The herald., 1897-10-24
DIAGNOSING ORE

little town of Avalon which nestles Sc
snug,y between its surrounding hills
The beautiful bay which offers so many
inducements for fishing, boating ard
sailing has satisfied them. Mary nc
doubt have. turned a longing look to the
higher hills in the distance and Won
(isred what rairyland' lay beyond them
Oh being told that in order to realize
the beauties of the "heart of Catalir.a' -
they would have to ascend nearly 1900
feet or horseback along a narrow trai.
their hearts failed them and many of
them have returned disgusted with their
inability to ride or their timorousness to
venture the climb.
All this is altered now. In company
with a party of friss1ds the writer, who
has been in the same fix himself was
told that broad wagon roa& now led
10 Eagle Camp, the center of the islarId.
and together we boarded the strong
looking and comfortable coach which
was TO convey us into the unknown ra-
terror.
Six l1orses, which looked perfectly
capable of doing anything that was
asked of them (and, to some Of us rerv-
Gus ones, perhaps, some things we
would prefer them not to do), were held
in hand by the driver, whom we eyed
little critically, as betweeS1 him and his
coach anG his horses we were going 10
meet we knew not what perils.
His appearance seemed to satisfy the
| ladies of the party especially, ard, two
of them imqne dately announced their
intention OF riding with him on the box
seat, saying they would rather meet
their fate looking it in the face than
be ignominious.y dumped into the can-
yon without Knowing where they were
going. The rest of us climbed into the
seats behind and With toot of the horn
away we started.
Within a couple of hundred yards the
spirited horses found that it would best
conserve their appetites for their barley
at Middle ranch to moderate their gait,
as We began to ascend a grade. Of about
one foot in ter, and l suppose from past
experience they knew this would last
for about four miles.
We We're not sorry for this, as it gave
us more confidence and enabled US to
enjoy the coC'stan.ly changing pano-
rama to its utmost.
The road suddenly made a turn and at
height of about 300 feet the driver
| (whom we now found to be Mr.. Green,
one of the contractors for the formation
of the road) pulled up his horses and
afforded us a charming view of Avalon
lying far below us with it's lovely bay
guarded by Sugar Loaf, dotted with sail
! ing vessels and other craft. From thence
We made the gradual ascent, the road
making Snuous turns, and as we round
ed each new beauties were presented to
our gaze. We had by this time lost al
thought of danger in the endeavor not
to lose a single impression of the ever
changing scenery.
Now we came to Burro Bend, as Mr.
Green informed us it was called little
| further on to FarnSworth's hoop, where
the road makes complete circle around
a center not more than thirty feet in
diameter, then to Banning's grove, Sc
called because the proprietors of the
| island would not allow some cherry trees
which were in the way of the ruthless
workmen to be destroyed. About SOC
| feet above the level the DEVILS Elbow
crooked above US. The road here crosse
| the canyon, making turns which are
strongly suggestive of the appropriate
ness of the elbow, if not of the Devil
Four hundred feet more climbing and
we reach the second loop, which winds
around spring of cold, clear water
| where we make a stop to quench oui
thirst before we make the final ascent OF
400 feet to the summit. What a view we
have from here! We can see Avalon ir
the distance, 1900 feet below us to the
| eastward. The ocean, spread in front ot
us, looks calm and placid as lake, and
no hint of his possible revenge on oul
way to the mainland for our survey o.
his broad domains comes, from Father
Neptune. In the distance Old Badly
! stands out grandly, not ashamed to show
his hoary head, now covered with his
white cap of snow. But we must haster
on, as our appetities are eharpened by
the mountain air and we have still sever
miles to go before we reach our camp
Now Mr.. Green gives rein to his horse.
and, as it is almost all down hill, VIZ
make the distance in very quick time
He turns around once in while ant
asks us, in a sort of -if-you-dare'
tone Of voice, whether we would like II
go slower. We meekly answer no." ant
down the famous Middle Ranch canyoi
we go. the leaders in a run, the wheelers
with the aid of the brake, steadying th'
coach, the whole resulting in an excit
ing, exhilarating rush through lovel!
scenery, at times going through marrow
lane hemmed in by green trees ant
bushes, and anon emerging into tn
open, where we oan see the high noun
tains on each side with canyons inter
secting them, frightening the quail an