Last Trip to Waldo

 I took off up to Waldo Lake today.  Just a spur of the moment thing.   My flotable was still in the car from when I went to Foster Reservoir, so I threw in a bag with some shorts, towels and took off.

That's my inflatible.  I tried to inflate it with the battery powered pump but the batteries had gone dead so I just pumped it with the hand pump.  It took maybe five minutes.

I got a few envious comments and some compliments.   The paddle boarders like the backrest, which is under my hat in the photo, as it flops forward if I'm not sitting on it with my back against the back rest.   It's a really comfortable backrest.  I can also sit atop it if I want to, like my hat is doing there.

I got out and went for a swim where I took that photo.   No other people anywhere near or even in sight.  It was so beautiful.  No wind to speak of, although I saw at least four sailboats who were getting some wind in their sails.

It's very short, about 8 feet, but plenty long for me.

I only use the rear skeg.  It's removable.  Near the shore at Waldo can be very shallow in many places and rocky.   I finally removed the rear skeg which kept catching on rocks.   I wanted to see how it would handle without one anyway.

It was easy to paddle without any skeg, although any gust of wind would catch and propel it backwards or sideways, so I know to always have my skeg along in case of wind on the water.

I was a  little astonished at the drop in Waldo's water level.  I've never seen that before.    It had to be down a foot, which is a lot of water when you consider its size.   

Evaporation maybe?   I don't know.

There was no smoke in the skies this time, but that sure looks like a fire beyond the NW end.

In many places, especially since the fires, organic matter covers rocks or coats over the once sandy bottom.

Snow on the Sisters.  Not much yet.

There are two of the three Sisters again

I really love this float board.   Less than 15 lbs, blows up in 5 minutes, comfy backrest, easy to paddle, although the paddle isn't going to last, and I need to remember to have another in the car when I take this out.   That's my ancient boogie board beside my photo snapping shadow.  I originally found that in Foster Reservoir.  The foam inside is broken by now in places.  I use it for safety with its wrist strap, when swimming.

Quick trip.  Warm today and I knew there probably won't be another day on such a beautiful lake again this season.   The temperature in Crescent, just up the road from Waldo and lower elevation, was 28 degrees this morning.  Winter.   How dare you raise your head.  I'm not ready.