Russian Gulch State Park is such a beautiful place to explore, especially on a cool afternoon in October. The sky sent down a light drizzle as I started along the headlands trail, but by the time I had circled back and later headed to the landward side of the park — following the road that crosses beneath Highway 1 — […]
Road trips can be absolutely exhausting, especially if you’re driving long distances for more than a day or two. But if you can keep your eyes open no matter where you are, you’re bound to find fun details and beautiful scenery.
I would have liked to spend more than a couple of hours wandering the streets of Susanville during our trip to Eagle Lake last September. But even in the short time I was there, I saw a lot of great details and reminders of this small town’s fascinating history. Here’s hoping that I’ll get a chance to go back someday […]
I visited San Francisco’s Maritime Museum last summer, and I’ve shared a few images previously here. I really enjoyed studying the artifacts, the ship models, and the dioramas exhibited on the museum’s ground floor. But one of the most intriguing displays is the story of Kenichi Hori, the 23-year-old who in 1962 sailed alone across the Pacific in the sloop […]
I’ve shared before about taking Highway 16 on the way back from Clear Lake rather than the usual I-5 route. I’m fascinated by these hills and canyons and always so torn between the desire to get home and wanting to stop every mile or so along Cache Creek just to explore. I didn’t realize until later that I’d stopped at […]
The Petrified Forest located in Calistoga could scarcely be more different from the Petrified Forest National Park in Arizona. This lovely spot in Napa County is relatively small, with shaded paths and spring wildflowers, and I thoroughly enjoyed my visit last month — and would have lingered there even longer if possible. Yet I have to admit that, although the […]
I had a feeling it was going to be a good day for spotting birds as I headed over to the Turtle Pond at Sailor Bar along the American River. That was because before I even reached the pond I encountered not only a Great Blue heron looking down at me from the trees but also a Green heron. And […]
Spanish Flat on Lake Berryessa was extremely quiet on a warm day in mid April — very different to how I’m sure it will look now that summer is nearly here. It was great to explore this campground and fishing area before the crowds arrived.
Last Saturday I mentioned I was looking forward to a Canal Walk organized by Folsom Lake SRA staff, exploring the history of the East Canal that connected the original Folsom Dam to the historic powerhouse. We had a beautiful morning for our excursion, and I did manage to learn a few things I had never known before. It had been […]