The Canal

The Folsom South Canal Trail has somewhat secretly existed for decades. There's really no reason for most people to know of its existence unless you participate in the Tuesday night time trials (which are now on Wednesdays this year). It's pancake flat and runs over 15 miles along (wait for it) the Folsom South Canal, from Nimbus south to Sloughhouse Road.

Jennifer and I started riding on the trail a few years back. I think it just started as an option to mix things up a bit, or to recover from one of our very hilly rides in Shingle Springs, but Jennifer took a liking to the trail.

I found it terribly boring, and I often tried to suggest alternate routes.

Fast forward to last year when we moved to Folsom, CA. We now live less than a quarter mile from an awesome trail system. And it's really great. And people know it's great. And that can be a problem.

On weekdays we ride with few issues. The trails are lightly used, and most of those users are bike trail veterans, meaning they don't do stupid shit. But on the weekends . . .

All hell breaks loose. There are runners, walkers, dogs, kids, skateboards, strollers, scooters, onewheels, e-unicycles, wobbly tourists on e-bikes, and weekend warrior road riders trying to set Strava PRs. It can be complete insanity.

Enter the canal. The boredom that I once considered a bug turned out to be a feature.

Once we navigate about 4.5 miles of craziness from our house, we are rewarded with miles and miles of serenity on the little-used stretch of pavement. I now appreciate the beauty of boredom a little more than I did a couple years ago.

Later.