On Saturday morning, we started out driving to Downieville, leaving behind a warmish day in Silicon Valley. I began to worry that I'd worn the wrong clothes-- sweater and turtleneck for both days-- because it was so warm on the drive up. Then when we got to Grass Valley, it started to cool down and, by the time we were in Nevada City, it was much cooler. By nightfall, as Brian and I sat out on the deck of the cottage, we could see our breath and I was a bit chilled so we went inside. Later we went outside again to do a little star-gazing.
The point of this weekend was to get a little time away from the keyboard for both of us. We succeeded in doing that-- our cell phones didn't even work! I had only called about ten days earlier to get a reservation and, we were fortunate that they had only one cottage left in addition to a room or two in the B&B (by the time we arrived, the "No Vacancy" sign was out!). We chose the cottage for privacy's sake and it was private; we had neighbors downriver from us but only saw them on their deck one or twice during the whole time we were there.
Just outside of Downieville, we stayed at "Sierra
Shangri-La" and "Shangri-La" it was, indeed!! Our cottage, "La
Vista" was a quaint little cottage with a "living room" which had the potbellied
stove, queen-sized bed and two chairs. There was a smaller bedroom
with a couple of twin beds in it. The dining alcove, as described
in the brochure, overlooks the Yuba River but then, there isn't much of
the cottage that doesn't overlook the river!
The cabin
and its views . . .
The deck |
From the deck |
La Vista from parking area |
La Vista from the riverbed |
Ditto |
To the riverbed |
Us along
the river . . .
 |
 |
 |
 |
The river
and the plants and the rocks and the peace and the quiet . . .
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
As you can see, in less than 24 hours, it was very easy for us to unwind and relax and, frankly, look forward to our next visit.
I know
most of my readers in the surrounding Bay Area: you have proven that you
like these little "reviews" of our trips as evidenced by the difficult
time we have parking at Martin's Beach
these days!! I'd love to warn you off of Sierra Shangri-La but, alas,
I cannot. If I were to say anything negative, it would be a lie since
our experience was perfectly positive-- from arrival to departure a lovely
visit and one that we're hoping to repeat in April of 2002 (when the fish
are in the snow-pack run off!!). If you read this and contact them
for reservations (they're open until January if the weather holds out),
mention that you've seen them on this website and then, ENJOY your
visit!!
Copyright © 2001,
Marcia L. Dykstra