three feet high and rising

Spring has finally decided to arrive, although it sometimes seems her heart isn't in it this year.  Chilly breezes and the threat of rain linger into our second week since the constant rain came to an end.  And, Winter is holding tight to some of the territory he claimed in March.

See those trees in the background?  Beneath them is where, during an ordinary year, you sit to do a bit of fishing in the American River just before it joins with the Sacramento.  This year, they are forty yards from the new shore.  The water levels outside the river's banks are ebbing, finally, but there are still a few remarkable sights to see.

Like this one.  This is the bike trail I normally take if my destination is midtown or downtown.  On this particular day, it was covered in water far too deep for biking through. For some perspective, follow the yellow line to the background... just to the left of one of the concrete pillars is a rectangle protruding from the water.  That is the map of the bike trail.  It's posted at eye level, which means the water is about three feet deep at that crossroads.  I have fenders and all, but three feet strikes me as a bit much.

Here's another example.  Ordinarily, the tourists seen here would walk down the gangplank to the Delta King and their lunch.  These days, it's an uphill hike to get to the grilled salmon.


Fortunately, I have found an alternate route that is now dry enough to let me bike across the river and then follow a little-used stretch of trail along the south bank.  As with much of river as it nears downtown, the wildlife on this bank runs more to the urban variety. Pit bulls seem to be the pet de rigueur these days among the outdoorsy types who frequent the south bank. 

Each day brings the water a bit lower on the trail along the north bank, and I hope to return to my usual route before much longer.

Finally, in the interest of fairness, I should point out that a delayed Spring may be a more appreciated Spring.  Scenes like these are everywhere, all at once, and will be on their way far too soon.