It was around this time last summer that I took a day trip with the Big Guy up to Lake Almanor, with a brief stop in the tiny town of Chester. I shot a few photos, but I was honestly so traumatized at seeing the devastation from the 2021 Dixie Fire that I never shared many of my images. Lately […]
Hiking up the Dorn Nature Trail at Clear Lake State Park two months ago was one of my most enjoyable outings this year. I had the trail nearly to myself, and while the sun frequently vanished behind clouds, leaving behind a chilly wind, I was able to take things at my own pace and spend time just listening to the […]
Secret Ravine is not actually a river but a somewhat seasonal creek running through southern Placer County. It’s connected to Miner’s Ravine and, eventually, to Dry Creek (formerly Linda Creek), a smaller tributary of the Sacramento River. It’s not necessary to know all this, however, to be able to enjoy a quiet morning in the shade beside the creek, listening […]
I wrote about a month ago about our forest hike along the Big River in Mendocino County. here are a few more of the photos I shot on that outing. Even though at the time we weren’t sure exactly where we were or where our chosen trail was taking us, we had a great time and the scenery was really […]
I’m not sure if there’s a name for this phenomenon, but maybe you’ve noticed that whenever you’re driving carefully along a winding, narrow, possibly dirt road full of potholes searching for a specific location in the middle of nowhere, three miles can feel more like 50 miles. Just a few miles up Little Lake Road in Mendocino, not far from […]
The dirt trail running parallel to Hinkle Creek is roughly a half mile in length, passing through oak woodland inhabited by a variety of wildlife. The murmur of the creek is never far away even though much of its banks are crowded with prickly blackberry bushes. The location is not exactly isolated; visible just up the steep hill to the […]
Whenever I head over to Phoenix Park in Fair Oaks, I usually try to find time to walk a little farther, through the neighborhood behind the park and over to the bluffs. There I can always find a slightly different view of Lake Natoma than the one I normally see, with a wide vista of Mississippi Bar below me. On […]
A week ago I mentioned that I was surprised to discover some forgotten photos from my trip to the Sonoma Coast back in September. I was sure I had posted all my pictures already; but the great thing about carrying three different cameras is that I can capture three times as many images! Today I’m sharing the photos I shot […]
I was so certain I had already blogged about exploring the neighborhood trails when we stayed at The Sea Ranch last September — but none of the photos are showing up in my media library. I guess my attempt at being organized has failed me again, but this time I don’t mind so much because it gives me an excuse […]