A MIDSUMMER'S NIGHT DREAM: A SOLSTICE PADDLE AT SLY PARK

Not only is it Sum­mer Sol­stice, drops a Full Moon. May love sur­round you like sun­shine on a sunny day. --- William Shakespeare

The lake was finally close to being quiet now. Gone were the speed boats and fishing boats, whose muffled motor rumble we could be faintly heard from the big part of the lake. Gone was the laughing and splashing the frolicking pre-teens jumping off the dock. They had either gone home or were back at their campsite gorging on hot dogs and potato chips. And gone was the sound of the wind rustling through the trees and the waves sloshing against the boat dock. The lake was still, calm and so inviting.

It was the summer solstice, the longest day of the year marking the beginning of summer in the northern hemisphere and sun was in no hurry to set. Each year, I've anxiously awaited for this time of year to stretch out my time at play on the water. For paddlers everywhere, longer days mean more time for paddling. It's that simple.

In Northern California, Current Adventures Kayaking School & Trips has been hosting our popular sunset/moonlight paddles for all skill levels at Lake Natoma near Sacramento for many years. But, now they offer a new venue at Sly Park Recreation Area's Lake Jenkinson with paddle rentals, paddling classes and special programming like this Summer Solstice Paddle for those wanting to escape the valley.

Lake Jenkinson and Sly Park Recreation Area are stationed in a picturesque setting of the Sierra foothills near Pollock Pines, California. Divided by a channel into two parts, the larger rounded lower lake is home to the speedboats, picnic and campgrounds, and swimming beach, while the upper part of the lake is more narrow, much quieter due to a 5-mph speed limit and lined with a fringe of tall pines, reminiscent of my  of summer camp memories in the Northwoods.

It's was a great group for of both young and young at heart were joining me for our first Solstice Paddle on the lake. We traveled along the south side shore of the upper lake, past the eagle's nest under a border of tall pines on route to Sly Park Creek and its waterfall.

I loved to watch the light reflecting off the on the water as we moved along on it. How it changed with each ripple from our kayaks. How it at first it started with a sun blinding glisten silhouetting the paddlers and pines, before turning into a subdued glow of oranges, reds and shadowy greenish blues. On the south side, the trees of the lake the solstice sun brightly illuminated the trees in the distance like the moon while towards the west the tall pines filtered the light reaching the lake a picket fence flashing brilliantly between them as we paddled past.

At the creek, the forest closed around us like in a Tolkien tale as we paddled up toward the walking bridge. There the creek narrowed into a constricted rush of water just above the bridge that we could paddle no further. We would have to walk the path to the sound of the waterfall.

Sly Park Falls the bubbling man-made waterfall is always a popular destination for those visiting the park by either hike or paddle. Flowing from a pipe, the falls are only 33-feet high that drops into a translucent pool of water. It's just a brief stop before the water keeps moving on down to the lake.

It's the highlight of our paddle tonight that enchants the paddlers as they watch the water pouring vigorously out the hillside with an almost deafening roar. It always gives me a certain thrill. I'm sure the paddlers visiting it for the first time had the same sensation.

Before long it's back to our kayaks to circumvent the rest of the lake past Hazel Creek and Chimney Campground, named so because of the ruins of the chimney still left standing before the lake was formed rises out of its depths. Campfire smoke, camp clatter, and laughter hung over the water as it filtered down from the campsites.

By now our trip was almost over as the solstice sun had fallen behind the horizons. We paddled back in the coolness of the night air maybe wishing for our day not to end.

If you want to go on other kayak trip to Sly Park contact:
Current Adventures Kayak School and Trips 
PHONE: 530-333-9115 or Toll-Free: 888-452-9254
FAX: 530-333-1291
USPS: Current Adventures, P.O. Box 828, Lotus, CA 95651
info@currentadventures.com
owner Dan Crandall dan@kayaking.com

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