the town of Bodie bustled with families, robbers, miners, store owners, gunfighters and prostitutes of all kinds. At one time there was reported to be 65 saloons in town. Amongst the saloons were numerous brothels and 'houses of ill repute', gambling halls and opium dens. Needless to say that there was entertainment for every taste.

This ghost town is one of America's best preserved. It is unbelievable how many buildings still are furnished from their owners some 80+ years prior.

Some photos from Saturday night around the camp fire.

Sunday here and our allergies acting up badly, we decided to head home through Yosemite National Park. We only could go so far, the road was closed due to fires, so we stopped a few times and enjoyed the magnificent sites and cool breezes. There was still some snow up there that had made it through the year.