November 7, 2003

Took my initial paddle along the North Shore, noting several piers and other stuff that need to be picked up. More odd items showed up in Le Pointe Cove where I started styrofoam collection, leaving a large pile above the high water mark.

November 8, 2003

Drove to Oak Shores and did the standard paddle around Big Island. Picked up a medium deck load of styrofoam, not a large accumulation for the past two months. Staying up with new stuff on the island shouldn't be too difficult with a collection paddle every month or two.

November 9, 2003

North Shore Structures

Styrofoam collection continued as I paddled back to Le Pointe Cove. On the way, I took photos of the stuff needing collection along the shoreline of Putah Creek and in the Cove. Then I collected another foam pile in Barton Cove partly from the shoreline and the rest from the grass and thistle along the trail.

November 11, 2003

East Shore Pile and Pier

Carol and I walked down East Side Road, starting at the end of the part of the road accessible by car next to the Gunn Ranch. Sunny, good for photographs as Carol exercised her new camera. The Keep Out sign is still next to the gate. We walked several miles to just north of the shoreline picnic table that we've used several times when paddling over from the west shore. After a quick lunch, Carol continued on to the South Gunn Ranch while I collected a large pile of styrofoam from up and down the beach. This is the beginning of what will be a long cleanup of the East Shore.

November 12, 2003

Paddled up the Putah Creek arm of the lake with Andrea on a warm sunny day. Wind threatened early but calmed in the afternoon. We noted a concentration of styrofoam for future collection. A loud inboard raced by and soon returned. At the take line, we discovered a line of new 5mph buoys courtesy of the Bureau - great! The quick return of the speed boat shows the effectiveness of the buoy line. Just past the line, we stopped for lunch on a small point suitable for camping that we think is a small piece of BLM land. Great spot with a spacious view to the south which we'll use for a future overnight. At the Pope to Putah Trail trailhead, a line of sturdy new No Trespassing signs has appeared where we and others have camped on a broad shelf. The signs extend about 100 yards south of the trailhead onto what is almost certainly BLM public land. So we'll have to work that one out. We returned just as the sun set behind the western ridge after a very enjoyable 8 mile outing.

November 14, 2003

Just ahead of incoming rain, I paddled up the North Shore to Barton Cove. On the way I made a quick landing to drag a loose 5mph buoy on a blue foam float high above the high water line. At the cove I wandered through the thistle along the trail digging out styrofoam which added up to a fairly large second pile plus adding significantly to the first pile. This done, I paddled on to Schoolhouse Cove to collect the few pieces of foam on the shore. Then back to Barton Cove to add this deck load to the pile. The rain was light and the south wind raised interesting wind waves for the return paddle. Launch 9AM, landing 1PM. Good to escape the weather into the dry and warm motorhome after a morning of exercise.

November 17, 2003

Sun appeared after two days of light rain. Paddled up along the North Shore to continue where I left off on November 14. Soon after I cleared the bridge, a grass fire became visible on the east shore hills just above the Gamble Ranch. I notified Darcy at Admin (luckily I had my cell phone along) who called CDF. The trucks began arriving soon after and had the fire under control within a couple of hours. Then they started a backfire along a fire road to burn back to the original burn. As this was going on, I collected foam all the way to Eticuera where I left a pile at the pullout. Then I took another pile of large pieces in tow on the way back, adding to the pile at Barton. Good exercise paddle on a beautiful warm day.

November 20, 2003

Launched at 11:45, returned at 3:45. Paddled to Pelican Island just south of the Gamble Ranch, then north along the shoreline. Warm and sunny, calm. Collected a full load of styrofoam (deck plus two large tows) from the shoreline east of Eticuera and left it at Eticuera Pullout. Previous load had been collected, good to have help.

