Bowl of Fire on horse

Joe Herbst with Sassy & Ellie

On the day after Christmas, Joe Herbst and I did our annual (more or less) horse ride out in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. This year we rode in the Bowl of Fire, off the North Shore Road. Driving up Callville Wash, which was not possible last year with the washed our road and deep mud, we parked the trailer and unloaded Sassy, Ellie, and Ruby. We then headed further up the wash and over a nearly invisible saddle to the back side of the Bowl of Fire, then headed west behind the bluffs, and wound down through a narrow wash and back to the truck. The weather was perfect, a brilliant blue sky of the sort I never see in Sacramento where I now live.

Joe and I have been friends for 48 years or so, starting out hiking, backpacking and climbing with Howard Booth. We lost touch for a while as we both went off to do different things, but have reconnected for about the last 10 years, and immensely enjoy our time together. Our biggest adventure was a 2007 week-long series of rides in the Escalante Canyons of Utah, but we’ve been doing at least one trip a year (last year, in the same area).

After the ride, we went out to dinner with Joe’s wife Pam, which was the first time I’d gotten to spend much time with Pam.

Photos on Picasa at https://picasaweb.google.com/116687105851998007887/BowlOfFire20111226.

With my irregular posting, I miss a lot of things, which I often think I’ll go back and pick up later, but don’t. Recently, my life included seeing friends Ann Pitchford, Jeff vanEe, Howard Booth and Ursula Wilson, Mike Pearson, Mark Vranesh, and Norma Biggar, all long-standing Las Vegas area friends. I spent Christmas with my mom, sister, nieces, and grandniece. Earlier in December I attended the Gaskell Ball and one day of the Dickens Fair, and spent time with Michael Charnofsky. I saw several movies over the month, out at theaters which is rare for me. By far my favorite was Hugo.

Bridge Spring Canyon

Howard and Ursula in Bridge Spring Canyon

I went out for a wonderful mid-day hike with Howard Booth and Ursula Wilson, in the Nelson area southeast of Boulder City. Though I’d hiked a little in the area, and had often gone there for spring wildflower displays, I’d never been to the area we went, Bridge Spring Canyon and Oak Creek Canyon. Bridge Spring Canyon of course has a bridge, a natural rock arch over a waterway (bridges span waterways, arches don’t), a seep below, and quite a lot of oaks (Quercus turbinella). We then went over a ridge and into Oak Creek Canyon, which has no creek except after rains, and only scattered oaks in damp or shady areas. I forget when I’m away from the desert how much I enjoy being out in the clean air with distant views and wonderful close-in details. Though I thought I might go back to Sacramento early, this hike reminded me that I won’t give up any days in the desert. Thanks, as always, to Howard for these days out.

Photos on Picasa at https://picasaweb.google.com/116687105851998007887/BridgeSpringCanyon20111221.

Recently

Nothing terribly eventful has happened since my last post, but I know if I fall far behind, it seems too hard to decide what to post and catch up.

Sacramento trees have been spectacular with fall color. As my first fall here, I’m not sure if it brighter, but it is certainly bright, and is probably later than usual, with a few trees now bare but many in their full glory.

I’ve been going to Davis to see movies at the Varsity Theatre this fall. I like old theatres, and in fact try to avoid modern multiplexes, so my theatres are the Tower and Crest in Sacramento, the Varsity in Davis, and others when I travel. Recently I’ve seen The Way and Martha Marcy May Marlene. I’m exploring the bike facilities of Davis and also using up left over Amtrak tickets.

I spent Wednesday with Steffani, and Thanksgiving day with Lea and her friends, as well as her household of dogs and cats. Quite enjoyable!

Of course I’m dancing, last night I Sacramento, last Saturday in Auburn where I’ve not danced in years, and last Friday in Davis where I’ve never danced before. In Auburn a few of us went for yogurt at break, and last night four of us went to Desert Diner after. I really enjoy this and have been disappointed that this social practice that was so common when I started dancing has faded away in most places.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Tweed Ride Sacramento

So much fun with so many interesting people on a variety of bikes. Starting with breakfast at One Speed, we rode across the Sac State bridge, along the American River Parkway, back across the railroad bridge to Bows & Arrows (beer), then to Revolution Wines, though I had tea at Temple adjacent, then to Pangaea (more beer). Tweed, tweed and more tweed. Thank you Rick, and all the other tweeders – tweedies (?). See the blog for more info. Next one in the spring!

Five Bromptons – more than I’ve even seen in Sac. A sixth joined later.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Location:Sacramento,United States

Ride to Locke

Saturday I rode to Locke/Walnut Grove, about 30 miles down the Sacramento River from Sacramento. I started along the east side from Tower Bridge, staying as close to the river as possible, which is close in places with a paved path on the levee, but quite far away in others. At Freeport I crossed to the west side, past Clarksburg, back to the east side at Courtland bridge, and on into Walnut Grove where I ate lunch at Maya’s. After a little time in Locke, I headed back upriver along the levee roads. I cut off the last part by taking light rail back from Meadowview.

Though I ride every day, commuting, this was longest ride I’ve done in a while, and I was tired! I’m gradually working my way down the river, and eventually will ride all the way to the Golden Gate. The bridges are markers: Tower, Freeport, Courtland, Walnut Grove. So far.

