Yep, we went to prison today, Folsom Prison, to be exact. And no, we weren't sent to the slammer. Instead we hiked up a short spur of the Canal Historic Trail from Rainbow Bridge in Folsom, to the gates that posted we would be shot if we went any further.
OK, not SHOT, exactly, but definitely in trouble. They don't want people breaking into prison apparently. We complied.
So we took our photo of our makeshift #25, and skedaddled on out of there, back down the gorgeous trail that follows the American River. We left our leaf strewn #25 there in front of the sign, kind of our version of tagging!
This stretch of river is very dramatic and tumbles from the bottom of Folsom Dam, through a narrow rock canyon that eventually spills into Lake Natoma. From there, water flows through Nimbus Dam, then on through Sacramento, eventually reaching the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean.
The Canal Trail originates at the Folsom Powerhouse, which at one time was the first, and biggest of the hydroelectric generator in the US. From 1895 until 1952 it sent electricty up to 22 miles away, powering the lights of Sacramento.
My walking partner, Becky Lund, and I decided to start walking the various trails of our area, to get to know the areas where we sell homes. We challenged ourselves to 60 walks within 60 miles of Fair Oaks by the time Becky turns 60 - next September. It's our "60 By 60 Walks." So far we have done 25 walks, of all shapes and sizes. For some, we walk neighborhoods - Gold River, Phoenix Field, Sierra Oaks and such. Other times, we explore the American River Bike Trail, which traverses a preserved natural area along the river. We've walked nearly 32 miles of it, except the very last stretch near downtown. Last weekend, we walked the dry lakebed of Folsom Lake. We've also gone up into the Auburn Recreation Area, where there are miles and miles of trails in the canyons of the North and Middle forks of the American River.
Our numbers are taking on a life of their own. We look for the number of our hike on signs and such, or we make the number out of what we've found. We've used pine cones, sticks, rocks, seashells, our legs, shadows, fingers and even an old bike tire tube we found. Making the numbers are almost as much fun as the hiking. To cap off our walks, we try to find a local coffee shop. I must say we are becoming quite opinionated about coffee quality.
We are loving all that we are discovering. Along with hours and hours of good gossip and solving the problems of the world, we are experiencing our town from a whole different viewpoint. As the top Realtors in our office, we spend a lot of time in our neighborhoods. But to see them on foot, and from the trails that wind through, along, and behind them, adds another layer to our knowledge.
Stay tuned for walk #26! It's coming up soon!
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