Exploring the Sacramento River Delta - A Pashnit Ride on the levees

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This spring of '06 has proved to be one of the wettest on record (they say most rain in almost 9 years), it seems as though it has been raining for weeks on end, but if you know anything about California weather, these massive storms (3-4 days straight of rain) come in waves, then inbetween them, we have this glorious sunshine, perfect temps in the 50-60's, and puffy white clouds.

So with pictures of broken levees on the brain, I wanted to see all this water, and shoot some photography of the Sacramento River Delta. Years ago, I lived in downtown Sacramento & did this ride often, since the levee roads are only moments away from downtown. Watching the weather, a day of sunshine was predicted.

The day before my planned ride, I awoke, looked out the window and saw this, those splotches are the big big flakes. Sheesh. What next?

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But then again, all you have to do is wait 24 hrs, and it all magically heads off to Nevada somewhere. The next morning, all that white stuff had melted already, and the sun came out. Just in the nick of time, could really use a ride. I finally reach South River Road, which starts off from West Sacramento, and is just minutes from Interstate 80 & downtown Sacramento. The Tower Bridge, it looked as though the river water was only mere feet from the bottom.

No need to be in a hurry, just enjoying the ride today. Cruisers love this road, I was the only sportbike I saw today. Lots of Harleys out.

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Whole lot of dirty brown water, and flowing fast.

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Now watch this... See the water...?

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Compare with the panoramic, if you look closely, you can see how high the water is compared to the land at right...

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South River Road is also a favorite with the bicyclists. All flat, gently curving and great scenery. I always stop by this silo thingy. Seems the owner of this place has a real fascination with Ferrari's. He has the emblem painted multiple times all over this thing. It's been like this for years and years.



With all this recent national attention about levees and flooding- and then that attention turning to the levees that flow right through the heart of Sacramento, I always have to wonder about the homes- these are built right up against the levee.

What you are looking at is the 2nd floor of these homes in a region of Sacramento called 'The Pocket Area', which literally is surrounded by water on three sides.

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Makin' south...



There are a handful of people that do live on the river in their boats year round. Little too confining for me. What was interesting is normally you'd walk down a gangplank, and then a walkway over the river to your pier. The water was so high, you walked down the gangplank, then you had to walk UP the walkway to get to your pier.



The Sacramento River Delta is also home to just a plethora of historic homes and old Victorian style farmhouses. Many are really fixed up, and just a pleasure to look at.

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Some get interesting like this one... Note that while standing on the levee, I'm looking at the second floor of the home.



This old house was georgeous. Also note the height of the river, since the house actually sits atop the levee.



Many of the business' in the local towns have been there a long time, and eek out a living on tourist traffic and the local farmers. Always feel like I'm stepping into the 1950's at times. Opie is going to jump out at any second and say, "Hey Pa!"

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Obligatory Busa shot. I think it gets better looking with age.

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Quite a few old boats too. This one on the left, has been there for years and years, always reminds me of one of those old movies from the 50's.



Aside from the old Victorian homes, there are also quite a few draw bridges to get back and forth across the Sacramento River.





Check out that hunk of concrete sitting up there.




One thing I did notice was the DWR work truck (Dept of Water Resources), or rather trucks, plural, going up and down the levee, something I've never seen before. I suppose they where actually 'patrolling'. When a levee like this breaks, it doesn't 'break' in the classical sense. Typically, on the side, water seepage through the levee is so great from the underside of the levee getting so saturated with water, it permeates through the levee and bubbles up on the opposite site. The bubbling continues till the levee soil is waterlogged and just collapses.