Closer to Home, the usual for a Pandemic Year: March 2021

We began March with a hike on the Johnny Cash Trail in Folsom. In January 1968, Johnny Cash gave a concert, recorded a live album "Johnny Cash at Folsom Prison", and sang his 1955 song "Folsom Prison Blues" at the prison. 

To capitalize on this history, the city of Folsom has created a 2.75 mi connecter trail on which someday they will install Cash-themed art. The trail begins in downtown Folsom near the Rainbow Bridge and does take you to the gates of the Folsom Prison. Unfortunately, once you arrive at the prison, you have to turn back to hook up with other Folsom trails to finish the loop back to downtown Folsom.

Bridge over Robbers' Ravine

View of the prison walls from the Johnny Cash trail

We arrived at the prison and hoped we could find a short cut from there, but you must go back and return to the trail that leads under the Prison Road underpass to the Folsom Lake Trail along East Natoma Street. The trail is nice until you get to the Johnny Cash Bridge over Folsom Lake Crossing. From that point to where you get to the American River Bike trail, you must endure 2.6 miles of walking along a busy, loud highway with no shade in sight. But you do get a glimpse of Folsom Lake and of the Folsom Dam before you cross under the Folsom Lake Crossing Bridge at the American River.

Johnny Cash Bridge over Folsom Lake Crossing

Just a glimpse of Folsom Lake

Folsom Dam

The American River below the Prison

Once on the American River Bike trail, all is peaceful again. The trail (actually off-piste) takes you through some old Olive Groves that provide blessed shade and quiet.

Back on the bike trail there were some nice wildflowers on the bank before crossing over the rainbow bridge to finish the loop.

Shadow of the Rainbow Bridge on the American River

Taking the spur to the Prison and doubling back, the trail is an 8-mile loop.

Before leaving on our March 21 vacation to Southern CA and NV, the rest of our days felt a lot like last March. The tenants who rented my apartment on March 8, 2020, moved out and I spent several days getting the place ready for a new tenant who took occupancy on March 20. 

I took photos of cats, flowers, and made bread. Looking forward to escaping into a new landscape.

Cheating on their diets

The positive Covid cases continued to decline in March with an additional 328 cases. The month ended with a total of 9,448 cases in El Dorado County since the pandemic began. Sadly, there were an additional 8 deaths bringing the total to 108 deaths in March most of whom were in the 65+ category. The county did move into the red tier in March.