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Links to the Past
Another Link in the Chain |
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May 18th, 2000 |
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| I would like to introduce you all to a place that I recently had the opportunity to visit. The picture you see to your right is a picture of Lyons Reservoir in the Sierra Nevada Mountains close to a place called Pinecrest and the Dodge ridge ski resort. I had passed the exit to the lake many times over the years and had always considered stopping there to add the area to my range of familiar territory. I stopped at the Mi Wok |
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ranger station that morning to ask about any trails to hike in the area and the nice ranger lady sent me off to an old railroad grade that went past the reservoir. Of course, knowing nothing of the area, I was somewhat excited at discovering new sights and possibilities. I thanked the officer and went on my way. It was Friday April 7th, and a beautiful day to be up in the hills. I could not drive to the lake as it did not open to vehicles until May 1st, so I parked on the main road, put on my daypack and set off on the 2 mile hike to the lake. I made sure that I had plenty to drink and snack on.
It was a pleasant hike down the gently sloped road to the reservoir and along the way I was treated to some nice views, many birds, and even two deer that were grazing in a nearby meadow. There was a small brook that I passed and it's cool water was very refreshing to wash my hands and face in as it was amazingly warm for an early April day. There were still a few small patches of snow, but they were quickly melting off as the sun rose higher. Once I finally got to the reservoir I saw it as in the picture above. |
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I walked a bit around the lake and came across the cove you see to the left. There were two mallard ducks swimming around in it that I managed to surprise and they quickly took wing. While walking around the lake, I met a retired couple who lived in the area and we of course struck up a conversation. It so happened that they were quite familiar with the valley below and even Tracy where I am from which is about 150 miles away from this spot. We shared memories of things that were once in Tracy, but now gone and how it had changed over the years. It was during the course of our conversation that I told them of the old town site of Tesla that I had visited many times near my home there. Neither of them had heard of Tesla, which didn't |
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surprise me, but when I mentioned that there was a railroad line that went all the way up to the old town, they told me that the track that used to run on the trail along the lake used to hook up to Tracy by way of Stockton. Of course that was many years ago in the early half of the twentieth century. The rail line had been out of service and removed for many years now. Other than the grade that now is a hiking and bike trail, there is little left. I began wondering if this was one of the rail lines I had read about in the book about the history of Tesla. I figured I would have to do a bit of research when I got home.
The nice folks finished their little break and after wishing them well we parted company. I followed the trail up a ways and past the lake and after a bit I came up to a creek that fed the reservoir. There was a patch of snow in some shade by the creek |
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| and I sat there a moment and munched a bit on the remaining ice. I looked up the creek on the other side and there I saw a piece of wood sticking up out of the dirt on the trail that continued on across the gently flowing stream. I recognized the wood as an old railroad tie and felt a strange twinge, as if something was familiar. I noticed that there was a piece of metal and what looked like a broken brick laying by the remnant of the once busy railroad line. So I crossed the creek and when I looked at the brick, I nearly went in to a stupor as I saw etched into it, three letters...GIE. My God, I thought. It's a Carnegie brick! Made in the little town that got it's clay from the very mines at Tesla a mile up the canyon from Carnegie that I had been exploring these past few years! (Click on the image at right to see an enlarged view) I had come across quite a few pieces of Carnegie bricks and this was unmistakably one from there. I searched the area and found other remnants |
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of the old rail line. A pile of red bricks under a tree, old cable, odd pieces of metal such as railroad spikes, nails and old tool parts. Pieces of the past were coming together. But what were they trying to tell me? I could sense the feeling of interconnectedness that sometimes haunts my spirit, but what did it all mean? Not getting the answers I sought, I decided to go back to the lake and see the dam.
When I got back to the lake two trucks pulled up. They were PG&E trucks which is the company which provides power for the greater pacific coast area. Seems that this company built this reservoir and it is a source of hydro-electric power. I said hi and talked with the workers who were taking their lunch. I joined them, pulling some fruit and a drink from my pack. It always makes me feel good that people up in the hills are so friendly, and take the time to chat with you. Like the retired couple, the workers told me a bit about the area. The one fellow I talked to most told me of an old woman that he heard of who would tell stories of the days when she would take the train down to Tracy and Stockton as a little girl. I told these men of the strange coincidences I was uncovering and that this was just one more. All in all we talked about an hour. I thanked them for sharing with me and then went off to the dam. |
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When I walked down the steps to the dam, I saw the spillway. It was quite a pleasant sight and I noticed that the sun hitting the water from the spillway created a rainbow effect. I thought how interesting it was. The rainbow for me has a dual meaning. Of course it is the world wide symbol for Gay pride, but it is also what was given to man by God after the great floods as a covenant between himself and mankind. I guess I just sort of looked at it, and in light of the day's discoveries, It seemed to deepen my sense of harmony and connectedness of all things. I sat there for about a half an hour and just watched the mist bend the colors to and fro and listened to the thundering of the water cascading to the riverbed below. It is in these moments that I |
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| feel most alive. When I feel closest to the truth. These are the moments that make it all seem worthwile. I walked out onto the dam and looked down at the tumbling water and felt the old familiar peace that I feel in these moments. And though this is a different place, I felt the same feeling of that old familiar friend that I feel at Tesla canyon, by the canyon mentioned in the first heart and mind entry and many other places I have visited throughout the years like Point Lobos along with many others. |
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| One thing becomes very clear to me through all my travels, both physically and within the realm of mind, heart and soul. And that being that it is these journeys which we take that seems to give this life meaning. The ability to learn and grow, to love and share. To express the full range of human capacity. The joys, the sorrow, gain and loss and all the things that come with them. Friends, family, even just the people we may meet on the many paths we trod. All the goodness that we can enjoy, and all the negative or sorrowful times so that we have a source of contrast to better appreciate that which we have. I am thankful for all of these times and am joyful that I have had such a full and rich life thus far. And I look forward to the many journeys which lie ahead. |
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| Once again I find what seem to me to be such odd coincidences. But rather than puzzle my mind or trouble my heart, they serve to give me a sense of peace.....of unity. I find it interesting that everywhere I go and everything I experience seems to have connections with so much more. Things that on the outside would appear to have few similarities, but upon looking beyond what is apparent, ties can be seen that bind them together. And when I discover such ties, I can't help but smile. |
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