The American River Parkway is one of my favorite places to relax and unwind. Although most of my time these days is spent walking the trails, I highly recommend experiencing the trail via a bicycle. This well maintained trail is great for cycling enthusiasts of all levels.
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I​nformation provided by TheAmericanRiver.com
The American River watershed has hundreds of miles of trails suitable for mountain biking. You can also ride the roads along the river or cross some of the many bridges. For more information on trails and groups, visit the sites below.

Mountain Biking Trails & Guides Folsom-Auburn Trail Riders Action Coalition (FATRAC) – This mountain biking group has three goals: maintain local trails, keep the public informed and ride. Site has info on group rides, trail maps, trail work parties, club meetings, photos of rides, advocacy issues and quarterly newsletter.

Mike’s Favorite Mountain Bike Rides – Includes a description and photographs of a 16-mile out and back trail ride from Salmon Falls Road down to Salmon Falls Bridge, plus links to many northern California rides.
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TahoeBike.com – Links page for mountain biking in California.
Road Cycling Trips & Clubs Beautiful Vista: Bicycle Rides in El Dorado – Great resource provides descriptions, mileages, elevations and printable maps for several dozen bicycle rides in El Dorado County. The rides vary in length from six to 50 miles, and all but one are suitable for road bikes. They also post a schedule of Wednesday evening group rides.

Bike Trails in Folsom – Photos of riders and construction on the trails in Folsom, and a link to a PDF of the extensive City of Folsom Bike Trail Map.

Central California Cycling – Lists Richard’s favorite bike rides, including the Coloma to Camino Century. Each ride link connects to a general description of the ride. The rides are configured for road bikes (no off-road routes). Most rides offer Century (~100 mile) and shorter options.

Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates – A group that represents bicyclists. Their aim is more a safer trips by bike. Links to biking resources, classes and forums.

Sacramento Area Bikeway Maps – Six detailed bikeway maps for the Sacramento area, including an excellent map of the American River Parkway. An 11″ x 17″ PDF is available for download. Hosted by Sacramento Valley Cycling.
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Sacramento Bike Hikers – The oldest continually active cycling club in the Sacramento area, founded in 1968. Their focus is on recreational and tour cycling. Has photos, club ride and tour lists along with history and an online mailing list.

Sacramento Valley Cycling – Providing links to Northern California bike clubs, centuries and events, regional information, announcement, touring, Sacramento information, weather and bookstore.

Sacramento Wheelman – A non-profit organization for cycling and related activities based in Sacramento. The club was formed over 30 years ago and currently has over 700 members. It is well known for sponsoring the annual Sierra Century, a premier cycling event in northern California.

            916-225-3570   cj@cjwatterslaw.com    http://www.cjwatterslaw.com

While at a workshop I was impressed by this post from Leo Babauta that was shared and I wanted to be able to share the "Rules for Slowing Down"  with you.  

POST WRITTEN BY LEO BABAUTA.  FOLLOW ME ON TWITTER.

It’s an irony of our modern lives that while technology is continually invented that saves us time, we use that time to do more and more things, and so our lives are more fast-paced and hectic than ever.

Life moves at such a fast pace that it seems to pass us by before we can really enjoy it.
However, it doesn’t have to be this way. Let’s rebel against a hectic lifestyle and slow down to enjoy life.

A slower-paced life means making time to enjoy your mornings, instead of rushing off to work in a frenzy. It means taking time to enjoy whatever you’re doing, to appreciate the outdoors, to actually focus on whoever you’re talking to or spending time with — instead of always being connected to a Blackberry or iPhone or laptop, instead of always thinking about work tasks and emails. It means single-tasking rather than switching between a multitude of tasks and focusing on none of them.
Slowing down is a conscious choice, and not always an easy one, but it leads to a greater appreciation for life and a greater level of happiness.
Here’s how to do it.

1. Do less. It’s hard to slow down when you are trying to do a million things. Instead, make the conscious choice to do less. Focus on what’s really important, what really needs to be done, and let go of the rest. Put space between tasks and appointments, so you can move through your days at a more leisurely pace. Read more.

2. Be present. It’s not enough to just slow down — you need to actually be mindful of whatever you’re doing at the moment. That means, when you find yourself thinking about something you need to do, or something that’s already happened, or something that might happen … gently bring yourself back to the present moment. Focus on what’s going on right now. On your actions, on your environment, on others around you. This takes practice but is essential.

3. Disconnect. Don’t always be connected. If you carry around an iPhone or Blackberry or other mobile device, shut it off. Better yet, learn to leave it behind when possible. If you work on a computer most of the day, have times when you disconnect so you can focus on other things. Being connected all the time means we’re subject to interruptions, we’re constantly stressed about information coming in, we are at the mercy of the demands of others. It’s hard to slow down when you’re always checking new messages coming in.