November 21, 2003

Feeling like some leg exercise, I drove up to Barton Hill Pullout and spent about two hours walking between the Pullout and the shoreline carrying the two large piles of styrofoam collected previously from the shoreline to the Pullout. Sunny and cool, perfect for outdoor exercise. Then I explored the trails at Racoon Lagoon and had lunch on a point with a great lake view. Decided that these trails are not sufficiently defined yet to include in the online trail guide. Back at the motorhome, I changed into paddling duds and paddled up the Putah Creek arm about 1.5 miles to a spot where the wind tends to concentrate styrofoam. Slow going against a strong N wind. Cleared out all of the large chunks in one large load (deck plus three towed bundles). Then drifted back with the wind and left the stuff in a pile next to the access road to the BSA Camp. Finally arrived back home around 4PM. Good full body workout.

November 22, 2003

After lunch, I hiked the North Shore Trail from the Putah to the Le Pointe Pullouts and back. Along the way I replaced all the tags, many of which were missing after 10 months. Also did some light trimming. Another sunny crisp and clear Fall day, wonderful. The trail shows some use but it's clearly not the John Muir Trail. Spotted several spots where more styrofoam collection will be needed, not visible from the water but all too clear from the trail.

November 25, 2003

Another wonderful paddle on a crisp clear day. I did an open water crossing directly from the Putah Bridge to the East Shore and then north along the shoreline to what I call Pelican Island (a common spot for the flock of White Pelicans). Along the shore, I scouted the high water line for styrofoam in preparation for extending my cleanup to the East Shore. There is lots of foam on that shore which, for the northern half of the lake, will be best collected by foot. The shore is very gentle, a large flood plain, so with the current lower lake levels, the high water line is far from the water's edge. I'll probably do a series of pleasant hikes in this Wildlife Area, collecting the stuff into piles above the high water mark while bird watching. This will at least get the stuff out of the lake so it doesn't refloat during the rainy season and end up on shorelines already cleared; methods for carting the stuff away for final disposal can be worked out later.

While I was doing some trimming and tagging on the North Shore Trail a few days ago, I moved a few large pieces of foam from their hiding places behind rocks and logs to the water line. Today on my way back, I picked these up and towed and carried them to the Putah Pullout. At this point, the south, west and north shorelines of the lake, plus Big and Small Islands and the Putah and Pope arms, have been cleared of styrofoam over the last year. The exception are several concentrations in deep coves which are not visible from the water but are all too visible from the North Shore Trail.

November 30, 2003

Paddled a couple of hours in the rain. Chilly but not really cold, a warm weather system. Picked up two large pieces of styrofoam below Berryessa Pines and left them in Monticello Resort (where the owner supports the foam cleanup). Returned early as the rain and chill increased. A pair of magnificent Bald Eagles sat on the branch of a tree on Schoolhouse Island, waiting for a meal to swim by. Good to be out of the motorhome for awhile.

December 2, 2003

The rain finally tapered off today with the weather turning overcast and chilly. Leaving before noon, I paddled to the East Shore and landed south of Pelican Island. Scouting from a point, I noted that the shoreline is a series of points and coves, not the montone straight shoreline I thought. The coves have a very flat and muddy shoreline with the high water line far back from the water. The points are steeper with a drier shore and closer high water line. So the coves will be best cleared by hiking while the points, which tend to focus the styrofoam, can be approached by boat. The first point I cleared yielded two large piles. There were several old small piles buried in the grass which showed that styrofoam cleanup has been attempted before. Moving north, I discovered that the south side of Gamble Point is a major focal point. I collected a really large pile just towards the end of the point from the sheep pens. Beautiful sheep with cute lambs. Cleaning the rest of the point yielded a second pile further out. Picked a final chunk out of the grass high up in the trees near Racoon Lagoon as I paddled back, arriving around 5PM. Good full body workout.

December 3, 2003

In clear skies I paddled up to Le Pointe Cove for lunch. Great to feel the warm sun after several days of overcast and rain. I relaxed leaning on the last accumulated pile of styrofoam on the North Shore. The entire pile fit on the deck and in three towed bundles (see photo to right) so I was able to clear the beach in one load. The deck load was left at Putah Pullout while I stacked the larger towed chunks at the top of the boat ramp in the resort.

