Fun on the rocks
Everything has an end
“Stick to it,” said Peter; “everything has an end, and you get to it if you only keep on” — E. Nesbit in The Railway Children (1906)
Caples shoreline
Caples Lake at Carson Pass is a beautiful spot to escape from the heat of the Sacramento Valley — but be aware it’s a very popular location, and you’ll have a pretty long hike if you want to get away from other people and the sounds of civilization. Highway 88 runs right along the edge of the reservoir, so you’ll […]
Signs and omens
Bird watching
A lot of times when I’m out hiking I’ll hear or even see a lot of birds but don’t get a chance to capture them with my camera. Or if I do get a shot, it’s a type of bird I’ve seen so many times before I don’t get very excited — like the local doves, or Acorn Woodpeckers, or […]
Two trails
Along both trails I found the American River, along with yellow flowers, insects, and piles of rocks. The wet, happy dog was a bonus! Negro Bar State Park, Sacramento County Magnolia Ranch, El Dorado County
The Adventure Continues… Quicksilver
Not all of the “gold mines” in California were actual gold mines! For more than 100 years, there was plenty of money to be made retrieving and refining the quicksilver necessary to processing gold, and in this episode of California’s Gold Huell learns something about the lives of the people who helped produce mercury in this once-thriving community. It’s great […]
Do it now
“One day you will wake up and there won’t be any more time to do the things you’ve always wanted to do. Do it now.”
Bayley’s Folly revisited
A couple of weeks ago I posted an image of the Bayley house, a historic brick structure that sits beside Highway 49 not far from the town of Cool in El Dorado County. Last Friday, I went back for a closer look. Although the property is currently fenced off and seems abandoned, various attempts at restoration have been ongoing since […]