Gold Country Image

Paragliding at Cronan Ranch

The old maxim says that a picture is worth 1000 words. Since I'd rather be riding than writing a blog post, I think I'll take that advice and, rather than tell y'all what's happening in the California Gold Country, I'll show you, instead.

We were getting pretty tired of the rain, I must confess. But the results of all that rain are glorious. Authorities say that Folsom Lake is the highest it's been in four years. The water in the American River is also high, which means awesome rafting with Gold Rush White Water Rafting in Coloma.

The photo above was taken last week. Last year at this time, the water level was so low that rocks towered from out of the water, and many rafters had to leave the river early, rather than float down to the beaches at Folsom.

One of the things California is known best for is it's brilliant golden hills. It's a phenomenon that usually starts in April, when the green fades to glorious gold. However, as of this writing, many of the surrounding hillsides are still harboring touches of green. By next week, everything should once again start to look golden.







Along Salmon Falls Road

California poppies in full bloom

Remember the old children's rhyme about April showers bringing May flowers? Well, it's definitely April. And we surely have showers. But if the local California poppies are any indication, May appears to have come early. These spectacular photos were taken by our neighbor, Rozsa Romvari, who is a true hiking fanatic. If you are sitting in the rain, enjoy these stunning photos...and get ready for the sun to come!

Riding in the rain is dream of a lifetime

Craig in full rein gear

As a kid growing up in Spokane, Washington, one of my favorite things to do was ride in the snow. Greasing up my horse’s hooves with enough Hoof Flex to prevent snow compaction was a bit of extra work, but well worth the effort.

There is nothing quite as glorious as cantering across a newly blanketed field of snow, bathed in the brilliant reflection of an early morning moon as the powder greets each stride with a tranquil “hush, hush.”

But I’m older now. And The Bunkhouse at Pilot Hill is just below the snow line in Northern California. And it rains here. A lot. At least in the winter.

Case in point, this past weekend. One of our frequent guests, Diane John of Redwood City, CA, called the week before to book the bunkhouse.

“I’m brining my dad,” she told us. “He’s out here from Minnesota for a couple weeks.”

At the time she called, I was sitting on our back porch in a warm afternoon sun. The daffodils had poked their heads out and some were even blooming. I was sure spring had arrived.

By the time Diane and her dad, Bill, arrived a few days later, the skies had once again turned ominous. Rain loomed.

The morning of our planned ride, I looked out the rain streaked kitchen window and prepared to cancel.

“Come on, let’s go,” encouraged Best Husband in the World. He already had on his cowboy hat, his sheepskin lined gloves, and his heavy Australian duster. He looked like he was ready to battle the worst that a winter in Wyoming might offer up.

“But…” I shifted my stocking feet, newly freed from my riding boots. I peered wistfully at the fire that was blazing in the living room. I have to admit, I'm a bit of a whiner. So I whined. “It’s raining.”

Craig looked out the window. He is so eloquent, so able to always find the perfect turn of phrase for any situation. He said, “Yep.”

He handed me my rain coat, a sunny yellow version of his own black duster. I started having flashbacks of my last rain ride with Craig.

It was on New Year’s Day, about five years ago. We had decided we were going to have a New Year’s Day ride every year, no matter what. That first year, it rained. Hard. Cold and hard. Really cold and damn hard. By the time we got back to the barn, we were so soaked and stiff with cold, it hurt to get off the horses.

Just as I was about to remind my dear Best Husband in the World of that misery, he spoke up.

“Let me just remind you,” he suggested, “that these folks are from Minnesota."

He said it like they had come from Antarctica, Venezuela, or some other far flung place that took a plane, a train, a canoe, and then a pack mule to get to.

“Minnesota! Bill just left weather that’s, I don’t know, 80 degrees below zero. They go ice fishing in that weather. Are you going to let him know that a little rain kept you out of the saddle?”

Well…yeah.

But okay. I pulled my baseball cap low over my head and shrugged on my rain coat. Which was difficult because I also had on eighteen layers of clothing, starting with a thermal cami, then a regular thermal shirt (love that Smart Wool!), then a thermal for the thermal, and so on. By the time I was suited up, I looked like a blazing yellow Michelin Man. Or possibly the Pillsbury Dough Boy in oil skin.

But I am not too proud to admit that I am so very glad I went. It was a good lesson for me. Because it was a beautiful ride. The rain was warm and even started to let up as we hit Cronan Ranch.

Diane, who comes to the Bunkhouse every three to four weeks to take riding lessons, raved at the hills, which are wearing their spring attire of a soft Kelly green.

“Everything was gold the last time I was here,” she said. “It’s amazing!”

The stunning views aside, what was really amazing—and gratifying—was to help Bill John achieve one of his dreams, to ride with his daughter.

Bill, whose main transportation as a boy was his treasured horse, Junie, hasn’t really ridden for a few years now. His adult daughter, Diane, has had a love of horses all her life, but only made the decision to learn how to ride last year.

For them to be in the Gold Country on horseback together was a dream come true.

We were thrilled to be part of it.

The clouds remained low and threatening during our ride, but they never broke. Just as we reined the horses around that last turn before home came into sight, the skies grumbled and the rain started. It was a perfect end to a perfect ride.

Diane and her Dad, Bill, at Cronan Ranch

We all laughed. It seemed like the perfect end to a great day.

Welcome to "The Bunkhouse"

We've changed our name. The Cottage at Pilot Hill is now The Bunkhouse at Pilot Hill.

