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Old Gold
by Dan Gallagher (Sept. 14, 2008)

In 1980, I decided to quit my corporate job and tour the United States on my Harley. I left Clearwater Florida and was on
the road for a total of 4 months. During my road trip I seen a lot of the sites most people only see in books and pictures.
The Painted Desert, The Grand Canyon, to name just a few. But the most Beautiful place I ended up in was Downieville,
California.

Just like John Green, I got caught up in the panning for Gold. The first day I panned, and I got some flakes I was ecstatic,
Until the assayer in town laughed at me and told me that I had a good cache of Iron Pyrite (Fools Gold). My heart sank
but it just pushed me further to try some more.

In a few days I did have enough to pay for some food and supplies to keep me going. I loved the area, the people that
live there were the best. I was looking to set up a small engine repair shop because that is what I was good at doing
and I was told that that was a service that was needed here at the time.

Then one day while I was sitting enjoying a beer in the local Bar which also was the local store, gas station and post
office, I noticed pictures on the wall that showed the store/post office outpost-deep in snow. I said to the bartender, "Is
that this place? Does it snow like that here?" When he answered "Yes" My heart sank. After leaving Ohio many years
before, I made a promise to myself that I would never live in an area that snowed that much.

So the next day, I packed up my ride and headed back to Florida, where I have been ever since. I made my Gold here in
Florida, in the Air Conditioning Field, but have never forgotten about the instant love I had for Downieville. I was tickled
to read John's story and re-live my adventures there.