Super Bowl = Empty Lake

I was once again mesmerized by the fact that while boats with big and small motors were buzzing all around us, our small band was covering mile upon mile of lake by human power alone.  Happily, due to Super Bowl Sunday, we had very few motor heads on the water, and the ones that were there cleared out pretty early.

It was a perfect sunny day.  I know we need rain, but I can take this sunny weather all year long.

This is one of those few times I will get out on the main lake of Folsom.  It is usually a zoo of crazy motor boats.  The water is so low and the marina pretty much in the dirt...so, it was a setting made for paddlers.

 

Our plan was to head up the South Fork of the American River to see the Old Salmon Falls Bridge and other interesting structures exposed by the very low water.

When the gold rush started in  1849 several small towns sprang up along the South Fork of the American River.  This small valley was a busy center of commerce and a key travel route.  One of those small towns was Salmon Falls. In 1860 the population was estimated at 3000.  Since 1956 with the construction of the Folsom Damn, the whole town and valley went under water.

In this year of no rain and very low water remnants of a town that once stood strong are showing themselves.  Key is a the Old Salmon Falls Bridge thought to have been built sometime after 1883.  The bridge is totally exposed now...which is good so boaters can easily pass under it.  Some years it is just exposed enough to be a big stone wall to boaters.

This bridge could have been brand new. Hard to consider it was mostly underwater these last 50 years

The paddle back was mellow...quiet...peaceful.  We were treated to a beautiful setting sun and rising moon.

The calendar is getting filled up with fun events this Spring and Summer.  We are headed to Monterey Bay next Month...and in April there is a night time paddle in the sierras to watch the Lyrids Meteor Shower...(if the weather is clear!).

We have a couple of Lake Tahoe trips planned, a Russian River 2 day paddle, and a possible excursion to the San Juan Islands.  Yeah Summer!