Hi All,

Bridgeport surely captured attention today, netting us the first 4.0 quake in quite some time in these environs:

4.0 2003/12/10 16:20:21 38.298N 119.228W 7.9 5 km ( 3 mi) N of Bridgeport, CA
2.2 2003/12/10 14:44:46 38.317N 119.204W 7.9 7 km ( 4 mi) NNE of Bridgeport, CA
2.9 2003/12/10 13:43:59 38.297N 119.225W 7.4 4 km ( 3 mi) N of Bridgeport, CA
2.9 2003/12/10 13:24:59 38.296N 119.229W 7.0 4 km ( 3 mi) N of Bridgeport, CA
2.1 2003/12/10 13:23:39 38.319N 119.208W 9.9 7 km ( 4 mi) NNE of Bridgeport, CA
3.5 2003/12/10 13:17:17 38.298N 119.229W 8.5 5 km ( 3 mi) N of Bridgeport, CA

About two years ago Don and I made the rounds through the Gold Country and just happened to eat lunch in Bridgeport. It's a quiet little burg that sits just at the base of the Sonora Pass. Its known today for its wildflower displays in the springtime. However, it is rich in history during the gold and silver mining days as a stop over point before miners and friends took the long stage ride to San Francisco.

It's just a short hop to the Ghost Town of Bodie which is in arresting decay today. It has a dim past with gold and those who chose to live a dark life. Not far into Nevada from there lies another spot on the map known for silver at the Aurora Mine.

The area is a geological wonderland with huge mountains of granite from sparkling white to a dim gray. At every turn you can see something that will outdo what you saw a few miles before. It has ethos of a long ago time when folks worked hard for those few gold nuggets and spent hard in the saloons at night.

For anyone who has not been, I urge you to go. You won't be disappointed.

Petra