Gems!

  Temecula, California
Saturday, March 28, 2009

I've been lazing around these past weeks so I needed a real workout.  I signed up for a day of fun at the Oceanview Gem Mine in Pala, California.  This is the last operating mine in the Pala mining district.  I saw this place on a show called "Treasure Hunters" some time ago and have always been interested.  This mine is famous for its gem quality Tourmaline.  You get to work the tailings pile from the main mine operation and you get to keep anything you find! Check out their web site if you are interested in checking it out for yourself: http://www.digforgems.com/
Pala is in rural hill country between San Diego and the L.A. Metro area near the town of Temecula.  Pala is also an Indian reservation and of course, it has an historic Franciscan mission church (I promise, this is the LAST one).  : )  I first came out to this area back in the 80's when I was in the communication trades to work on the local Wells Fargo branch.  This is a very picturesque area, reminds me of Italy or Spain with hills covered in Olive trees and vinyards.

Well, after four solid hours of back breaking shoveling and sifting, I didn't have much to show for it, but I had great fun! : P   A cool part of the experience is that you get to take a tour of the working mine!  It's really neat to see how they locate and blast out the crystal deposits.  Later that same day, they planned to blast out a new section but, we weren't allowed to hang around.  :  ( 

After such an amazing trip, this will be my final adventure.  It's time to push on home and prepare for my big move.
I have one last blog entry to make and this will mark the final chapter in this epic tale.  ; )

~JQ