At this point, the North Shore has been completely cleared of styrofoam except for several deep coves that are not visible from the water. Since this is a good break point, I'll probably give collection a rest for awhile, limited to the occasional piece spotted while paddling.

December 11, 2003

Clear at dawn, a brief break in a long rainy spell. Feeling like a long paddle, I set off at 10:30AM and headed down and across the lake to the east shore across from Big Island, about 6 miles one way. Starting at the point on shore where the broad flat shoreline changes to eroded cliffs, I stopped several times to pick large styrofoam floats from the "tidal" zone and threw them up on top of the low cliffs to get them out of the lake. Also pulled one heavy 5mph buoy up the zone and above the high water mark. I had planned to move a pile we left last Spring near the picnic table to the pile I collected last month but someone had already removed it, welcome help. After lunch at the table, I collected several pieces that were floating against the shoreline and deposited them in the pile created last month next to the East Side Road. Returning along the shore, I noted again the large number of foam blocks that should be collected from the broad plain. It remains a mystery to me why the Bureau hasn't been keeping up with loose styrofoam collection over the decades. Then back across the lake, arriving at 3:30PM. Great exercise paddle and a relief from being house bound by the rain. Really enjoy the open feeling far from shore.

December 15, 2003

After two days of mountain bike rides behind Angwin, I set off at 11:30AM across the lake. Somewhat chilly but calm and almost clear. Starting at the large styrofoam piles south of the Gamble Ranch, I paddled south along the shoreline. Just offshore, a small group of Coots was being attacked by a magnificent Bald Eagle. The Eagle would swoop down at the group. Just as it looked like the Eagle was going to hit one of the Coots, the entire group would dive leaving only a group of splashes. They would then immediately bob back up as the Eagle skimmed the surface and then climbed and turned for another pass. This went on for awhile until the Eagle finally gave up and flew directly over me on the way to shore. Comical.

Proceeding south for a mile, I located two large blue pieces of foam near the water. These I lugged up the mud flats to above the high water mark. From this vantage, I discovered that this was another concentration point for foam. In a half hour, I was able to easily accumulate a large pile, ready for pickup. Most of this shoreline, however, will be best cleaned on foot since almost all of the foam is along the high water line which is well back from the current waterline. Feeling chilled after lunch in the boat and tired of styrofoam, I then paddled back across the lake as a S breeze came up, arriving around 3:30PM. No motorboats, thus exquisite quiet.

December 16, 2003

First try at collecting styrofoam on the East Shore while hiking, an experiment. Parked at the new foot entrance (labelled E1) and carried a load up to the road from along the trail and adjacent shore. Also dragged up a wooden and foam float. Then went in at entrance E2 and finished up the shoreline south of Gamble's Ranch, adding to a previous pile near the sheep pens. Finally worked the high water line from entrance E4 back to E2, creating two huge piles and adding to two other piles I discovered in the grass. Apparently someone has tried collecting in the past. This time hopefully the cleanup will be completed by removal of the collected piles. Most of these three hours was spent hiking, good leg exercise. The experiment was a success with between one and two miles of shoreline cleaned.

December 30, 2003

After a week without exercise while away in Oakmont and Reno for Christmas and then waiting out a major winter storm, it felt great to be back on the water again. The lake had risen substantially with the rain. Under cloudy skies and calm winds I paddled up the North Shore. Several large pieces of styrofoam were floating against the shoreline, carried north by the south winds of the winter storm. I towed two of these to Barton Bay and carried the rest back on deck to the dumpsters in Putah Creek Resort. One piece was recovered mid-lake being carried on the wind.

The rising lake level will be lifting styrofoam off the shore and the wind will then distribute it all around the lake. It takes only a few hours for a piece to sail on the wind the entire length of the lake. With this mobility, stuff can end up anywhere once it starts floating. The initial goal along the East Shore, therefore, will be to move the chunks above the high water mark. If the stuff on that shore can be immobilized, the rest of the lake, which has already been cleaned up, should stay fairly free of styrofoam. Progress.

