Tag: cyclists

River Walk

Sunday, July 5, 2020 7:30 am   68 degrees

River is usually quiet this time of year. Resident ducks and Canada geese fly in. I saw a cormorant fly twice over the water. I always look for spider webs – so many, with lots of captured flies.

The sun glitters like stars reflecting in the water. The reflection moves with me as I walk across the bridge.

Sometimes I see turtles sitting in a log that lies alongside the bridge. Today I saw three of them. One at a time they climbed out of the water on the log to sunbathe. I point them to walkers on the bridge. A Sacramento County Sheriff officer wandered over. He thought since three of us are looking over the side of the bridge, something must have happened. I told him we are looking at the turtles underneath the bridge on the log. After being assured everything was okay, he walked away.

Once I venture on the paved bike trail or even the dirt trails alongside the river, it is so peaceful and beautiful. It is easy to forget the setting is surrounded by suburban development. This could be anywhere. The only clue is the homes sitting on the edge of or near Fair Oaks Bluff. No sound today except for the rushing water. I see some soft ripples where the depth of the water changes. Water is so shallow here, visitors walk to the center and it is only waist high. A gentle breeze blows across my face.

I stand at the boat launch ramp watching the geese clean themselves as their morning ritual. They twist their necks in all directions.  I leave home and often forget to bring them food.

A family of four (two parents and two young boys) walked down the ramp. The older boy was scared of the geese. A dozen of them were scouring the boat launch ramp looking for tidbits to eat. The boy refused to walk down the ramp to pose with his brother – to avoid standing too close to the geese. I said the geese are not to be afraid of. I am here all the time. Kneel or sit down and they think you are not here. They are not afraid. Being them food and they will love you forever.  Parents thanked me as they left with their family photos.

I meet a lot of people. Some watch the scene, others read. Others walk by and some cyclists ride as if they were on a marathon. Several men are standing in the river fishing. I saw one fly fishing. He cast his line way out and it landed. Then he cast his line way out again before pulling it out again.

Fair Oaks Bridge and the American River that surrounds it, means so many different things to its visitors.

Watching Wildlife Wake Up

Sunday, September 18, 2016   635 am

American River, American River Parkway, Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, Fair Oaks, Fair Oaks Bridge, water, Sacramento, Sacramento County, American River Parkway, scenic, trails, waterWhen I arrive at Fair Oaks bridge, the sun has yet to rise over distant trees on the opposite shore of the American River. I focus my attention on the river landscape and notice so many different habitats for wildlife here. The roosters are the most obvious – they are always the loudest! I have seen Great Blue Herons on the river, Egrets, Canada Geese and a wide variety of ducks. I saw an owl one time and river otters occasionally. Trees, fallen logs, shrubs, and the island farther upstream are excellent hiding places. The river itself, now more shallow than it has been in a long while, creates homes too. The bridge is also home to bats hidden underneath in specially formed concrete slots.Read more

Relaxing in Morning Sun

Tuesday, June 20, 2017   7 am    70s?

On a day predicted to be 104 or above, morning on the river is cool and quiet.

Butterflies dance in the air. Birds twitter – oh eeee, oh eeee.  Cyclists whizz by. Water rushes with rapids forming white caps as they roll over rocks. Hot sun already shines bright.  Water glistens with its sunny reflection.

Lizards greet the morning with pushups. Flexing their legs. Watching me. Slinking away.

Today I enjoy the stillness of the river.  Duck rest on a distant island. Views of the river channel as seen through a spider web. Two pigeons rest on the bridge frame. Others approach the bridge, sitting for two seconds on a cement pillar. A single Canada goose honks. Cyclist headlights flash as they approach the bridge. Bikes rumble as they cross.

morning sun, Canada Geese, relax, American River, morningToday Canada Geese are in no hurry, relaxing in the warm sun. They swim peacefully through the river toward the boat launch ramp. Tomorrow I will bring more grapes to feed them.

The cars on the Sunrise Blvd. bridge slow to a crawl. Birds fly above my head. Cloudless sky. The hot sun melted them away.

Cool breeze refreshes my skin as I ride. I feel hot and sticky skin standing in one place. Runners, walkers, cyclists arrive early to enjoy the day before it sizzles.

 

 

 

 

Rare Vibrant Sunrise!

September 29, 2017   60 degrees, 630 am

I look west from my front door and WOW! A rare sunrise glowing orange through clouds at 620 am.

sunrise, mornings, Fair Oaks Bridge, fishermen walkers,
Rare sunrise colors the sky with orange, purple and pink long before the sun emerges. Clouds hang like woven baskets in the sky. This sunrise lasted 45 minutes before colors faded to shades of whites and grays.

I leave the house quickly and drive toward the sunrise. The dark sky is a blanket of deep gray clouds and shades of orange. I hurry to the Fair Oaks Bridge to catch the sunrise and hear the lone chicken singing from its tree on Bridge Street.

Village chickens greet me with a rousing symphony this morning. So many awake and singing early.

I shoot a dozen pictures to capture the changing light as the sky brightens. I stand and watch the sky change as the sun slowly rises over distant trees. The clouds turn to gray and then white as vibrant colors shift and fade. Two women cross the bridge quietly holding flashlights. Then I am alone to treasure the colors of morning light with the fisherman below. Three boats sit on the east side and two on the west. The sun I still rising and hidden by long blankets of heavy, dense clouds.Read more