ANOTHER LAKE NATOMA EXPLORATORY February 3, 2010

Keeping to my highly reduced carbon footprint, and with no partners to, say, enjoy some desert peaks adventure, I used light rail to do this afternoon walk. My offers are online, here, and a carpool, by me, reduces environmental impact, and enables what poorer climbers to still summit essentially any mountains in the Pacific West.

Arriving to the Hazel Avenue light rail station at about 1:50 p.m., I crossed over the freeway using the pedestrian bridge. Hitting the bike trail, I walked back west to use the restroom at the Nimbus Flat boat ramp. The sky was filled with high clouds, good for my photography. Some sun and blue sky, at times. I was to try many panoramas, using my new software.

Hiking then northward on the southeast side of the lake, I was curious about the condition of the side trails. Most of the dirt surfaces were damp or dry enough. Several puddles with bike tire tracks through them made for some of my photos. I could easily hike about those, except for one (photo below), where I returned to the paved bike trail, close to my light rail station exit.

Liking hearing the sounds of birds and geese, the numbers of wild fowl were way down from what I can recall. I searched for early wildflower blooms, seeing only a few vetch. The grasses were fresh green, and growing nicely. Some red sumac leaves added some color.

Many cyclists were using the side dirt trails, and despite my music player, I can often hear them coming. Though I do look back, knowing some bikes are pretty silent, and most people do not have chimes or horns. About Downtown, I am stopped, on the sidewalk, at a red light, to hear a mutterance to clear the way, with then a bicycler to go past me and right through a red traffic light, often, and with impunity.

I felt pretty good, today, and aside from my perpetual diet, was tempted to dine with some good food along Sutter Street. I kept my boots clean by stepping out of what mud, and soon came to the end of my hike.

At Historic Folsom station, I had plenty of time to insert my coins, and get aboard the light rail train. Arriving back to town, my complete round trip time was under 4 hours.

Hiking then about 5 miles, I shuttered some 110 images. I paid the $5 round trip fare, and spent nothing else. The ticket police were busy enforcing the law, and it's good that such freeloaders are caught and fined.

Many cyclists are heard and seen to not like the small hills on the bike trail, but I like them for my exercise. When I used to bike tour, uphill and downhill were both a challenge and a thrill!

So now, I am personally aware that any through hike, or say, another circle loop about the lake, will go fine. The northwestern side of the lake has a better hiking shoulder for the bike trail, and mud isn't as much of a problem there. The restrooms are still mostly open, and water for the drinking fountains is still flowing.

Using my old parka, my two light layers underneath kept me comfortable. I wore long pants, with light hiking boots. No bugs bothered me, and I didn't use any lotions or creams.

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