December 31, 2003

For a change, I drove to Oak Shores and paddled across to the north side of the entrance to The Narrows. Conditions calm and overcast with the tops of the surrounding ridges in the low clouds. Starting in the cove facing The Narrows, I worked north along the shoreline collecting styrofoam floating against the shore along with pieces up at the high water mark. These were accumulated on deck. At one point I encountered a loose pier bouncing against the rocks and pulled it up as far as I could which, due to its weight, wasn't very far. Need to start carrying some rope to tie these loose piers to shore. In the deep cove just south of the South Gunn Ranch I took a large float in tow and continued on around the Ranch, adding to both the float and the deck. Rounding the point to the north side of the Ranch, I was about to continue north along the shoreline when I noticed about a half dozen large pieces floating free well out from shore on the main lake. These had probably been lifted off the East Shore further to the north and were proceeding south on a light breeze. So I abandoned the shoreline and paddled around the lake, taking all the drift foam under tow. When I had accumulated all I could tow and carry on deck, I paddled slowly but surely back across the lake to Oak Shores. The GPS showed that my speed was dropped from my normal 3.5mph to just under 2mph by the drag of the three large bundles in tow. This agreed with the time of a bit over one hour that it took to complete the 2 mile crossing. This record load completely filled a dumpster at Foxtail with the largest piece left on top. Good exercise on a mirror smooth lake.

January 1, 2004

Heavy rain and wind moved in last night as another winter storm roared in from the Pacific. I had about resigned myself to being cooped up inside all day when the rain stopped mid morning. Launching at 11:15AM, I heading up the North Shore a short distance and then directly across to the East Shore. A Bald Eagle soared low overhead joined by several Osprey enjoying the wind. Conditions were fairly calm at first but the wind shifted from S to SW and increased as I progressed, giving me a nice tail wind and 1-2 ft following seas. Reaching Pelican Island, I took a brief refuge in the lee of the island and reconsidered my plan. Styrofoam collection was quickly abandoned as I studied the increasing whitecaps in the growing wind. Heading for shelter before the wind became too strong, I ferried west to the coves of the North Shore for lunch. I then started back, taking advantage of the many protected coves as I worked along the shore against the wind. A very peaceful and relaxing paddle. It was gratifying to see almost no styrofoam had been blown in by the wind, indicating the lack of foam on the west shore available to be carried by the SW wind. With the wind came cold and chill. I was glad to arrive back at the motorhome around 2PM just as the rain started again.

January 2, 2004

Cold morning (38F) with rain. The rain tailed off in the late morning so I loaded the boat onto the van and headed for Oak Shores. Launching from Coyote Knolls around noon, I immediately encountered the wakeboard concession raft from the Willi Ski School slowly making its way north between Oak Shores and Big Island. This I called in to Lynne at the Bureau who was going to then call Steele Park Resort to have someone come and tow the raft back to the south end of the lake. Next I came upon a loose hazard buoy on the shore of Big Island. Breaking out the tow line, I paddled this to Oak Shores where I added a second loose hazard buoy to the line and towed both to a nearby picnic area where I dragged both up to some trash cans near Coyote Beach. Hopefully the rangers or maintenance will notice and dispose of them. Relaunching, I soon came upon a loose 5mph buoy on the shore of Big Island. This I dragged above the high water mark for later collection. Continuing south along the shore and around into the large south cove of the island, I took shelter from a W wind in the lee of a small island and ate lunch while a small squall moved by. Blue sky and blessed sunshine appeared as I paddling into the south cove. There I collected several large pieces of styrofoam that were floating against the shore and lashed them to the rear deck. I also moved a large blue plastic barrel up on to the mudflats. I noted the lack of foam as I paddled around Big Island but also observed that the loose pier I had grounded a few days ago near the South Gunn Ranch was now drifting north again. The wakeboard raft was still around as I landed at about 2:30PM and left the foam in a pile for the rangers to collect. Good paddle on a sparkling afternoon with very attractive dramatic cloud formations against the clear blue sky. A cold north wind with dark clouds and rain arrived just as I was finishing putting gear away and settling back into my warm RV hobbit hole.