4. Focus on people. Too often we spend time with friends and family, or meet with colleagues, and we’re not really there with them. We talk to them but are distracted by devices. We are there, but our minds are on things we need to do. We listen, but we’re really thinking about ourselves and what we want to say. None of us are immune to this, but with conscious effort you can shut off the outside world and just be present with the person you’re with. This means that just a little time spent with your family and friends can go a long way — a much more effective use of your time, by the way. It means we really connect with people rather than just meeting with them.

5. Appreciate nature. Many of us are shut in our homes and offices and cars and trains most of the time, and rarely do we get the chance to go outside. And often even when people are outside, they’re talking on their cell phones. Instead, take the time to go outside and really observe nature, take a deep breath of fresh air, enjoy the serenity of water and greenery. Exercise outdoors when you can, or find other outdoor activities to enjoy such as nature walks, hiking, swimming, etc. Feel the sensations of water and wind and earth against your skin. Try to do this daily — by yourself or with loved ones.

6. Eat slower. Instead of cramming food down our throats as quickly as possible — leading to overeating and a lack of enjoyment of our food — learn to eat slowly. Be mindful of each bite. Appreciate the flavors and textures. Eating slowly has the double benefit of making you fuller on less food and making the food taste better. I suggest learning to eat more real food as well, with some great spices (instead of fat and salt and sugar and frying for flavor).

7. Drive slower. Speedy driving is a pretty prevalent habit in our fast-paced world, but it’s also responsible for a lot of traffic accidents, stress, and wasted fuel. Instead, make it a habit to slow down when you drive. Appreciate your surroundings. Make it a peaceful time to contemplate your life, and the things you’re passing. Driving will be more enjoyable, and much safer. You’ll use less fuel too.

8. Find pleasure in anything. This is related to being present, but taking it a step farther. Whatever you’re doing, be fully present … and also appreciate every aspect of it, and find the enjoyable aspects. For example, when washing dishes, instead of rushing through it as a boring chore to be finished quickly, really feel the sensations of the water, the suds, the dishes. It can really be an enjoyable task if you learn to see it that way. The same applies to other chores — washing the car, sweeping, dusting, laundry — and anything you do, actually. Life can be so much more enjoyable if you learn this simple habit.

9. Single-task. The opposite of multi-tasking. Focus on one thing at a time. When you feel the urge to switch to other tasks, pause, breathe, and pull yourself back. Read more.

10. Breathe. When you find yourself speeding up and stressing out, pause, and take a deep breath. Take a couple more. Really feel the air coming into your body, and feel the stress going out. By fully focusing on each breath, you bring yourself back to the present, and slow yourself down. It’s also nice to take a deep breath or two — do it now and see what I mean. :)

​916-225-3570   cj@cjwatterslaw.com    http://www.cjwatterslaw.com

Pets are a joy to have, but did you know that they also help reduce stress, lower blood pressure, and can even help us live longer?

Recent studies show that pets have a significant and positive effect on humans.

In short, researchers found that:

• Petting and talking to an animal lowers blood pressure and stress levels
  
• Aquarium viewing is a proven stress buster
  
• Pet owners make fewer visits to the doctor
  
• Pets increase the survival rate of people with heart problems
  
• Pets Help Lower Blood Pressure
  

A recent study by Dr. Karen Allen at the State University of New York at Buffalo found that people with hypertension who adopted a cat or dog had lower blood pressure readings in stressful situations than did those who did not own a pet.

Pets Help Reduce Stress
Walking with a pet helps soothe nerves and offers instant relaxation. Studies conducted worldwide have shown that the impact of a stressful situation is lesser on pet owners, especially males, than on those who do not own a pet. The studies were done by Josephine M. Wills at Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition in the United Kingdom.

Pets Help Prevent Heart Disease
Because pets provide people with faithful companionship, research shows that companion animals may also provide their owners with greater psychological stability, thus offering a measure of protection from heart disease. This according to a study at the National Institute of Health (NIH) Technology Assessment Workshop: Health Benefits of Pets.

Pets Help Lower Health Care Costs
The NIH Technology Assessment Workshop also found that people with pets actually make fewer visits to the doctor, especially for non-serious medical conditions.

Pets Help Fight Depression
Pets help fight depression and loneliness, promoting an interest in life. When seniors face adversity or trauma, affection from pets takes on great meaning. Their bonding behavior can foster a sense of security, according to Between Pets and People: The Importance of Animal Companionship by Alan Beck and Aaron Katcher.

And, don’t forget to include your pet(s) in your Estate Plan.  Contact me today to discuss how to assure your pet is safe should you become incapacitated or pass away. 

Colleen J. Watters
Estate Planning Attorney
916-225-3570
cj@cjwatterslaw.com
www.CJWwattersLaw.com