River Pines California USA
I rarely cover my travels because I run a blogging tips themed blog.
But Blogging From Paradise readers ordered me to blog about my travels from time to time, at cyber gunpoint.
Right now, I am in River Pines California typing away inside of the house you see above.
We are spending a month in the foot hills of the legendary Sierra Nevada Mountains.
Mountain lions, black bears, coyotes, foxes and deer are plentiful here.
Note; I said that “mountain lions” are plentiful. In most places, these felines are shy and retiring. Not here. Ring cameras catch these powerful cats seemingly nightly in some areas of neighboring El Dorado County. We are in Amador County but El Dorado sits 200 feet from us beyond a river. Border deal.
Anyway, it is highly rural leading to a fairly remote region of California.
I spend my days hiking the mountains, caring for pups, blogging and enjoying nature at its finest.
History
River Pines is in Gold Country. Back in 1848, gold was discovered in El Dorado County. Throngs of folks flocked to this region in 1849 to strike it rich.
Now it is a quiet region consisting mostly of locals who value chill surroundings.
I am a tourist who feels the same way.
River Pines California USA
How Did We Get Here?
Minus human reproduction humor or quantum realm funnies…..Kelli and I drove 2 hours and 45 minutes from Redwood City to arrive here.
River Pines is east of Sacramento, the capital city of California.
I would categorize the culture here as being “country”. The California Tesla Brigade dissolves into a steady army of pickup trucks as you migrate from the coast to the hills.
Picture a middle class, down home feel.
But this vibe is in town heading up to the Sierra Nevada range; we are in the foothills.
2 miles west of here sits wine country at a lower elevation.
Vineyards dominate vast stretches down there. The pines go away. The vines appear.
On the whole, the entire region feels dramatically different from Redwood City and its predominant Silicon Valley feel. Property values drop quickly into the “normal” range versus the outrageous prices common in Southern California and the general San Francisco region.
For example, a simple little home here in River Pines may run you $250,000 USD. The small 1200 foot home we just visited in Redwood City lists for $1.7 million USD. Yeah; that’s what I am talking about.
Minus a general store offering bits and bobs you have an animal feed barn, post office, one restaurant, a chocolate shop and nothing else in town.
The nearest grocery store is 40 to 50 minutes away. 40 for the hub town in Jackson. 50 minutes for civilization in Folsom.
Life is sleepy in these parts.
Wildlife
The homeowners have never seen a mountain lion but hear the big kitties on or around the 20 acre property.
Black bears make an appearance but trend more towards the mountains in higher elevations. We are at 2,100 feet here.
I’ve seen gangs of wild turkeys, small herds of deer and enough bird life to be the envy of any ornithologist.
Is It a Tourist Town?
No way.
Tourists head to the Sierra Nevada range to ski. Warm weather activities include hiking or enjoying uber posh Lake Tahoe.
Sacramento is not exactly a beehive of activity to our west.
River Pines is population 600. This is not a typo. More human beings live on the mile long block where I grew up in New Jersey.
People are kind, friendly and as one would expect in a rural area, always watching.
A sweet old lady pulled up to her mail box yesterday. I waved and smiled. She looked back and said,
“I love how you are always exercising. You look fit. Keep it up!”
Mind you, her house is almost half a mile up a winding driveway. But everyone has security cameras and I suspect that more than a few folks “window watch” to pass the time.
Farms.
Forests.
Pines.
A few people.
Horses.
Goats.
Sheep.
Chickens.
Livestock guardian dogs.
Ryan hiking around for 3-4 hours daily.
That’s what you will see here in River Pines.
Your Turn
Let me know where you are in the world right now.
How are things there?
