I was surprised to spot this ground squirrel perched high above me on the rocks, mostly because his position left him very vulnerable to any hungry bird of prey who might come along. But the amazing view must have been well worth the risk — at least to judge from his body language and the parade of expressions marching across […]
Last weekend the temperatures were sizzling here in the Sacramento Valley, so of course I started thinking about escaping to some cool spot in the mountains — like Yosemite. I’ve mentioned more than once that I have yet to visit Yosemite National Park in my life; and while the ongoing health crisis means that you currently need reservations to drive […]
Last week I may not have found a lot of water in Folsom Lake’s New York Creek, on the south fork of the American River, but I was lucky enough to get some good shots of the Killdeer. Normally, I can’t get close enough for a decent look at these very shy shorebirds. Check out those big beautiful eyes (you […]
Due to the drought and the heat, large areas around Folsom Lake are already dry and full of brittle weeds; but on my visit to New York Creek a few days ago I came across a small feeder creek that was still very green and full of animal life. In the morning shade of an old oak, with a cool […]
These may not be the greatest Canada goose photos I’ve ever shot, but I can’t help liking them. Yesterday morning I went out to Folsom Lake with the Big Guy. It was still relatively cool at at 10 o’clock, and I was sitting on a rock gazing at what’s left of New York Creek, which currently looks like this: Suddenly, […]
Today, with the temperature reaching up into the 100+ degree range, I’m staying indoors and looking back to only two months ago, when we visited Rattlesnake Bar one morning and I explored a portion of the Pioneer Express Trail I had never seen before.
I’ve had a soft spot in my heart for mules ever since reading The Oregon Trail, Rinker Buck’s memoir about traveling the historic overland route with his brother in a covered wagon pulled by a team of three mules, Beck, Jake, and Bute. As I hike the dirt trails within Folsom Lake State Recreation Area, I frequently encounter people riding […]
As I hiked along this unknown trail, following the Big Guy through the Kruse Rhododendron Preserve, I suddenly realized that the batteries in my trusty Finepix AX were about to die. I had decided to leave my two other cameras in the car, preferring to travel light this time; and although I had spare batteries for the Fuji, they were […]
Last week on Tuesday afternoon we were restless in our little Sonoma coast motel room and looking for a place to get away from the gusty winds — Kruse Rhododendron Reserve turned out to be the perfect spot! We’ve passed by this hidden treasure so many times and never fully appreciated it; but I think we’re finally beginning to realize […]