Johnny Cash Trail

Wide Open Walls 916 – Man in Black

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Someone is a fan of Johnny Cash. So much so they dedicated the side of an entire hotel to him! Well, my parents were in need of a trip out of the house so I took them on a mural tour of downtown Sacramento. It was a fun idea because we didn’t even need to get out of the car. My Dad wanted to see Johnny so Johnny it was. It’s pretty amazing to think someone painted a mural this large. The logistics of it alone are mindboggling. If you are a fan and are interested in seeing a trail dedicated to the Man in black check out an older post of mine related to the Johnny Cash Trail in Folsom, California.

Folsom Prison Museum – Folsom, California

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Folsom Prison Museum is a tiny and random museum attached to the current Folsom Prison in California.  Parking and walking in isn’t for the faint of heart since you drive down Prison road and park in the same place as all of the visitors meeting with their prisoner loved ones.  You even have to walk through the Prison Gate in order to get to the front door of the museum.  From there things go up!  You are greeted with a warm welcome to an obscure and interesting micro museum.

The museum boasts a number of interesting newspaper articles, photos, prison art, Johhny Cash memorabilia, prison contraband, and other historical artifacts of note even if some are somewhat macaub.  It is an interesting stop one which won’t take you much time and might be coupled nicely with a walk or ride on the nearby lovely Johnny Cash Trail.

Toothpick anyone?

Looks cold, damp, and drafty to me

Johnny is all over this museum

Contraband weapons

The museum has lots of great photos to look through like these before and after dress out and shave photos

Yikes, its a noose

Old guard tower that could tell some crazy stories

The real prison gate which Johnny was photographed in front of

Submitted also to Kammie’s Odd Ball Challenge over at Nut House Central!

Johnny Cash Trail-Folsom, California

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A stretch of the American River bike trail has been dedicated to the man in Black – The Johnny Cash Trail. I had driven my multiple times seeing a piece of large art in the shape of a guitar with no clue as to why a random giant guitar was on the side of the road. I later learned the city dedicated the area to Johnny Cash.

The stretch of the beautiful bike trail runs parallel to the Folsom Prison tying it all together to his famous song “Folsom Prison Blues.”  The trail is very pleasant and very easy. My only criticism would be several signs with plans for public art related to Cash which are planned for the future but not yet complete. The portion of trail I walked on had no direct connection to Cash other than the Robber’s Ravine Bridge with a marker noting some Cash trivia.  Well, actually come to think of it I do have one other criticism, the portion of the trail which overlooks Folsom Lake does not have parking and was too far to walk with a baby in a stroller so I never made it to the end where the overlook and Cash guitar Pick art would have greeted me.

Regardless, the trail is worth a visit in cool weather. But, other stretches of the bike trail are frankly far more beautiful and parallel the water while one is walking. I’m glad I went because now my curiosity is sated. But, until the public art is complete I likely won’t be back.

Robber’s Ravine Bridge

This would have been even prettier a month or so ago when everything was still green

I couldn’t help but think that this little wild flower was trying to break out of prison

For you parents out there my son learned how to “moo” on this walk!