Wild Sierra Iris growing along the Poppy Loop Trail at Hidden Falls Regional Park, in the Sierra Nevada Foothills, Auburn, California
One year ago this past Thursday, Jeff and I spent our 25th anniversary adventuring in Cabo San Lucas. This year we spent it adventuring in our own neck-of-the-woods. Although it wasn’t near as wild as our week in Cabo, it was wild of a different nature.
It was wild as in “wildflowers.”
Blue Angels – Capital Airshow, Mather Field, Sacramento, CA
The most exciting thing about our day in Sacramento was when we got invited to fly with the Angels.
Yes, that’s right!
Jeff and I both got to experience first hand what it’s like to fly with the Blue Angels. That has to top anything I’ve ever done!
Had you fooled didn’t I?
Happy April Fools Day!
Blue Angels at the Capital Airshow, Mather Field, Sacramento, CA
This is another one of my favorite shots of the Blue Angels, I took during a recent trip to Sacramento. If you ever get a chance to see them, go for it!
I’m not really into aircrafts per se. But, watching the Blue Angels perform was one of the most exciting things I’ve ever witnessed.
Blue Angels at the Capital Airshow, Mather Field, Sacramento, California
When Jeff and I left home for the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail photo shoot, we knew the Blue Angels would be flying high in the sky nearby. We were hoping to get a chance to see them perform, as we were very close to Mather Field during our shoot.
Couple walking the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, American River Parkway, Sacramento, California
Dirt paths are on both sides of the paved bike path for walking and running.
Biking the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, American River Parkway, Sacramento, California
I have lived less than an hour away from Sacramento for 22 years, but I had never checked out the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail in all those years, until recently.
Mallard Ducks at the American River Parkway, Sacramento, CA
Last weekend, Jeff and I did a photo shoot at the American River Parkway in Sacramento. Our assignment was to capture photos of bikers on the Jedediah Smith Memorial Trail, named the #1 bike path in the nation for 2006 by www.trails.com.
While we were scouting the area for great locations, I got a little sidetracked by these beautiful Mallards.Â
 
Digital art version of the photo above
I love experimenting in PhotoShop. At first, I preferred the original shot. After looking at them for awhile, I have changed my mind. Now, I like the digital art version the best.Â
Which one do you prefer?
Pan shot of a woman mountain biking the Stagecoach Trail, ASRA, Auburn, CA
The Stagecoach Trail is the #1 trail of the Clementine Loop Trail. It starts at Russell Road (off of Lincoln Way) in Auburn and ends about 2-miles later at the North Fork of the American River. If you plan to continue on here to trail # 2, cross over the Old Foresthill Road Bridge and hook up with the Clementine Trail on the left.
This trail is considered a beginner/intermediate trail. It’s an old fire road, so it’s very wide all the way down to the river, which is the easy part. But, it’s downhill all the way. Which means, for those that want to turn around here and return to Russell Road, it’s all uphill and that bumps this trail up to intermediate.
Note: All the trails that make up the Clementine Loop Trail are great for hiking and running too. They are also “dog friendly” for leashed dogs.
You can view more of our mountain biking stock photos in our Biking Gallery.
Mountain biking the Clementine Trail, ASRA, Auburn, CA
Look close. There are actually 2 mountain bikers in the middle of this photo. I was hiking on the other side of the river when I shot this. I decided to travel light that day and left my long zoom lens behind. Unfortunately!Â
Silhouetted mountain bikers riding through the culvert, Auburn State Recreation Area, Auburn, California
The Culvert Trail is trail #4 of the 5 trails that make up the Clementine Loop Trail. It runs from Lake Clementine Road to the Auburn-Foresthill Road and drops down into Mammoth Bar. At this point it hooks up with trail #5, the Confluence Trail, which parallels the Middle Fork of the American River.Â
