Emerald Cove Marina - photo courtesy of Emerald Cove Marina

Bullards Bar Reservoir is not in Nevada County, but it is close enough to Nevada City and Grass Valley as to make it a destination for water skiing, house boating and fishing. It’s only 21 miles north of Nevada City off of Highway 49 in the historic gold country. The three closest cities are Nevada City, Grass Valley and Marysville.

The lake surface is at 2,000 foot elevation, 16 miles long with about 60 miles of shoreline. The boating surface is 4,700 acres, which is a lot of area to boat in. There are only two launch ramps and once you are in the water, you are surrounded by a greenbelt covered with pine, oak, fir, madrone, dogwood and other species of trees native to the area. As you cruise up into the North Yuba Canyon, sheer cliffs of granite come down to greet the crystal clear water.

The North Yuba River is backed up by New Bullards Bar Dam which is an awesome sight all by itself. Standing 645? above the canyon floor, it holds back 960,000 acre feet of water. It’s the second tallest dam in California, 5th tallest in the United States. A hydro-electric dam, Bullards Bar Dam is operated and controlled by the Yuba County Water Agency. They are able to manage the water so that recreation access to the reservoir is never restricted.

Bullards Bar offers boat access campgrounds, land based sites, and shoreline camping permits. There are a total of only 160 sites, which limits the amount of people the area can accommodate. Emerald Cove Marina takes site specific reservations for all camping.

For the fisherman, there are kokanee salmon, rainbow trout, German browns, large mouth, small mouth and black bass, crappie, catfish, and bluegill. Bullards Bar has a reputation as having the best kokanee salmon and black bass fishing in California.

CAMPING
Campgrounds – Call for reservations & fees
Pets, NO Hookups, Boat & Trailer Storage, Some Flush Toilets

BOATING
Power, Row, Jet ski, Windsurf, Canoe, Sail, Water-ski, and Inflatables are allowed.
There is a full service marina with gas and propane exchange available
Rentals: Houseboats, Ski Boats, Jet Skis, and Pontoon Patio Boats

RECREATION
Fishing
Swimming, Picnicking, & Hiking
Snacks, Groceries, Bait & Tackle and Fuel Dock

For further information and reservations contact   Emerald Cove Marina (530) 692-3200

 

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For all your real estate needs, call or email:

John J. O’Dell Realtor® GRI
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
jodell@nevadacounty.com

This video was taken off of my deck in Cascade Shores.

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For all your real estate needs, call or Email:

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
O’Dell Realty
(530) 263-1091
Email John at jodell@nevadacounty.com

by Lisa J. Lehr

Exercise is good. Some of us have undoubtedly made a New Year’s resolution to exercise more. And walking is, for most people, the best choice because it:

1. Doesn’t require much training;

2. Doesn’t require special equipment;

3. Doesn’t (usually) require travel to a special place, such as a gym, pool, or recreational area.

Now, number 3 is somewhat qualified because, while most people in Nevada County live on or near a road with reasonably little traffic, walking on a paved road poses its own set of problems. If you get your regular exercise by walking along a public roadway, you may have noticed persistent or intermittent pain in the joints or muscles of your right leg.

In most places, public roads are constructed with “crowning”; that is, the road is higher at the center and slopes down to the sides. This is to help rain and melting snow run off more quickly instead of pooling in the middle, creating a driving hazard and damage to the road.

We learned as children to walk facing traffic, for obvious safety reasons: if an approaching car is too close to you, you can see it in time only if it’s approaching from the front—unless you have eyes in the back of your head (or wear a little tiny rear-view mirror, as cyclists sometimes do). The problem for walkers is that, as you walk along the edge of the road, one foot is always landing on a higher surface than the other. And over time, this can lead to pain in the hip, knee, and/or other parts of your leg. That, in turn, may discourage you from exercising; or you may just “live with” the pain, having no idea that it’s fixable. I actually lived with this problem, off and on, for a couple decades before it dawned on me what might be causing it!

Here are some suggestions to avoid one-sided leg pain:

1. Traditional wisdom suggests that pedestrians “should” walk on the side facing traffic. Laws may vary from one locality to another, although I’ve never heard of anyone being ticketed for walking on the “wrong” side of the road—and I certainly see lots of people doing it. Safety is our primary concern; however, I spoke to a physical therapist about this matter, and he recommends alternating sides every quarter mile.

