LAKE NATOMA LOOP 16X March 24, 2007

Still waiting for some warranty action on my failed camera, I took my older digital camera along with me on my weekend walk about Lake Natoma. Taking the first train out to Historic Folsom, I dined with a good breakfast at a place along the main street, there.

So, starting my 16x circle of this reservoir at 10:45 a.m., I crossed the old truss bridge, and sauntered along the northern side of the lake, along the bike trail. Accosted by another photographer, we chatted a bit, then I had to move on. It was a cooler day, so I wore pants. Lots of poison oak leafing. A wild turkey crossed the path, too fast for a photo. Not as many geese or ducks, today, though. Plenty of cyclists, runners, and boaters.

I topped the cone shaped hill, and gained no distant views, with hazy skies, and no peaks visible. More flowers were blooming, with plenty of vetch, brodeia, poppies, and lupine.

Rounding the loop at Hazel Avenue, I beelined for the fast food restaurant near the major factory outlet, and guzzled soda and water. This makes a fine break stop, which I usually don't do, with no other great place to relax.

Back to the bike trail, the oaks made for good photos. I snapped a few photos of a non-venomous snake, with people looking at it.

In two places, a rope dangling from tree branches offered a chance for a swing out over the water, and then a 15 foot drop into the lake. I observed some young people doing that, sticking around to determine that the kids were able to safely swim back to shore. I thought that this would be a interesting movie op to upload to YouTube or someplace on the Net, but with my low speed connection, I'd leave it to any other ambitious, tech-enabled, people to do that.

Looking at the newest point-and-shoots, they have better movie modes with sound. If I am forced to get a new, low-end camera, the features, versus price, are tempting enough to stick with the same brand.

I sipped from my cup of water and ice, and enjoyed, a bit better, the last mile or so to the light rail station. The view across the lake includes the bluffs and bike trail on the far shore.

Back to Folsom at 3:40 p.m., the public restroom was still open, but then, to the station, the ticket machine was inoperative. I had to board the train, then debark at the next station down to get a ticket from a working machine. This results in a half hour delay to get home. There is no time to get a ticket to catch the same train, as the train is stopped for only a short time. This appears to be the operating procedure for boarding without a ticket, then.

Getting a monthly pass would avoid this, but I only use light rail part of the time. I was back home by 5:15 p.m., and in time to watch the news.

I had walked the usual 11 miles, with perhaps a few more hundred yards for side trips. I shot almost 100 images. My breakfast was about 9 dollars, and made me full enough to avoid any more dining, out here, this day.

Mostly with just a T-shirt, I would have worn shorts if I had a place to change. My boots did fine, and I really wish for getting a new camera, back quickly. My older camera doesn't fit in my pocket, and is a bit awkward to access, sometimes, with my packs as I have them.

Despite the early warm weather, no one comes forward to hike with me. I'm waiting for a spell of dry weather up north, to enjoy another short coast road trip, and to hike more peaks and towns.

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