A Great Day In Old Sacramento!

After our second week in McCloud, we journeyed to Sacramento, for the weekend. After a terrific dance, Friday night, we spent Saturday, playing tourist, in Old Sacramento! 

The photo, below, is the bridge, crossing the Sacramento River.

The photo, below, is the state capitol, taken from the entry to Old Sac.

Photo of the Sacramento train, that we rode.

This is the Hornblower, the cruise ship, we toured the river on.

The lift bridge, as seen from the cruise.

D&D, boarding the Hornblower.

Little D, taking in the sites!

The Delta King, A hotel, and Restaurant, on the Sac River.

This is an old mine sweeper, from the Korean War era, that sank in the river, and has been declared a fish sanctuary.

Little D, on the river.

One of several marinas, on the river.

This is a restaurant, made from two barges, and the walk way is an old PanAm walkway.

This a Vietnam era river PT gun ship. It is maintained by a crew of girl scouts.

 D&D, on the stern of the Hornblower.

D&D, on the bow.

We took a quiet ride on the train. Here's Little D, with her ticket, waiting for the conductor.

The conductor, punching our tickets.

Little D, modeling her new hat!

Several photos of old Sac.

D&D, taking a carriage ride, through Old Sac.

Pony Express memorial, in Old Sac.

Little D, in her element!

The pics below, are of an old pioneer camp, as they prepare for Gold Rush Days, next weekend.

We enjoyed a terrific dinner on a barge called Crawdad's!

food was outstanding!

The end to a great day, in Old Sacramento!

Our day in Old Sac was perfect! Had a terrific time!

Heading back to McCloud, tomorrow, for another week.

Touring Shasta Dam

While spending the weekend in Anderson, CA, with our friends, Bill & Claire, Bill suggested we tour Lake Shasta Dam. Great suggestion! As many times as I've visited the dam, I had never taken the tour. It was a great experience!

The collage, below, is the photos we took, at the lake and dam.

This photo, is the first view of the dam, taken from the Sacramento River.

This is a view, down river, from the dam.

View of the lake, from dam.

The waters  edge. The water is very clear, and turquoise, in color.

Last time I visited the lake, it was a bright blue! I'm told because of atmospheric conditions, and smoke, the river appears different colors.

Another view, down river.

This view, shows the turbine facility, and the water pipes, powering the turbines.

Looking down the dam. The dam is 602 feet, in height!

Looking up the dam, fron below.

Another view, looking up the dam.

An overview, fro the power plant.

These are the pipes, that power turbine generators. We are told, you could drive a bus through these pipes!

This is a photo of the power grid.Notice the dark spot, on the top left corner, it is an eagles nest.

A view of the visitor center, from the dam base.

The turbine room. It is said that the these 5 turbines, can supply enough power to power San Francisco!

A view, looking up at one of the cranes, used to service the turbines.

A display of old tools, and hardware, used during dam construction. The track, is the width of standard railroad tracks!

this is a yoke, used to cradle the pipes.

A view of the by pass tunnel, used during construction. The tunnel was used to by pass the water, of the river during construction, of the dam. Then later used to by pass the railroad, until a new train tressell could be built.

Another view of the tunnel. The tunnel is plugged on the river end of the tunnel, with a 465 foot plug of concrete!

Another view, of the power grid.

another view of the tools, and hardware.

A close up, of one of the five turbine generators.

A close up of the turbine pipes.

This is a photo of the tunnel running along the thickness of the dam, at base. the base of the dam is 883 feet thick. The light lines, is a reflection of light.

D&D, atop the dam.

Another view, of the Sacramento River, below the dam.

Another view of the visitor center, taken from the top of the dam.

One last photo, of the river, dam, and lake, as we left the dam. 

Really glad we toured the dam! It was quite interesting!

Some interesting facts, about the dam:

Height: 602 feet

Thickness at base: 883 feet

Thickness at crest: 30 feet

Weight of dam: 15 million tons

This is the second largest dam, in the United States, second only to the Grand Cooley Dam, in Washington! The Hoover Dam, is 4th largest. the lake fills during the winter, and is drained, for agriculture, and water needs, for southern California, during the summer. The lakes level, is continually fluctuating. 

Heading back up the mountain, for 2 more weeks, at McCloud!