American River, east of Hazel Avenue
midmorning
gray heavy clouds that threaten to rain
cool - 50's - not too much wind, thankfully
Several fishermen out, mostly on the banks but a couple in an inflatable as well. Everyone pretty well bundled.
At first glance the river is deceptively calm but under closer observation it's easy to see the speed and power flowing between it's banks.
The bike trail is a popular place for walking, jogging & cycling, even on a cold gray day like this. I find myself amazed at how many people are here on a weekday morning.
A tiny gray bird in a naked gray bush chatters & chides me for stopping and looking at the nearest tree. It has a tiny set of black and white stripes on it's crown and is shaped very roundly, maybe partly because it's feathers are puffed up against the cold. When it sees it won't be chasing me off any time soon, it moves along, chattering and chiding someone else.
A young fisherman fords across some shallow rapids between an island and this south bank. I turn my back to make a photo, hear some splashing and turn to look again. He is lifting himself out of chest-deep water just near the bank - then later straps on a life vest on higher ground.
Debris in a tree shows the high-water mark while the young fisherman and (likely) his father get set to push their boat off the island.
The sun breaks through for just a couple moments - lighting up a path into the bare trees - I can't quite tell what they are but leaf buds are beginning to show promise at the tips of their branches and some scrub oaks I recognize by their bark and shape - of course when I raise up my camera the sun fades as if to tease me -
Birds are as common as the fishermen - a turkey vulture circles oeverhead, several white egrets stake out their claim at water's edge. A couple song birds begin to call our as the sun alternately breaks through and fades away - I manage to get a minute or two with my back in the sun but more often it seems to let go shafts of light somewhere I'm not.
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