The Lake and Green River

 I went to the lake yesterday.   Had a blast.

I overdid it, and will pay, but worth it.

The boat ramp was busy but everyone was very nice.  

When waiting for the boat load/launch line to go down, I saw a huge boat launching that was so beautiful and looked like a yacht almost.   Half of it was silver glittered, in color.   

I paddled way up the S. Santiam from the reservoir.   Two rivers enter Foster Reservoir.  The South Santiam, that snakes above Foster along highway 20 and the Middle fork of the Santiam, that comes down from Green Peter dam.    Green Peter reservoir is fed by Quartzville Creek and the Middle fork of the Santiam.  Green Peter dam and reservoir are five miles up above Foster on Quartzville road.   In the winter, thrill seeker kayakers run the S. Santiam rapids higher up, in wet suits or dry suits.   

The south Santiam is slow moving just up from Foster.  In fact, the current takes you backwards--up river, until a certain point.   On the paddle back downriver to Foster, you almost always are paddling against wind, so its much tougher going back.  Too bad its not reversed.   Almost always I get to a point, this time of year, on the S. Santiam, where algae blooms badly.   Same this year.  So bad this year I renamed the S. Santiam yesterday Green River.

I was going to paddle clear up to the rapids but ended up, the algae was so bad, I turned around before then.   

You don't want to swim or even dip your toes into algae like that.

Before the river turned to green, it was beautiful, however.

Found this magnificent fallen monster tree.    These massive trees fascinate me.  I'm in awe.

I got home late and had to scramble to do the cat chores before dark.   I was happy.  My car is running and the heart monitor is mailed off.  I took my first shower in two weeks Wednesday night.     The auto shop where my car was fixed seems extremely competent and I will use them again.