LAKE NATOMA LOOP 15X March 17, 2007

Stricken with a digital camera failure, the day before, after hardly three months of getting and using it, I chose to use my older digital camera for anything I was to do this day. It was to be another warm day, with entreaties already to this being the warmest winter ever, globally, on record. I know that it'll cool back down, locally, but what summer may bring makes me shudder.

In keeping with my conservationism about travel and global warming, I took light rail, again, out to Historic Folsom.

Being it was St. Patrick's Day, plenty of dining ops with corned beef and cabbage (one of my favorite dishes) offered themselves. I was to get a sub sandwich, with drink, as I wanted to more frugally sample, for lunch, the more upscale food along this main street. And I didn't know about the Irish fare offered at some places along, before picking an eatery.

Starting out then at about 12:30 p.m., I sauntered along to the bike trail, and noted with the heat, fewer users seemed to be about. I had to strip down to a T-shirt, wearing shorts, with my fanny pack. A regular day pack would cause more overheating, and then my damp cotton back.

Wondering even to abort this loop, I snapped my usual photos of the scenic features, as the bluffs along the lake. Sunlight now cast itself on the cliffs, as we are swinging into the Spring Equinox. I did some faster hiking and topped the cone shaped hill. Just wished to get this over with, as I don't do well in warmer temperatures.

The wildflower bloom was probably nearing its peak, and I took a side trail down, past the dam, to snap close-ups. I noted new flowers, and the trees are leafing quickly. Soon, the grasses will dry up, and the oppressive Central Valley heat will rise. It may be a long time before I might be hiking here, again.

People were suffering from less comfortable conditions. A good number of boaters on the lake. The snowmelt was said to still be cold. Most serious cyclists wear the spandex outfits, even during cold days. You warm up nicely once vigorously exercising. I rounded the far end of the loop, and headed for a fast food restaurant to drink up several refills of lemonade, then water. Best to stay indoors, with a/c, during the hottest part of the day.

Many mountain bikers used the side trails as I stood aside more frequently than usual. The last thing I want is for some poor judgment on the space between me and a fast-moving bike, with narrow trails. You can be hurt badly should you be sideswiped by a speeding cyclist. By a kid that I saw, some bikes don't have good brakes!

In the latter half of the afternoon, it cooled back down, and I was to enjoy the final sections of this loop. My return side, the south shore, of the lake has more trees. I wished to partake of the specialty meal, but short on time, I'd better get home. I was nearly stranded out here, once, and don't wish to tempt fate with that again.

Debarking from the train, I was to note the festive dish available at one of my usual haunts, lately. Washing up, then working on my computer, I later didn't get to have anything but salad, as they ran out of the corned beef.

Walking some 12 miles, total, today, I shot 109 images. My old camera feels pretty clunky after using the new one. I made some adjustments to the exposure, as it seems I get better pictures with the settings for a bit darker than what the auto settings will give you.

It seems to be a sad fact that the cheaper digital cameras may not last so long. I'll see if my one year warranty is honored, but I was warned the particular problem I have is not considered fixable under reasonable cost, or replaceable except by another purchase. Shame to then not trust the reliability of such a historically fine name brand, and have to get cameras from another manufacturer. I feared for another screen failure on my new, main camera, too, so used my older, and trusty, workhorse, 3.34 MP camera, and again to see how it's holding up. I've had that for almost 6 years, and never had but a slight problem, shooting about 50,000 images under all sorts of conditions.

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