Spontaneous Adventures

Huell visits the Monterey Customs House State Historic Park, discovers the tallest bridge in California, and checks out the town of Cool -- all unplanned adventures. At one time, the Custom House presided over Mexico’s primary port of entry on the Alta California coast. It was here that Commodore Jon Drake Sloat raised the American flag in July of 1846, claiming over 600,000 square miles of territory for the US. This territory later was included in all or portions of the states of Utah, Colorado, Arizona, California and New Mexico. This building is recognized as the oldest government building in California and it is State Historic landmark #1. Wander through this adobe building and find it as it looked in the 1840s. Try guessing to what purpose the items on display were used for. Is Sebastian the parrot real? Gaze out from the upper room where custom agents and soldiers once stayed. Watch for ships arriving from sea, much as the custom’s officials did over 150 years ago. Next, Huell stumbles upon the tallest bridge in California. Located on Foresthill Road in Placer County near historic Highway 49, The Foresthill Bridge was built to span a lake that never arrived from the damming of the American River in Auburn. And then Huell wanders right into the town of Cool and enjoys a visit to the local beauty salon and meets the mayor!