Adventure Camera - Summer at Lake Natoma

I know summer doesn't officially start for another week, but the warm summer weather has arrived in the Bay Area.... Finally!  After weeks of cool, cloudy and rainy weather, Josh and I celebrated by doing what we always do when the sun comes out and the temperatures heat up.  We went kayaking.

Lake Natoma is another one of those places that's been on our kayaking to-do list for a while now, and we headed out of the valley fog towards Folsom for a day of fun in the sun.  The lake was peaceful-- with a 5mph speed limit, there were only a few motorized boats on the lake, and more kayaks, paddleboards, paddleboats, canoes and human-powered craft than I've ever seen in one place.  It was great to see so many people enjoying paddle sports!  We slathered on the sunscreen and managed to get two laps around the lake before the day was over.  Along the way, we explored a maze of marsh canals, crossed under several bridges, fought (and won!) against several battalions of Canadian geese, and played in some fast-flowing rapids where the American River pours into the northern end of the lake.

All in all, a great day, a great lake, and a definite thumbs-up, though I do recommend bringing a bilge pump for lunchtime goose control.... ;)  Now, for a few photos!

Before the afternoon winds picked up, the lake was glass-like and peaceful, and the water was so clear that it appeared as a crystalline blue color.

One of the things I love about paddling near civilization is the bridges.  Paddling under a bridge gives you a totally new perspective on the engineering that goes into bridges, and you get to see the beauty in the lines and supports that you don't see when driving over it.

Happy Tuesday and enjoy the warm weather and sun!