2. If you walk on a rural road and/or exercise very early in the morning or late in the evening, you may be able to get away with walking in the middle of the road. Be aware of your surroundings, turn off your iPod so you can hear any approaching vehicles, and get out of the way if one comes.

3. Look ahead as you walk and try to spot places where the shoulder flattens or slopes back up; adjust your path to give your right leg a rest. Much of Nevada County’s roadways have irregular curbing (meaning none, or covered with dirt, etc.), and there are often places where you can walk off the pavement.

4. Whenever possible, walk at a park or other place that has designated walking paths. Yes, this may require a trip in a car, but it may be the solution for you.

5. Do not walk on the sidewalk. Sidewalks may be flat, but concrete is an even harder surface than blacktop, and the resulting foot and leg pain may be even worse.

6. Make sure you’re wearing good shoes—shoes that are designed specifically for walking and not for some other sport. Wear good socks too (not too thin). Interestingly, I just read an article in the Sunday Bee about running barefoot. The practice seems to have a lot of followers! Speaking for myself, the fear of foot injury is too great, but feel free to investigate this.

Whatever you decide to do, don’t use one-sided leg pain as an excuse to stop exercising. Simply try the above suggestions to work with the problem. See a physical therapist if necessary. As a last resort, choose another type of exercise, at least until the leg pain eases.

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer, copywriter, and fitness enthusiast living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

–
Lisa J. Lehr
I write words that make you money–just ask me how.
Vist Just Right Copy
Visit my website and sign up for my free marketing tips.
New! No cost Marketing Guide now available at my website.

As Americans downsize in the aftermath of a colossal real estate bust, at least one tiny corner of the housing market appears to be thriving. To save money or simplify their lives, a small but growing number of Americans are buying or building homes that could fit inside many people’s living rooms, according to entrepreneurs in the small house industry.

Some put these wheeled homes in their backyards to use as offices, studios or extra bedrooms. Others use them as mobile vacation homes they can park in the woods. But the most intrepid of the tiny house owners live in them full-time, paring down their possessions and often living off the grid.

“It’s very un-American in the sense that living small means consuming less,” said Jay Shafer, 46, co-founder of the Small House Society, sitting on the porch of his wooden cabin in California wine country. “Living in a small like this really entails knowing what you need to be happy and getting rid of everything else.”

Read more: at the Sacramento Bee

For all your real estate and construction needs
John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
General Contractor
DRE# 00669941

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1GxoO74Mu3o

John J. O’Dell
Real Estate Broker
530-263-1091

by Lisa J. Lehr

Exercise is good. Some of us have undoubtedly made a New Year’s resolution to exercise more. And walking is, for most people, the best choice because it: 

1.      Doesn’t require much training; 

2.      Doesn’t require special equipment;  

3.      Doesn’t (usually) require travel to a special place, such as a gym, pool, or recreational area. 

Now, number 3 is somewhat qualified because, while most people in Nevada County live on or near a road with reasonably little traffic, walking on a paved road poses its own set of problems. If you get your regular exercise by walking along a public roadway, you may have noticed persistent or intermittent pain in the joints or muscles of your right leg.  

In most places, public roads are constructed with “crowning”; that is, the road is higher at the center and slopes down to the sides. This is to help rain and melting snow run off more quickly instead of pooling in the middle, creating a driving hazard and damage to the road. 

We learned as children to walk facing traffic, for obvious safety reasons: if an approaching car is too close to you, you can see it in time only if it’s approaching from the front—unless you have eyes in the back of your head (or wear a little tiny rear-view mirror, as cyclists sometimes do). The problem for walkers is that, as you walk along the edge of the road, one foot is always landing on a higher surface than the other. And over time, this can lead to pain in the hip, knee, and/or other parts of your leg. That, in turn, may discourage you from exercising; or you may just “live with” the pain, having no idea that it’s fixable.

I actually lived with this problem, off and on, for a couple decades before it dawned on me what might be causing it! 

Here are some suggestions to avoid one-sided leg pain: 

1.      Traditional wisdom suggests that pedestrians “should” walk on the side facing traffic. Laws may vary from one locality to another, although I’ve never heard of anyone being ticketed for walking on the “wrong” side of the road—and I certainly see lots of people doing it. Safety is our primary concern; however, I spoke to a physical therapist about this matter, and he recommends alternating sides every quarter mile. 

2.      If you walk on a rural road and/or exercise very early in the morning or late in the evening, you may be able to get away with walking in the middle of the road. Be aware of your surroundings, turn off your iPod so you can hear any approaching vehicles, and get out of the way if one comes. 

3.      Look ahead as you walk and try to spot places where the shoulder flattens or slopes back up; adjust your path to give your right leg a rest. Much of Nevada County’s roadways have irregular curbing (meaning none, or covered with dirt, etc.), and there are often places where you can walk off the pavement. 

4.      Whenever possible, walk at a park or other place that has designated walking paths. Yes, this may require a trip in a car, but it may be the solution for you.  

5.      Do not walk on the sidewalk. Sidewalks may be flat, but concrete is an even harder surface than blacktop, and the resulting foot and leg pain may be even worse. 

6.      Make sure you’re wearing good shoes—shoes that are designed specifically for walking and not for some other sport. Wear good socks too (not too thin). Interestingly, I just read an article in the Sunday Bee about running barefoot. The practice seems to have a lot of followers! Speaking for myself, the fear of foot injury is too great, but feel free to investigate this. 

Whatever you decide to do, don’t use one-sided leg pain as an excuse to stop exercising. Simply try the above suggestions to work with the problem. See a physical therapist if necessary. As a last resort, choose another type of exercise, at least until the leg pain eases. 

Lisa J. Lehr is a writer, copywriter, and fitness enthusiast living in Grass Valley. She can help you promote your business with a full range of online and offline marketing pieces. A member of Empire Toastmasters, she’s available to speak to your business or professional group. Visit her website www.justrightcopy.com for more information, opt in for a message series, and receive a free Marketing Guide.

One of the most beautiful bridges in Nevada County, if not in all of the Gold Country is the Bridgeport covered bridge on the South Fork of the Yuba River in the South Yuba River State Park.

The bridge was originally constructed in 1862 and was part of the Virginia Turnpike Company Toll Road that served the northern mines and traffic to and from Virginia City and the Comstock Lode in Nevada. The bridge is 230 feet (70 m) long. Bridgeport Bridge, or “Wood’s Crossing”, is the longest single span covered bridge in existence. Bridgeport Bridge was built as part of a toll road. Toll roads were authorized by the State of California in 1853 as a means to start construction of much needed roads by private companies.

On October 20, 1997, there was a flood on the South Yuba River that almost took the bridge out.  It was 135 years old at the time and workers put in 10 hour days making repairs on the landmark wooden bridge.

More than a century ago, pioneers and miners paid a $2 toll to drive their wagons and horses across a covered wooden bridge over the South Yuba River at Wood’s Crossing. Now, traffic is limited to pedestrians only and there is no toll.

The historical plague dedicated to the bridge which reads:

Bridgeport (NYE’s Crossing) Covered Bridge

Built in 1862 by David Issac Johnwood with lumber from his mill in Sierra County, This Bridge was part of the Virginia Turnpike Company Toll Road which served the Northern Mines and the busy Nevada Comstock Lode.  Utilizing a combination truss and arch construction, it is one of the oldest housed spans in the west and the longest single span, wood covered bridge in the United States.

California Registered Historical Landmark No. 390

Plaque placed by the California State Park Commission in cooperation with the Nevada County Historical Society and the Wm. B. Meek-Wm. M. Stewart Chapter No. 10, E Clampus Vitus, May 23, 1964

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With so many foreclosures and all the negative news that you hear, it’s refreshing to hear that home inventories are decreasing. But this is making it difficult for home buyers in parts of the country where there are lots of foreclosures to buy. Investors are bidding up prices thousands above the original asking price.

Federal legislation slowing the number of foreclosures is adding to the problem by reducing the number of homes on the market. For instance, in Las Vegas, one of the areas where the bidding problem is greatest, home inventories are down 10 percent since March, according to the Las Vegas Association of REALTORS®.

When a bidding war erupts, the problem is particularly difficult for traditional buyers because investors are usually cash purchasers. They can bid up a property without concern whether the appraisal will prevent them from getting a loan.

Experts say the problem is not unlike the situation at the height of the housing bubble. “This market is about as abnormal as the hypermarket that we came out of a few years ago,” says Jay Butler, director of the Realty Studies program at Arizona State University.

Picture courtesy of Camp Far West Lake Campgrounds

Camp Far West Reservoir also called Camp Far West Lake, is located at the junction of Placer, Nevada and Yuba counties. Both Beale Air Force Base and the Spenceville Wildlife Area lay directly to the north of the lake. The lake’s location makes it easily accessible by coming from Nevada City, Grass Valley and Western Nevada County along with Sacramento, Roseville or the Yuba City/Marysville area.

Camp Far West’s 185 foot high earth and rock dam was completed in 1963 as part of the Central Valley Water Project impounding water from both the Bear River and Rock Creek. The dam was built for the purpose of flood control and irrigation, but has proven to be a boon for anglers and recreational boaters in the years since.

Camp Far West is situated at an elevation of 280 feet. It is a fairly large lake, impounding 104,500 acre feet of water when at full capacity with a surface area of 2,000 acres and 29 miles of shoreline. The lake got its name from a gold rush era immigrant camp that was located just downstream from the present day dam site. Since it was the last camp on the immigrant trail before the 49ers coming from the east reached the Sacramento Valley, it was dubbed, Camp Far West.

In the spring when the lake is full, the hills are green and the oak trees lining the shoreline are covered with budding leaves, the lake is quite beautiful. In the fall when the water level is drawn down 60 feet or more, the grass is parched and the leaves have fallen, the visual impact isn’t quite as awe inspiring, but the camping and recreation can be just as good as it is early in the year, plus crowds are typically very light during the fall.

Fishes in the lake include largemouth and smallmouth bass, black bass, crappie, catfish, brown trout and striped bass.

Availability: The North Shore is open year-around. The South Shore is open mid-May to September.

Camping and Lodging: Camping facilities and a store are available at the lake. There are 70 campsites on the North Shore and 8 RV hookups. There are 67 campsites on the South Shore and no RV hookups.

Boat Launching: The North Shore and South Shore each has a boat launch ramp and mini marts. The mini marts also include tackle and bait.

Activities: Swimming, boating, water skiing, jet skiing, hiking, biking, fishing and horseback riding

Reservations and Fees: Camp Far West Lake (916) 408-5037 or (530) 633-0803

Their Website: Camp Far West Lake

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Ed Scofield

Ed Scofield has been named as the 2009 inductee into the Nevada County Fair’s Hall of Fame. The Fair’s Board of Directors chose Ed for this honor because of his support, dedication and commitment, which is evident throughout the Fairgrounds today.

Scofield retired at the end of 2008 after serving as the CEO of the Fairgrounds for 26 years. During his tenure, he helped the Fairgrounds become visible as one of the top ten outstanding rural fairs in America, oversaw the formation of the Draft Horse Classic and the Country Christmas Faire, and fostered the partnership with Music in the Mountains and their concert seasons at the Fairgrounds. Within the Fair industry he has served as Past President of the Western Fairs Association and was elected to the Western Fair’s prestigious Hall of Fame for contributions to the Fair industry.

“Ed has provided vision and leadership to the Fairgrounds, and he has been instrumental in creating the venues that we all enjoy today,” said CEO Sandy Woods. “He is admired and respected by many and it is a well-deserved honor for Ed to be named to the Hall of Fame.”
A native in Nevada County, Ed has been active in the community from an early age, starting in leadership roles in 4H.

Most recently, he was elected to the Nevada County Board of Supervisors. He has also served his community as a big brother in the Big Brothers Big Sisters program; Past President of the Grass Valley/Nevada County Chamber of Commerce; Past President of Grass Valley Rotary; and as a former Grass Valley City Council member.

Ed will be formally inducted into the Hall of Fame at opening day ceremonies on Wednesday, August 12. In addition to access to the Fair and its many activities, he will receive a portrait donated by Schaffers Originals.

For more information about the Nevada County Fair, August 12 – 16, call 273-6217 or visit Nevada County Fair