The plan was to make Swedish meatball the day before going to Sutter Gold Mine, but for many reason, this had to wait until the morning. So here I am, making Swedish meatballs in the morning.

Martin's contribution to food art: a close up of my balls...I mean, meat balls. Or should I say, meat squares.

Feasting on meatballs and fresh bread.

Feasting on meatballs and fresh bread before going on the mine tour.

In the beginning of the tour

Inside the mine, there were plenty of equipment from the olden days for display.

The safety room. The safest place in the mine. It is surrounded by the hardest rock, aside from diamond, and is very unlikely to cave in.

One of many different drills used. This one in particular killed a man within a few years. The men working with it knowingly did it to provide for their families.

A later model of a drill. This one I think they called the leg-crusher since it sooner or later got caught in rock and started swinging with tremendous force, resulting in leg decapitation.

Our tour guide. Spoke fast and was far from interested in tourism

If you look closely, you'll see actual gold lodged inside that white rock. Gold can only be found in this type of white rock and this particular mine has at least 2 billion dollars worth left in the mine.

We look damn pretty in our hard hats :)

I can see the light at the end of the tunnel...

Martin brought home some gold "found" in the shop outside the mine. It's real 24 carat gold nonetheless.