Memorial Day Weekend

Above, the Jeep in Six Mile Canyon. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Tomorrow is the start of this year's Memorial Day weekend.

 As has been my usual custom, I plan on spending it at home. Many others will likely do the same since gasoline prices has jumped. 

There was a time when my family and I would head to the Mother Lode region of California for Memorial Day weekend and camp in Columbia, a gold rush mining town. It still is a mining town, except it is mining tourist dollars. We camped at the Marble Quarry RV Park. It is so-named as it is near a marble quarry. 

I will probably take a Jeep drive or two into Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest. It is located right next to our community in Jamestown, New Mexico (nice and handy, eh?). 

Exploring California’s Highway 49 Historic Gold Rush Towns

Above, the Gold Rush town of Columbia. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

The Mother Lode country of California is an interesting place to visit. It is where the California Gold Rush started then, in turn, gave birth to the fraternal order I am a member of, the Ancient and Honorable Order of E Clampus Vitus.

It has been years since I last visited the region. With California's ridiculously high gasoline prices, it'll be years (if ever) that I will be back for a visit. We used to camp at Marble Quarry RV Park near the town of Columbia every Memorial Day weekend.

However, if high gas prices aren't a hinderance, visiting the Mother Lode is a great way to spend a vacation.

RV Travel has posted an article on exploring California's Highway 49 gold rush towns.

They begin it with:

California’s Gold Rush is one of the most captivating chapters in American history. Highway 49—aptly named for the “49ers” who flocked west in 1849—offers RVers an unparalleled opportunity to step back in time at one of the many Gold Rush towns.

Winding through the scenic Sierra Nevada foothills, this historic route is a treasure trove of charming towns, each brimming with stories, unique attractions, and natural beauty. Whether you’re a history buff, nature lover, or simply seeking a memorable road trip, these Gold Rush towns deserve a spot on your RV travel itinerary.

 To read more, go here.

Memorial Day Camping To Top 2021 Numbers

Above, the main street of Columbia, California in the Mother Lode country in the 1980s. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back in the "old days", I would take the family up to the Mother Lode gold rush area of California for a Memorial Day weekend of camping in Columbia. We would stay each year at the Marble Quarry RV Park.

That was before the crowds got bigger and traffic worse on the highways and I was much younger as well.

Since then, I have chosen to stay at home and leave the driving to others. 

It looks like, despite high fuel costs, more people will be hitting the road this year for Memorial Day weekend camping.

According to RV Travel:

Kampgrounds of America’s North American Camping Report for April is predicting there will be 22.2 million households camping over Memorial Day weekend (May 28-30) and the recently completed Canadian Victoria Day weekend (May 21-23) combined. That’s a 5.4% increase over the same holiday weekends in 2021.

In addition to more campers (40% versus 39% in 2021) saying they plan to camp for the long weekend, many suggest they will add additional days to their camping plans. Three-in-10 say they will stay an additional day or two before or after the long weekend, a slight increase from 2021 (6%). The numbers in the monthly report include all campers, not just campers at KOA parks.

To read more, go here.