While it's true that our guest house/b & b is a charming cottage in a private setting, the name "cottage" has never correctly conveyed the "Western lifestyle" feeling you get as a guest.

"Bunkhouse" says it much better.

For those of you who have stayed with us previously, we promise that only the name has changed.

When it comes to fun, guided rides on beautifully trained horses, great horsemanship clinics, private lessons, delicious cowboy-style fare, and luxury accommodations, we remain fully committed to providing the highest level of guest services.

See you soon at The Bunkhouse at Pilot Hill.

IN OTHER NEWS...

Snow covers our "welcome" sign

White on white: our barn and round pen

We have had a crazy week with weather. Desperately needed rain (keeps those rivers full in the summer for all the great rafting!) turned into snow!

It was just another Friday morning.. I lay in bed, mentally ticking off what we needed to do in order to ensure our Valentine's Day guests had a wonderful, relaxing, and romantic stay at The Bunkhouse.

Then Craig said, "Look out the window!"

I opened my eyes to see...a scene of pure white magic.

My mom, sister, and brother all live in Spokane, a town that has experienced one of the worst winters ever. You know you're having too much snow when you get featured in the weather portion of "The Today Show" for a week straight.

Suffice it to say that most of my family (the nieces and nephews love all the "snow days" off from school) is sick of the snow.

Not so here. At 1100 feet, snow is an anomaly. A beautiful anomaly, and short lived.

As chunky flakes fluttered down, the horses snorted and looked a little shocked. But they didn't try to get out of it. In fact, Cordelia stood in her paddock until a nice layer blanketed her back.

Stormy in snow storm

By the time our guests, Dan and Jamie, arrived for their Valentine weekend of "ridin' and romance," the snow had melted. In fact, the skies cleared just long enough to get in a ride to the American River.

It's a sweet ending to a snowy story.

Guests Jamie and Dan at the American River

Vacation for less

With the economy such as it is, people who need a break from day-to-day stresses need a break in other ways, as well. Especially when it comes to the pocketbook.

At The Bunkhouse at Pilot Hill, we understand. To that end, we are extending our Winter Special so that it will be in effect until the end of June!

Right now, you can stay at The Bunkhouse for just $125 a night. That's down from our normal rate of $175 a night.

What's the difference? You still get to enjoy the bunkhouse amenities such as free WIFi and the use of the fitness center. In exchange for a lower rate, you simple "fend for yourself," in terms of food: there are numerous great little restaurants nearby where you can enjoy hearty breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. From your down-home greasy spoon to fine dining, we have many terrific recommendations for you.

The bunkhouse also has a small refrigerator, where you can store your own goodies.

Horseback riding is also at a discount right now. A party of two can enjoy a two to three-hour ride for just $150, a savings of $150!

Get out of the city for a weekend of rest and rejuvenation at The Bunkhouse at Pilot Hill.

Email us or call 530/889-9599.

Winter at The Cottage

Enjoying the unusal winter weather January 20 above the American River

When it comes to running a vacation cottage--and a riding school--things usually slow down in the winter months. After all, who wants to ride in the rain?

It turns out--a lot of people do.

Of course, it helps that our rainy season has been marked by periods of spring-like weather. Just last week, we were riding in the sun under cornflower blue skies and temperatures in the upper 60's.

The rain is back. Which is good.

And the cottage is active. Also wonderful.

If you'd like to know a bit more about what's going on with the horses here, please log on to our other blog, All About Standardbreds. There, you'll be introduced to our newest horse, River City Storm. You'll also be able to read a bit about this wonderful breed, and why we use them for Cottage guests.

For those of you thinking of coming up in the spring for a few days of riding, hiking, mountain biking, wine tasting, olive oil tasting, and, of course, relaxing, we urge you to make your reservations soon. We are filling up fast!

For information and reservations, email us at burke-miller@mindspring.com or give us a jingle at 530/889-9599.

From Pasco and Australia with Love

Pasco, WA equestrian Lindy Boggs and her daughter, Robin


One thing that has amazed and delighted us since opening up the cottage to horseback riding guests is how far people will travel from in order to ride a horse in the Gold Country.


Until last week, Analies from Bruges, Belgium, held the prize for being "farest flung."


Closer to home, we were also visited over the Thanksgiving holiday by Lindy Boggs and her daughter, Robin. Lindy owns the Happy Horse Riding Center in Pasco, WA, and was in the Bay Area to spend Turkey Day with her daughter, who is majoring in marketing at San Francisco State.

"Robin and I have a tradition of riding together on Thanksgiving, but I didn't think we were going to be able to pull it off this year," explained Lindy. "So being able to ride to the American River was an unexpected pleasure."

Continuing with the mother-daughter theme, our next visitors were Allison Summers and her 19-year-old daughter, Briana. Allison and Briana moved from California to Australia many years ago when Briana was just a tiny tyke; they were here on holiday, visitng family in Newport Beach and New Mexico. I was absolutely ecstatic when Allison agreed to drive up from Newport Beach to stay in our guest cottage.

Along with renewing old friendships, indulging in massive amounts of Chinese food, and eating too many chocolate chip cookies (are there ever too many?), I have to say one of the true highlights watching Briana triumph over her fear of horses with the loving help of our 5-year-old Standardbred, Kiwi.



Allison on River, Briana on Kiwi

As Allison put it, "An Aussie on a Kiwi right here in California!"

Can we get an "Amen" on that?