I really enjoy riding the levee roads with the river to one side and farmland to the other. Though the roads are narrow and have more traffic than I’d like, it is beautiful.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Sacramento

I am now living in Sacramento. Many friends already know, but I’m sure some to not. I took a job with San Juan Unified School District as a Safe Routes to School Coordinator for the eleven K-8 grade schools in Citrus Heights. Citrus Heights is a suburb of Sacramento, and as a place lacking sidewalks and bike lanes in many areas, a place that was designed for cars and not people, it needs my help. I really enjoy the people I work with there, as they are by in large committed to the same objective of creating a more walkable, more human place where children feel welcome to get to school under their own power.

I live in mid-town Sacramento, and I’m very much enjoying being here. There is so much to do: live music, community theatre, coffee shops that have quality bulk teas, restaurants, bars, museums, young people, streets lined with beautiful mature trees, fairly bike-friendly streets and drivers, the American and Sacramento rivers close by. If my income level were higher, I’d get to enjoy more of some of these opportunities, but I’ve decided that half-time work is about the right amount for me, and I’m learning how to survive and thrive on it.

My apartment is on the third floor, up at the crown level of many of the trees, so as I stand on my porch, I feel somewhat like I’m living in a forest.

Living in one place and working in another doesn’t fit my ideal of what people should do, and I wonder about it. But I realized that with a public transit system that starts shutting down at 8:00 and is completely shut down by 10:00 in the evening, I would be more socially and culturally isolated in Citrus Heights than I was in Carson City. As has been said of many places, “there is no there there.” Suburbs where most of the people leave every morning to work in a completely different place and return home at night too tired, from work and driving, to do much, do not create social and cultural opportunities. So, for now, I’ve chosen to be where the opportunities are, not where I work. I get to work every day on a combination of light rail, buses, and biking. At the end of the day, I try to ride at least a little of the American River Parkway bike trail on my way back home.

Today I rode bike trail from home to the beginning at Discovery Park (the confluence of the Sacramento and American rivers), and east to Folsom 32 miles, where I had a beer and ice cream cone (not together!), and took the light rail back home. The light rail station is three blocks from home.

I miss several friends from Carson City, and very much miss being so close to the Sierra Nevada. One can see the Sierra from Sacramento only on clear days, and they are much further away. But I’m happy to be where I am. It is much noisier here, with the busy streets and night life, but that is a reasonable trade off for living in a place where so much happens.

Granite Chief at last

I finally got back into the Granite Chief Wilderness, and also looped by Camp Winthers, where I used to work. My post on my Granite Chief Wilderness blog: http://granitechief.wordpress.com/2011/07/25/through-the-watersheds/.

Many travels

I’ve been busy since my last post. I finished up work in Carson City, and started summer break from my job in Sacramento. I completed instructing a Traffic Skills 101 bike skills course in Reno. Went to Sacramento and the bay area for friends and dancing (Felton contra and Gaskell Ball). Met Larry and Roger Mowbray for a bike ride along the Truckee River. Took a short backpack in the Carson Range, including the night of heavy rain. Attended the play “Or,” in Sacramento and spent time with the Steampunk group inventing a cog dance. Went to the five day sacred circle dance camp at Valley of the Moon camp in Sonoma County. Spent a day in San Francisco with my high school friend Alaina. Visited my mom and sister in Las Vegas. Went for another short backpack in the Carson Range. And just to bring things back around, had a wonderful picnic hike with Danita in Ash Canyon. Whew! All that in five weeks.

I am using Facebook a bit more than before. I don’t really keep up with either, but some is better than none.

sacred circle dance camp

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Waterfall with Danita

Friday Danita and I hiked up the waterfall creek off Kings Canyon. We walked up on the new (to me) trail to the big waterfall, then headed up the cliffs to the upper creek. Higher up there is a little trail along the creek and we spent time exploring and photographing. Talked for quite a while and just spaced out watching the creek. Then went higher up, found the trail being laid out by Jeff Potter and others, and the upper waterfall. More photos of moss and flowing water. Water is abundant this year, of course, and everything very green, but not a lot of flowers. The weather was perfect and so was the company. It’s great to have good friends and good mountains.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

iMatter March in Sacramento

Alec Loorz of iMatter March

This morning I joined a group of people, led by local high school students, for an iMatter March. This is a climate justice action founded by Alec Loorz, a high school student from southern California. I saw Alec speak at Bioneers last fall, was quite inspired, and he was here today to kick off the march. Students from several local high schools led the march, supported by Rebecca Anderson of Alliance for Climate Education. We walked from Cesar Chavez Park to the steps of the Capitol. The group was not large, but it was enthusiastic, and I enjoyed the people I met, both during the march, and at Temple Coffee and Tea afterwards.

I have fallen way behind on my postings. I’m working two jobs, in Sacramento and Carson City, and that along with the travel back and forth, is keeping my fully occupied with little time left for thinking about blogs.

I carpooled last night from Sacramento to Nevada City for the contra dance, with Karen, Michelle, Tim and ?. A very enjoyable dance, as it always is in Nevada City. Of course I get to see and dance with some very good friends when I’m there.