View from the top

If I have a free day in the spring, it’s hard for me to resist going out to Folsom Lake — and this is one of my favorite spots this time of year. Yes, I sometimes run into a few people, many of them on mountain bikes. But that’s okay, we can co-exist! And really, the views up here are […]

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Lakeside seating

As I strolled along Lakeshore Boulevard in Nice, looking out over Clear Lake, I couldn’t help but notice that someone seemed to have forgotten to bring in their seating arrangement from the launch ramp area. Nobody but me seemed the least bit interested in this chair; it seemed the most natural thing in the world for it to be standing […]

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Night and day

I always enjoy the balcony views whenever we visit the Worldmark resort on the north shore of Clear Lake; but if I had known we would have such a great lake view this time, I would have brought along a tripod for more night photography. Also, it may have had something to do with spring break, but I saw a […]

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Vineyard trail

With over 30 wineries and 9,000 acres of vineyards currently in Lake County, it’s never too surprising to find yourself driving or hiking in close proximity to a vast field of carefully staked grapevines. On my hike to the McVicar Audubon Sanctuary near Lower Lake, part of the trail ran alongside a portion of land belonging to Vigilence Vineyards. I’m […]

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Golden poppies

Many years ago, this spot along a busy road near Lake Natoma was destined to be the home of a large office building; but the structure was never built, because homeowners up the hill from the site complained, protested, and generally made life miserable for the property owner. Ever since then, the lot has been fenced in and more or […]

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Around the house

One of the best things about doing a vacation rental is checking out the fun little details in and around the house. That might include yard decorations, unusual architecture, or colorful plants and flowers. I’ve gotten into the habit of doing this in every place we stay, and I love it for a few reasons. It helps me keep my […]

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Ocean views

I could really spend hours gazing at the ocean off the Northern California coast, and I sometimes manage to shoot a few pictures as well! We were fortunate to make it over to the coast on three separate trips last year, in April, September, and November. It was the first time in ages that I’d seen the coast in springtime, […]

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