That's the signpost up ahead—your next stop…

One of the challenges of living in a rural area is to answer the question, “how do I best help guests find us?” Most would say that Google Maps should provide my guests with directions. Unfortunately, Google Maps is unreliable as it deposits guests on California state highway 49 at least one and a half miles from our location and therefore I have been put into a position requiring me to provide all guests with written directions prior to their stay.

The other challenge has been that until late last year we had no road sign. The comment I often heard from guests, “it would have been much easier to find you if there had been a sign at the road.” Which is then when I give my protracted story about the efficiency of the U.S. Government.

As it turns out, the U.S. Forestry Service owns the first 500 feet our of driveway and they need to grant approval for a sign. In early February 2018 I sent in my application with a note that I was opening my business the following month. My expectation for a speedy approval was unfortunately not met. Not in March or April or for that matter any date prior to late September of last year. The last guest for season departed 2 weeks later. So much for a road sign for season one.

So in October, with approval in hand for a “sign” with no additional restrictions, I set about to construct a road sign with some “national park” character. What is “national park” character you ask?

In early September, with extended family in tow, we went to the newly renovated Mariposa Grove of Giant Sequoias. Mariposa Grove had been closed for nearly 4 years as the renovation had removed the paved roads through the grove, repaired and constructed new hiking trails (including a beautiful boardwalk), built two bus transport centers, and all new signs. These signs featured a granite, tapered pedestal, with a hand-hewn log protruding through the top of the pedestal with the sign hanging from the log. I loved the look and thought, how difficult would that be to build.

At this point, It would be good for everyone to know that I had absolutely no experience doing stone and mortar work, or building a concrete footing, or hand hewing a log, or routering letters in wood. I do have design experience and was able to speak with an expert on stonework (who worked in the paint department of the local lumber company), and watched a number of You Tube videos. I figured that should be enough to get me going.

My design required that I pour a one cubic yard footing. I dug out the spot by the road, built the forms, placed the rebar and SLOWLY poured the footing as I was doing this one 60lb bag of concrete at a time. 60 bags later I had my footing. In hindsight, there was probably an easier way to do this. So after 5-dozen bags of concrete, 20 bags of mortar, lots of rebar, twelve 8x8x16 concrete blocks, a few tons of locally harvested Yosemite Black Rock, and 6 weeks of effort, I had my pedestal! The woodwork was completed shortly thereafter and we had a completed sign.

While I know some guests will likely still get lost, my hope is that for season two that most if not all will find us in the mountains without difficulty.