Cache Creek, CA

The Cache Creek must be one of the popular places to visit and in holidays, the cars just fill up the parking lot. Its website says there are elks, coyotes, pumas, eagles, and so on, so when we arrived there, we expected much of the seven mile trail. The trail goes around the mountain side and the view was spectacular. The mountain was green, the shiny rivers run below, and the exposed rocks with green tinge far beyond.

We took the way that goes across the field and walked over a stream that runs across the field. There once again, the sign says "private property". As we checked the map, sure enough that the trail was the road on the right. The trail goes uphill and then goes down and it took us about an hour to get to the open place.

From that point on, the river is in about half an hour walk. The killdeers were on the river banks, and on the tree, an Audubon's Warbler (Dendroica coronata, Parulidae) and an orange-crowned warbler (Vermivora celata, Parulidae) were there, never stopping on one spot. The Audubon's warbler has coffee colored brown flight weathers, white underparts, a spotted belly, and yellow tinge at the base of its wings. The orange-crowned warbler is brown on the back and orange underparts.

When we went back, we saw a huge construction work going on on the way to Cache Creek. We had a T-bone steak dinner and found that the oily portion tastes better. California is number one agricultural state in the States.

California is one of the richest states in the States. The first thing I saw in this state is that they look 'city dwellers' not susceptible to any sorts of barbaric shocks seeing people in all sorts of outfits. But that went away when one of them answered our quisitive look when we lost the way. They answered in such a manner that reminded me that this place is where the human will matters more than anything. They may not work for long hours and most of the employees are grumpy at best at the grocery stores, the made of their products may not be so good as in Japan and all the silverware just bend so easily, their houses and stores may not be clean and there even candy packages and half-eaten banana on the shelf, but one thing for sure. The Californians have the freedom and that gives them the energy to go out and play.

Photo: Sony A100