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