LAKE NATOMA LOOP 11X April 5, 2006

Ambling about town doing some errands this morning, I watched the weather, this Wednesday. Dark clouds loomed constantly all day, and I was fortunate not to be rained upon.

I took the light rail out to Folsom, once again, and started my 11X loop hike at 1:54 p.m. It was almost completely overcast when I began. The water was being released, heavily, from the dams, and the river was a near torrent. I took my standard photos from the old truss bridge, with fast moving waters swirling and churning below. Boaters might wish to run a class 2 rapid, today.

I hoped there wouldn't be many cyclists today, due to impending rain. There were a few. Several more rocks had fallen from the bluffs onto the bike trail, and in the dark, one might not see them. I stopped for several minutes to watch the growing goslings feeding, under the eyes of their vigilant parents, in the grass along the pavement. It is so nice to see nature, with animals protective of their young. I tried to stay far enough away, but as I passed, the mother goose hissed. Otherwise, they ignored me.

I topped the cone shaped hill to get some cloudy vistas, and to see no big rain coming. Sun actually poked through the clouds, and I was able to collect the view of sunlit sword ferns against the dark hills in shadow. I had thoughts of continuing down to Fair Oaks Bluffs, to check on that overhanging oak. I heard nothing if it was loosened or had fallen over. But I persisted in doing my full loop, and crossed over the Hazel Avenue Bridge.

Several gates were opened on Nimbus Dam, and many riparian areas were flooded. No time to be fishing! I expect most people know not to boat the river, as it is, like this.

More sun came out, and so many new flowers graced the scene. Someone may be picking the poppies, as I have seen on other days. I'd advise them that is illegal, but that probably wouldn't do much good. I knew local enviro group hikes often were led by collectors, even in a National Park!

Noting some canyon dudleyi, I snapped a few photos, better on another day. I had my satisfaction of knowing I had chosen correctly, on the weather, today.

More of the sandy side trail on the south shore was wet, and I had to jump some puddles. I then chose to hike instead on the bike trail pavement, moving aside when cyclists came speeding by. Aware of my time, I came to the station right as the 6:01 p.m. train left. I always wished to enjoy Historic Folsom more, but I am usually rushed to get home.

I bought a can of soda, and waited till the next train came by. Not enough time to dine, somewhere. The sky was getting darker and cloudier, but I was to be dry, all my way home.

Back to Downtown, I rushed over to the Riverwalk to witness the sunset, thinking it might be good. But the air was just too clear--smog makes for a redder sunset. This gave me an extra two miles, and I had saved almost a half gallon of gas, today, by walking my travels, not counting the train ride savings (about 40 miles round trip).

More rain is expected, and it looks like my Oregon hikes may not happen, this spring. No one e-mails me, recently, for hiking, and I figure I will have to make my own peak plans, and carry them out. There are many great ski mountaineering ops in the Eastern Sierra, if it ever stops snowing, and when the corn firms up!

I wore three layers to start, under my old parka. I had along an umbrella, which kept me dry enough during the steady rain, the day before (due to flooding, the bike trail was inaccessible from Old Sac). If there isn't much wind, it's cheaper and better than wearing Gore-Tex, or other similar fabric. It's smart to have a day pack, too, to carry extra items for possible use.

The tiny, flying, bugs were gone, today, and they warn of mosquitoes (West Nile Virus) when it warms up. I saw some butterflies, and wild turkeys, again, but only so many ducks and geese. Some rowers were on the lake, too.

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