Today’s post is 1150 words, 24 photos, and a 6-minute read. Enjoy!

Hi everyone,

Welcome to the second post in this series about my journey to Sacramento. This week, I’ll take you to Camp Pollock, where the Sacramento and Madison Friendship Force clubs will pick up litter along the American River. Then we’ll visit the California Highway Patrol Academy. Another rewarding and interesting day.

If you missed the first post in this series, click here.

Camp Pollack and The American River

After breakfast and coffee, Leslie and I drove to Camp Pollack just north of downtown Sacramento. There, we would spend most of the morning picking up trash along the shoreline of the American River.

Camp Pollack is an eleven-acre rustic riverfront oasis along the Lower American River Parkway. Managed by the Sacramento Valley Conservancy, Camp Pollack serves as a day-use park, a private event venue, and a primitive campground for youth and outdoor education groups. Founded in 1990, the Conservancy is dedicated to protecting the region’s natural landscapes through education, recreation, and volunteer service. Currently, they are preserving more than 18,000 acres across five counties surrounding Sacramento.

Long before European settlement, the land along the American River was home to the Nisenan and Miwok peoples, who lived here for generations. In 1922, the Sacramento Lions Club launched a campaign to raise funds to build a Boy Scout camp and lodge. After 90 years of camping, conservation, and developing leadership skills, the Boy Scouts decided to sell the camp. Fearing the camp would be lost to private development, the California State Lands Commission and the Sacramento Valley Conservancy purchased the property. They have restored the lodge, developed native plant gardens, and added walking trails and educational exhibits. Now, Camp Pollack serves the broader community, preserving its history and natural environment.

The American River

Nancy, a volunteer with the Save the American River Association (SARA), gave a brief presentation about the group’s efforts to save and strengthen the American River Parkway. The Parkway is a 32-mile-long greenbelt of parkland, trails (hiking, biking, horseback riding), and wildlife habitat that runs alongside the lower portion of the American River before it meets the Sacramento River. 

After the informative presentation, Nancy answered many questions, and the program was turned over to Chris Smith. He’s a Sacramento Friendship Force club member and Sacramento Area Creeks Council Board President. Chris would lead us on the river cleanup.

We spent nearly two hours picking up trash, some left behind by homeless campers. We filled several bags with trash and a few large pieces, then dragged them to a nearby parking lot. Elaine and I scrambled down to a short section of sandy beach to retrieve strewn garbage and even a couple of used needles. Not the best photo, but documentation that we were down by the river. I can attest that it was much harder to climb up the steep bank. Thanks to our friends giving us a hand, we made it.

While we were on the beach, we heard loud barking coming from the river. A raft of five sea lions was making their way up the river, likely looking for a food source. Thanks to the telephoto lens on my Sony, I was able to capture a couple swimming along.

While on the beach, I took this photo of two bridges that cross the American River. I believe the bridge in the foreground is the Sacramento Northern Bikeway. The far bridge is the Union Pacific Railroad Bridge.

Before and after our time cleaning up along the river, we wondered what the story was about the peacocks that were strutting around. Apparently, they’ve been on the property for a long time. It was either a former scout caretaker or a former resident of an abandoned mobile home park who introduced and fed them. They’ve become part of the landscape.

By the end of our morning pickup, we filled several bags with trash. Together, we’re proving that teamwork can make a meaningful difference—for the land, the river, and the community.

Back at the starting point, we relaxed and had drinks and snacks to tide us over before heading to our next stop.

California Highway Patrol Academy

After passing through security at the California Highway Patrol Academy, we entered the parking lot and were met by Ted, a retired CHP officer.

Ted took us to the CHP memorial honoring more than 200 officers who have died in the line of duty since the agency was founded in 1929. Ted told us that there is an annual ceremony that includes a roll call of the fallen, a wreath-laying, a rifle salute, and the ringing of the memorial bell. In addition, every week during the 26-week cadet training program, selected cadets honor and learn about one or more of those whose names are carved into the memorial. It’s a solemn ceremony that connects cadets to the history of those who came before them.

After a nice lunch in the CHP’s cafeteria that included soft-serve ice cream, Ted took us to the CHP Museum. This independent nonprofit works to preserve its long history with displays of patrol vehicles, uniforms, badges, photographs, and other artifacts.

Ted told us the most often asked question, especially from “older” visitors, was about the CHiPs TV program. It aired from 1977 to 1983 and centered on the daily work of two CHP motorcycle officers, Baker (Larry Wilcox) and Poncherello (Erik Estrada). There was comedy and drama as they patrolled the highways of Southern California. This show helped popularize the CHP and show some of the challenges, though not all, faced by officers on the road. There was a nicely done display about the program in the museum.

Less popular was the 2017 reboot of CHiPs, a raunchy action-comedy. This was not featured in the museum.

Ted suggested that we watch a short film about the Newhall Incident that took the lives of four CHP officers. They were killed during a gun battle with two suspects who allegedly committed an armed robbery. Once the vehicle stopped, the driver got out and cooperated, but the passenger jumped out, armed with a shotgun, shot one officer, and then the driver shot the other. Both died instantly.

When the backup patrol car arrived, they were met with gunfire and were mortally injured. The suspects escaped but were found after a nine-hour widespread search. One was captured and sentenced to life in prison, where he died. The other suspect took a hostage, then killed himself when surrounded by law enforcement.

This tragedy led to sweeping changes in the CHP training and tactics with a focus on officer safety, stop procedures, and the use of cover and firearms training. Other law enforcement agencies around the country adopted many of the changes enacted by CHP. 

After leaving CHP Academy, we returned to our hosts to cool off from the warm afternoon. That evening, Todd, Leslie, and I went to the nearby winery, Christopher Cellars, for the music, wine, and tacos from the food truck. A good end to a rewarding day.

But before I go……

THE FIVE SENSES PLUS ONE

Saw – American River, sea lions, peacocks, trash, CHP memorial and museum

Heard – sea lions barking, peacocks screeching, birds singing, people talking, music at winery

Touch – picker used to pick up trash, wall and memorial at CHP Academy, railings, tree root to climb from the beach

Smell – food cooking, the river, trash

Taste – hamburger, salad, soft serve ice cream, tacos, empanadas, wine

Learned – about the American River Parkway and CHP Academy

Until next week, happy travels!

Tom

PS: Click here for a link to the post about my book “Farm Boy.” Contact me if you are interested in purchasing a copy. Thanks to all who have plunked down your hard-earned dollars and read the book. TM