Adventure Vacations with the Yelton Family: Day 22 ~ Bodie, CA ~ A Ghost Town

Day 22 ~ Bodie, CA ~ A Ghost Town

Today we did a lot of laundry and dried it. I organized the meals and groceries from yesterday’s Walmart stop. We are really worried about how cold the cooler isn’t. So far we aren’t sick…..Trying to eat the meat and eggs first and get those out of there.

We had a possible trip to Bodie, CA planned, if we felt like it or had time. Bodie, CA is the largest most authentic ghost town in the West. At its best, it boasted a population of 10,000 residents…….many very dangerous and jaded. We all agreed that even though it was hot, we didn’t want to miss this. I packed up a lunch for us and we headed out.

We had to stop at Nowhere, U.S.A. for gas. Check this out!

It cost more than 60.00 to fill our little tank. That was a first ever. Every time we do something, Mike says, “We’ve never done this before!” So when he handed me the receipt, I said, “Wow! We’ve never done this before!” Ha ha. Plus this place was gross. Two strange redneck “Larry the Cable Guys” were running the counter. There was a big sign on the bathroom that said, YOU HAVE TO PAY FOR GAS TO USE THE RESTROOM! I looked at the kooks and said, “Really? Do I have to stand here until my husband finishes paying?” I used my most hoity toity voice and my teacher look that I developed a long time ago. They quickly opened the door. Ummm…. for 60.00 I considered taking the privilege of peeing on the seat.

Deviation, but this reminded me of another trip we took a long time before kids to Virginia. Somewhere in West Virginia, we stopped at a Shell Station for gas. I had to pee too, of course. So at this gas station, there were two hillbillies sitting tipped back against the station on folding chairs. I got out of our car to pee and found that the place was all locked up with no doors open or anything. So when Mike got done pumping the gas, this was before pay at the pump, Mike went up to pay for it. He handed them a Shell credit card. They took it, turned it over a few times, and handed it back. I guess they had never seen a Shell credit card at the Shell Station. They never ran it or charged us. Super-weird. Back then it was probably only a 12.00 charge. LOL.

When we got to Bodie, we paid to get into the State Park and bought a tour booklet too.

This sign at the entrance indicates "No Peace Pipes Allowed!".

Then we spent the afternoon touring this ghost town! It was really fun. Millions of dollars of gold were taken out of Bodie over a 40 year period. The town is in an arrested state of disrepair. You can’t go into the houses, but you can peek in the windows. The booklet we bought kind of told a little about each major place. There was a big mine, China Town, and everything else you would expect to find in a Boom town. It was kind of eerie and beautiful at the same time. The sky was very vivid and close. We only saw one ghost.

The Only Mine Left Standing

Outhouse Anyone?

Mining Equipment

A Very Small Section of the Town

The Methodist Church.....The Catholic One Burned Down

This Old Pump Organ Made Natalie's Fingers Just Itch To Play Piano......No Piano for 3Weeks!

Surreal Skies

Small Part of the Town

Interesting House....Belonged to a Man and His Family that got Rich Here

Harrison was very Jaunty and in a Playfully Good Mood!

Mine Car

Natalie Taller than Harrison????????

The Truth!

Something is Missing......

Miner Cabs for Going Down Into a Mine

One Holer

You Can Go into this House......ha ha

Ghost Dog House

An Eerie Swinging Screen

Peeking into the Abandoned Mess

This is kind of funny.....This house belonged to the one armed lawyer, who was famed for getting criminals released from jail. He built a hallway to his outhouse!

Two Seater

His and Hers

Outliers.....The rest of the town that was around these houses is gone.....It was China Town!

This Car is Out of Gas.

Drive It Like You Stole It!

Sole Food!

The Jail.....Bail was 5.00 to get Out!

Nostalgic

This is funny to me because when you are a kid, and you have watched a lot of Scooby Doo, you think you are going to grow up to fall into quick sand, get caught in a mine shaft, or Fall Down Stairs Behind a Secret Bookcase. Well, now Mike can check this item off his list.