10/13/25
Wow. My month here in Roseville is nearly up! My last blog post was three weeks ago. At that time, I was still getting settled.
My time here has been refreshing and restorative, and during this period I have been fortunate to have had a number of magical meetings, both in person with several locals, and by video or phone with other friends and contacts in far-flung locales.
To be honest, though, it’s also been a bit emotionally challenging, because although my material surrounds here are wonderful, and the six kitties are adorable, the outside world continues to roil, and it’s impossible to escape the many and various reverberations of that. Some of this time, I admit I have found myself stuck on the couch all day, bewildered and disheartened by it all.
I am heartened, however, by the frogs and unicorns, naked bicyclists, and suchlike in Portland. I’m not there to join them, but it warms my heart to see the denizens of my chosen city show up to counter this authoritarian regime with love, creativity, and absurdity.
Although I didn’t do a lot of active exploring here, I do have a whole month’s worth of photos built up! Sorry for the volume (and trust me, I culled many others, including some more adorable ones of these kitties!)
I’ll write a bit to explain them.
First, the felines! In order of appearance, please meet Katy, Mac, Luey, Lula, Tessa, and Charlie. (Mac, Lula, and Luey are littermates—you’ll notice the uncanny resemblance.)
Charlie is enjoying the persimmon tree in the magical “garden of Eden” here. Nancy and Kirk are amazing gardeners, and I’ve been enjoying many snacks, and even whole meals, from the fruits and vegetables I’ve found in that garden.
Beyond the household, within a five-mile bike ride, are Folsom Lake and various other oak-savannah natural spaces. The autumn skies have provided a beautiful backdrop to this classic California scenery.
In one case, I even encountered a group of turkeys!
There is a 35-mile mile bike path that stretches from Folsom Lake all the way into Old Town Sacramento (where the Amtrak station is.) I never felt up to the task of riding the whole length while I was here, but one day I did explore a segment of it, and was rewarded with views of the American River and Folsom Dam.
One day, I made a driving excursion all the way north to a quirky old mining town called Nevada City. There I met with a fellow (former) traveling pet sitter, Mariah, with whom I had had a video magical meeting before leaving Portland. Unfortunately, we didn’t think to get a pic together, but she took me on a lovely forest hike, even crossing a suspension bridge.
After that, just a few miles away, I met up with a Servas host named Shirley who lives in the area. I am so glad she suggested meeting up at the Nevada County Narrow Gauge Rail Museum! We got an hour-long guided tour exploring the history and infrastructure of train and other transportation in this gold rush community, and got to see two passenger railcars—one that had taken five years to refurbish beautifully, and another that was in the midst of its own four-year reburbishment. We also got to see—and even sit in—a wood-fired steam engine!
This month has been a lovely “soft landing” beginning to my rail journey around the US. From now on, my stints will be shorter, and I will be mostly staying with hosts, similar to how I traveled during my year of travels a few years ago. In a few days, I will be moving on to Truckee, California, where I will be staying with a Servas host couple, and I hope to be able to visit Lake Tahoe for my first time! (The weather looks sunny and not too chilly—fingers crossed that holds.) After that, I will continue on to Denver and Boulder, then several towns in Illinois.
I hope you are all taking good care of yourselves, and taking whatever actions you feel called to take. I’ll plan to check back in after Truckee.
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