We Found Gold on the American River! 💛

Sometimes the greatest treasures in life aren’t the ones we can put in our pockets. Breezie and I went looking for a little adventure in Sacramento, California… and we found gold. Now, before you grab your shovel and head for the river, let us explain. There are two kinds of gold in this world. One kind you dig out of the ground. The other kind you find with your heart. And the second kind is the one that truly makes you rich. Our adventure began at the California State Fairgrounds, better known as Cal Expo, where we had parked ACE for a few days. The fairgrounds were quiet, and we had practically a whole section of the RV park to ourselves. Then, just beyond our campsite, we found a walking trail that led us into a completely different world. And that’s where we started finding our gold. A Little Wilderness in the Heart of Sacramento It’s hard to believe that in a city of more than half a million people, you can step onto a trail and suddenly be surrounded by towering trees, lush riverbank greenery, singing birds, and the peaceful waters of the American River. Every so often, the distant roar of freeway traffic reminded us the busy world was still out there. But beneath those trees, life moved at a slower, gentler pace. Great blue herons, ducks, and Canada geese shared the shoreline. We discovered Bushy Lake, a nature preserve with a history all its own. And we enjoyed the simple joy of walking side by side, wondering what was waiting around the next bend. There was no admission price. No expensive attraction. Just Mother Nature handing out her gold for free to anyone willing to come looking. The First Kind of Gold Here’s something fascinating. In 1848, gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill on the South Fork of the American River, upstream from Sacramento. That one discovery sparked the California Gold Rush and brought dreamers from all over the world, every one of them hoping to strike it rich. Imagine the excitement. The determination. The thousands of lives changed forever. And there we were, more than 175 years later, walking beside that very same river system. The prospectors came here for the first kind of gold. Breezie and I found the second kind. It really makes you think. How many of us are still digging for riches today, walking right past the gold that’s already shining all around us? The Second Kind of Gold Our gold wasn’t hidden beneath the rocks. It was the sunshine sparkling on the water. The herons and geese going about their day. The fresh air filling our lungs. The laughter, the memories, and the blessing of one more beautiful day to share together. That’s the gold you can’t spend, can’t lose, and nobody can ever take away from you. You don’t have to have everything in life to appreciate everything life has given you. Happiness isn’t always something you have to chase. Sometimes you only need to slow down long enough to notice it. Go Find Your Own Gold Today Find yourself a little piece of nature. A river, a walking trail, a neighborhood park, or just a quiet spot beneath a tree. Set your worries down for a while. Listen to the birds. Feel the sunshine on your face. Look around at this remarkable world we’ve been given. And if you’re lucky enough to have someone special beside you, hold on to that moment. That’s gold too. Someday, the things we remember most won’t be what we owned or how much money we made. They’ll be the places we explored, the laughter we shared, the people we loved, and those ordinary days that turned out to be extraordinary. Breezie and I didn’t leave the American River with a single nugget in our pockets. But we left richer than we came, with another beautiful memory, another adventure together, and another reminder that life is a gift worth celebrating. And here’s the best news of all: the world hasn’t run out of this kind of gold. There are still sunsets you haven’t seen, trails you haven’t walked, people you haven’t met, and golden moments just waiting to become your favorite memories. Your next one might be closer than you think. So don’t spend your whole life digging for the first kind of gold while walking right past the second. Because the greatest riches in life aren’t dug up. They’re simply lived. With love and gratitude, Finius & Breezie ❤️ Come walk the American River with us! Press play on the video below and see the herons, the river, and the hidden wilderness for yourself. Grab a cup of coffee, settle in, and come find a little gold with us!