We got a good, not breezy, and, in fact, hot weekend to try Loch Lomond again. We had dried the boat out when we returned home last time, and we had gotten cockpit covers to seal it up while in storage. We dried it again before loading it on the car (Pacifica fog) and we removed the hatch covers for the trip so any residual could evaporate during the drive. This time the boat inspection was a little further into the park ’cause the season is getting into full swing. We passed with flying colors! (Apparently the dreaded mussels have been found in a relatively nearby lake, but we’ve never taken the boat on fresh water before.)
We drove down to the little boat launch and dock and unloaded the gear. We didn’t need the spray skirts which was good ’cause it was a warm day. There were lots of other boaters–private and rentals–kayaks, canoes, and rowboats as well as motorized (no gasoline allowed, but battery powered okay).
Just about everyone was fishing–fishermen in boats and fishermen on shore–fishermen fishermen everywhere and not a fish was caught. We had to be on the lookout for the lines. As we paddled over submerged stumps remaining from the logging days before they created the reservoir, we saw roosting herons and a variety of duck-like birds which included mallards and a pied-billed grebe.
Because it was the beginning of the season, we were able to paddle up the lake’s source, Newell Creek. According to the guide, water levels can drop 10-20 feet as Santa Cruz drinks it up. This was definitely a highlight as we paddled between fern-covered rock walls that rose straight out of the water. As we moved into the creek, we realized that we needed the camera so we paddled back to the dock at Deer Flat to get it out of the compartment. While John got out the camera and his fishing kit we saw some shore fishermen catch a couple trout (the lake is stocked with rainbow trout every three weeks and also has populations of largemouth bass, bluegill, and channel catfish). One of the fishermen dropped his fish in the dust while trying to hold it up for a picture; they washed it off and succeeded on the second try though it was touch and go as he tried to snag it out of the net.
We returned to Newell Creek and paddled up until we reached a downed tree that blocked any further access. Saw several other paddlers during the trip. One noticed the purpleness of our boat and the Black Dog sticker. Near the turnaround point we saw a pair who had pulled their boats out on shore and were picnicking right next to the sign about remaining in one’s boat. During the paddle we heard or glimpsed non-water birds, but did not have enough information for identification.
We headed back to the south end of the lake, but my leg was cramping up (I hadn’t gotten out while we were at Deer Flat) so we left the south end for another visit along with the island and another creek where supposedly you can glimpse remains of a rail system from the logging days.
On the way home we stopped at Wahoo’s for some fish tacos. There we got a chance to read the park brochure and decided that the birds we heard were the “rattling call of a kingfisher” and the “laughing call of the acorn woodpecker” while the birds we glimpsed were the blue of the kingfisher and the bright orange of a northern flicker.
We’re doing well on the gear front. My new hat worked very well to shade me from the sun and it wasn’t too hot. However, we were constantly nervous about the camera, taking it in and out of the dry sack (though I was impressed with the ease of the Navy Seal approved zip seal) and decided to look again at waterproof cameras.
