Today I got away from the flatlanders and went up into them thar hills to Columbia Booksellers & Stationers in Columbia State Historic Park, CA. The fire doors and brick walls reminded me of the fires that tore through this gold rush boomtown.

The proprietor of the store is a wealth of knowledge on lore and legend (ask him how the stagecoach robber Black Bart was finally caught).

His shelves display quill pens, ink wells, powdered oak gall ink, and now Professor Asperity’s Oak Gall Ink. He was very gracious to display my wares, and I’m excited because I know people from all over come here on their way to Yosemite.