Another nice town in our route was Seralvo. I find in my notebook, written
nearly thirty-five years ago the following.
"We camped at Seralvo about four o'clock this evening and after pitching our
tents, Billy Bell III, Reamer and I went down to bathe in the limpid stream
that flows through the town, and take a look at things in general. Soon we
were beneath the arch of a beautiful stone bridge, in a cool, clean stream
of water. On one side of us towered the cathedral built of cut stone, said
to be one hundred and sixty-six years old; within the cupola of which swung
two ponderous bells, whose chimes were then awakening echoes in the
neighboring heights. On the other side stood a thick grove of fig trees in
the midst of which was a cottage over whose roof clung beautiful vines in
full bloom. Water clear and cool flows through every street, and take it all
together, Seralvo is almost the prettiest little town I ever saw.
There are few other towns of note on the route to Monterey.
"At Seralvo we caught a first view of the Sierra Madre Mountains. The sight
was grand, and to a tourist would have afforded great pleasure, but to the
tired soldier, it was only the giant mile post in the dim distance pointing
to the end of his journey."
to be continued . . .
Posted by Sue P. Carpenter 2005, all rights reserved