OLD SAC TO FOLSOM VIA THE AMERICAN RIVER PARKWAY March 6, 2010

Up early this Saturday, I enjoyed a hearty breakfast, and thought what to do today. I took off at about 7:15 a.m., to head for the Parkway. The restrooms were all locked at my usual stops, and I ventured on to find an open one by Tiscornia Park along the Sacramento River.

Wandering over to the confluence for my usual view of the two rivers, I started my stop watch at the zero mile mark. I was pretty confident that I would do my goal hike, all the way to the Historic Folsom station. Keeping a good pace, I was to encounter many users, this cool morning. I carried my day pack to hold my clothes when I became too warm, and my music player had some nice, new, tunes, loaded recently.

I began snapping a lot of photos. I recorded some of the bad spots, with water over the pavement in one short section. Passing the Guy West Bridge, I sipped water out of just about every faucet. Reaching Watt Avenue, I was about half way. So many cyclists!

I took a longer stop at the structure overlooking the big pond area, then crossed over the Richey Bridge. From here on, I knew that I would make it. I did a few panorama sequences. I love to work on those, by my newer software.

As I came to Hazel Avenue, my foot started to hurt a bit. I had a small blister forming. Well, I had it made, and this might be my last chance to do this, ever. It was only about 1.5 hours to the end. I slowed down, and snapped more photos, wishing that today was a better day for sun and clouds. My old camera club didn't like flat, white, light.

Taking more of the many side trails, I encountered more of the puddles and muddy spots. Thankfully, my boots stayed clean. I imagined that I'd get a good bowl of soup when I came to Folsom, but I arrived to Historic Folsom station only 10 minutes before the train arrived. I have a fear of not being able to get a ride home.

Catching the light rail run at 5:30 p.m., I had a nice ride back to downtown. So, with a round trip time, from about home, of then about 11 hours, I did my lifetime, day hiking, Parkway achievement, as far as distance. It was slightly over 30.5 miles.

Suspecting that I will not be doing much traveling, soon, I wondered if someone would contact me for another hike tomorrow. I'd be game for an easy Coast Range peak. I mostly likely will not do my 4X double bag, as this winter was a wet one, and thus the trails might be muddy.

So, I continue having a small carbon footprint, if not climbing any peaks!

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