A slightly different version of this post was originally published on June 10, 2018. The Crown of Thorns is a real eye-catcher, a hardy succulent that grows well both in the wild and as a favorite garden hybrid. I’m honestly not sure what appeals to me more about this plant — the vivid blooms or the aggressive spines jutting from […]
The old Salmon Falls Bridge, on the South Fork of the American River, is visible only during the winter and when Folsom Lake water levels drop.
Since today is Veteran’s Day in the U.S., I thought it would be appropriate to share this hour-long episode of Visiting which features the guided missile cruiser USS Antietam. Launched back in February 1986 and currently stationed in Yokosuka, Japan, this ship is a truly impressive piece of naval hardware. But it’s the crew that brings life to any ship, […]
Most of the signs I see along the trail when hiking are ordinary things, offering information or giving directions. I usually appreciate seeing them because they reassure me I’m headed in the right direction — even if the signs themselves seem a little confused. Other signs leave me scratching my head; surely they have a meaning, even if I can’t […]
September 1, 2000 — Mom boarded the westbound California Zephyr in Ottumwa, Iowa, and I’m very grateful that she chose to shoot a few photos out the train window as the train rolled across the Great Plains, over the Rockies, through the Nevada flatlands and finally the Sierra Nevada on her trip home. I may never get to travel across […]
I always find a strange beauty in the enormous granite outcroppings arising out of the earth around the area of Folsom Lake. According to one source (PDF link), the Folsom granite is about 128 million years old; I grew up seeing large granite rocks like these all over the Sierra foothills, so they are both familiar and mysterious to me. […]
I like to visit this hidden treasure along Folsom-Auburn Road in Granite Bay on cool autumn mornings. The trail is a relatively short loop (0.9 miles), but thanks to the terrain, it doesn’t feel especially crowded. I think those who come here are looking for a bit of peace and quiet and are happy to allow fellow visitors a bit […]
Indian summer at Folsom Lake. Hiking from the Doton’s Point parking lot at Granite Bay, you can literally get lost in the tangle of intersecting trails climbing over and between huge granite outcrops to the top of the ridge. Once you arrive at the highest point, enjoy the view! Because you’re definitely going to get confused again, trying to find […]
The Delta Ecotours are no longer in operation, but the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta hasn’t changed much since this hour-long episode of California’s Gold first aired. Early on, tour operator Jeff Hart tells Huell they might spot “an otter; we may see a beaver [or] an osprey;” those words have a familiar ring for me, as the Big Guy frequently tells […]