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!

Winter on the Water

The sun came out for awhile this last weekend, so time to get back on the water.  It has been over a month since I have been out. I layered appropriately and enjoyed the beautiful afternoon.  I know the rain will come soon enough...

The lake was flat and calm...no current anywhere.

Ghost Town, Bodie California and a quick stop in Yosemite.

I have been cold all week.  I think our trip last weekend to Bodie and then Yosemite somehow screwed up my personal thermostat.  There was a lot of very cold, then jump in the car and get really hot going on.  So now, the fire is roaring and I am finally thawing out. But enough about the cold! Let me tell you about Bodie, a genuine California ghost town.

We needed a road trip! So we took advantage of the crazy good January weather and headed out to a destination we had long wanted to photograph, the ghost town of Bodie.  Bodie is a true old west ghost town.  Clearly nothing has been restored here.  It looks just like what it is, a once bustling town that was slowly abandoned.

Bodie grew out of the gold rush. By 1879 Bodie boasted a population of about 10,000 and became famous for wickedness, bad men and lots of killings.   At one point the town hosted 65 saloons.  I was surprised how big it was and all that is left represents only 5% of the original town.

"Praise Waiteth For Thee O God in Zion"

Peeking in these windows, you could close your eyes and imagine the clink of drink glasses and a call out to ..."Barkeep...another whiskey over here"

The Gym

The town looks just like you see in old movies or TV shows. I could picture Marshall Matt Dillon walking the streets going to visit Miss Kitty.    

The mortuary has adult and baby caskets on display.

The store shelves still have 100 year old cans and a the saloon looks like somebody should dust...but otherwise could open for business.  

Fire Station

Leaving Bodie we realized how close we were to Yosemite.  Due to lack of snow Tioga Pass was open.  So we decided to head over and see if we could catch some sunset.

Ice Climbers

I have usually had good luck getting a last minute room in Yosemite, but not this time.  We did get a room only 10 minutes away at Yosemite View Lodge.  It had a fireplace!

We got up early to catch the sunrise.  Our goal was to hike up to Sentinel Dome for the best view.  The light was getting bright as we headed up Glacier Point Road...another unusual open road for January, so we knew we did not have time for the hike.  We landed at Glacier Point and looked for our best vantage point.

There were a lot of sweepy type clouds so we never got a real sunrise or even great light.  But it was still a great place to be in the morning!

As we got out of our car in the Bridal Veil parking lot we heard what we thought were gun shots.  They were  loud and echoed through the valley.  Every few minutes we heard it...and soon realized it was ice falling. We headed to the base of Bridal Veil Falls, with a trickle of water and lots of ice. We watched and listened as big slabs of ice crashed down the rocks.

 

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood...