Sacramento Holiday Lights
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Merry Christmas!
I joined Grant and Donna from the Northern California Photography Group (NCPG) Meetup Group to shoot holiday lights around town. We first went to the neighborhood at 53rd & S Streets and were wowed by the display there. I’d not been to that neighborhood before, but it’s well worth the trip–all the neighbors there get into the spirit of the season. We also drove downtown along J Street and through the Fab Forties, but nothing grabbed our eye, so we didn’t take any pics of those areas.
Sacramento Zoo
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Today was a day at the Sacramento Zoo with the Northern California Photography Meetup Group. I’d never been to the zoo here before, so it was very interesting to visit. The zoo was built in 1927, so it is an old-style zoo, where the animals are mostly in concrete enclosures with a moat and a fence between us and them. I was saddened by this, as I thought most zoos had evolved to having more natural habitat type environments for the animals. Some of the others in the group informed me, that no, most zoos were still like this. I think I’ll have to visit some of the other zoos in the region and check it see how they are. Flamingos are center stage in the zoo; when you walk in there is a large pond directly immediately before you and the waterfowl all love it. The Red Pandas and Orangutans were snoozing during the nice warm day, as were most of the big cats. The giraffes were ambling around and I could sit and watch them all day. I don’t know why but I’ve always been fascinated by giraffes, so graceful and yet awkward at the same time. The last stop of the day was the Reptile House, not for those that have a fear of the slithering side of the animal kingdom. Some interesting reptiles that I’d never seen or heard of before, like a prehensile skink (totally weird looking). And just how long did that Rhinocerous Iguana have to sit still for and not move, before the spider decided to move in on his head! I ended the fun day at the zoo by grabbing a geocache right outside the grounds near a statue.
Capital Air Show Preview
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The California Capital Airshow is happening this weekend out at Mather, the old Air Force Base that’s now converted to private use, and the US Navy Blue Angels were buzzing my neighborhood as they practiced for the show tomorrow. The Blue Angels are a top-notch Flight Demonstration Squadron and since they came to me, I stepped outside and took a few pictures as they practiced overhead. It’s interesting to try and figure out where they are coming from, with the jet engine roar enveloping you, you have no idea until they are in plain view.
Cronan Ranch
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I headed over to Cronan Ranch Regional Trails Park to do some hiking and geocaching; I need to start getting out more and getting my ankle and butt back into hiking shape. Cronan Ranch is near Pilot Hill, at the base of the Sierra Foothills and the landscape was the typical brown on a waterless winter. Not very exciting visually, but a pleasant quiet walk with virtually nobody around. The American River Conservancy has an online trail map.
GPS Stats: • Odometer: 2.48 miles
