They arrive by car one at a time and assemble for a few minutes before taking off down the paved bicycle path to the American River Parkway near Carmichael and Fair Oaks.
Moms guiding strollers on the bike path are not unusual, but when there is a procession of them snaking down the hill and curving around the bend like an armada of motherhood, even the squirrels take notice.
"We get a lot of looks," said Nicole Mann, who joined a recent caravan.
"She gets so excited," Mann said of her 8-month-old daughter, Niya, who was perched ramrod-straight with her hands tightly clenched to the padded bar in front of her.
As a member of 20-Something Moms of Sacramento, Mann, of Rancho Cordova, meets at the river to network, learn parenting skills, buy and sell children's equipment, make plans to see a movie and benefit from the support of other young mothers like herself.
"We get the kids together and the moms talk," Mann said of the river jaunt that is one of several activities the young mothers do in their group, which has about 70 members from throughout the region, including Roseville. The group, which has a Web site and can post a message board and a calendar of events, was formed in February.
"There are a lot of moms' groups out there, but I felt there was a need for a younger group of moms in their 20s," said Carrie Blincoe of Citrus Heights, the group's founder.
Danielle Rankin, 26, of Carmichael, couldn't agree more.
"It is nice to get out, get exercise and have some friends to talk with," said Rankin, who was at the river recently with her daughter, Lilah, 2, who was in a stroller, and her 5-year-old son, Levi, who was on a scooter.
Jessica Lawson of the Arden area said her family lives more than two hours away, and being a stay-at-home mom, she feels isolated and lonely at times.
"I found this (group) online, and this really saved me," said the 24-year-old, who was at the river with her 7-month-old son, Andrew.
"You start to go crazy when you don't have adult interaction," Lawson said.
Membership costs $5.50 a year, used for the Web site. Age is flexible. Some members are in their 30s.
"If a mom has a question, they can ask other moms. They can go online if they have had a bad day. They can share a good day at potty training or a child's first step. Some pregnancies have been announced online," Blincoe said.
Mann said the group meets in Fair Oaks' Bannister Park parking lot. They take the bike path down to Sacramento Bar, cross the river footbridge and arrive at the Lower Sunrise Recreation Area for snacks. Go to www.meetup.com or e-mail twentiesmommies@gmail.com.
Call The Bee's Ramon Coronado, (916) 321-1013.
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