January 3, 2004

Bright sunny day but a bit cool, warming to the 50s at midday. Taking a break from paddling, I drove up to the gate just beyond Eticuera, stopping at Barton Hill on the way to walk a couple of pieces that had been collected a few days ago up from the shoreline to the pullout. From the gate I had planned to collect a few stray pieces I'd noted while paddling. As usual, there was more stuff than I anticipated and I ended up with seven piles. Several of these piles had been collected in the past, showing again that it doesn't take a PhD to see the need to clean up the shoreline. I then drove down the East Shore to entrance E14 which has a full foot gate. I collected two large piles along the shoreline there and then moved to the end of the road at E15 on the turn around loop. Here I created four large piles, cleaning the shoreline all the way to the fence at the beginning of the Gunn easement. After three hours of hiking, I returned pleasantly exercised. The East Shore is particularly enjoyable on these clear winter days.

Photo to right: Piles on shoreline at Entrance E15 near Gunn Ranch

January 7, 2004

Large Steel Float

Launching at noon on a cool overcast day, I immediately noticed that a large steel float I'd first seen high on shore and reported at the beginning of November had floated free on the rising lake and then drifted to shore just below the motorhome. So I towed this to the nearby boat ramp where one of the guys from the resort procured a rope and tied it up. Continuing up the North Shore, I tried a new method for towing stray buoys by towing two buoys from Le Pointe Cove to Barton Hill. Seems to work well. Then I strapped each buoy to my kayak cart and pulled it up the hill to the pullout for collection by the rangers. Good exercise. Repeated the same procedure on a buoy in Schoolhouse Cove, leaving it at the pullout there. A Bald Eagle flew over occasionally while fishing for a meal. Collected a full deck load of storm-drifted styrofoam from the shoreline on the return paddle. Landed at 4:30PM after investigating yet another loose pier just inside the Putah Creek arm that will need to be removed.

January 8, 2004

Returning to Barton Bay, I passed a milestone by moving the last loose buoy on the North Shore from the shoreline up to the pullout. Exploring several deep coves on the return paddle, I refreshed my memory about the large amount of styrofoam in the coves, invisible from the lake but not a good scene for hikers on the trail. Occasional light showers passed over giving the lake an intimate feeling. Checked out a large grounded pier near the BSA camp and found that it will be a big job to disassemble it to collect the large decaying floats underneath. The sun appeared briefly to add some cheer to the day. A Bald Eagle passed over while being subjected to diving passes by an Osprey.

January 9, 2004

The large steel float was gone from the shoreline at the bottom of the resort boat ramp this morning. Following skid marks on the pavement, I found that someone from the resort had simply dragged the thing behind a truck all the way over to the storage/disposal area. Good going, an effective and timely solution, uncomplicated by beauracracy.

January 10, 2004

Under welcome sunshine, I paddled the short distance up the North Shore to the two deep coves full of styrofoam. Two large deck loads and a tow load cleared the coves with the stuff deposited at the Putah Creek pullout. This is another milestone since all styrofoam has now been collected from the North Shore. Whew! This will allow full attention to now be given over to the East Shore.

January 12, 2004

Launched at 9:30 into dense fog. Since my goal was the East Shore, I mounted the deck compass to avoid paddling in circles. The bottom of the fog sat about 20 ft above the water so it wasn't a total whiteout. But I found it easy to stray off course and start into a circle if my attention strayed very long from the compass. The lake was mystical, very quiet with many clusters of Western Grebes floating silently as I glided past. On the East Shore, several large flocks of White Pelicans lined the water's edge sleeping. Just south of the large silver barn and north of entrance E8, I continued collecting styrofoam and, it turned out, about a half dozen loose hazard buoys. As my winter stay at the lake is approaching the end, I adopted a form of triage and started simply moving larger pieces above the high water mark for collection next winter. I also found for next winter a field back from the water covered with an incredible amount of styrofoam, both scattered on the grass and washed up against a bounding fence. Finished up on a beach with a dense concentration along the high water mark which I collected into a record setting pile. The East Shore is like a gas getter for foam from the entire lake; the amount is just astounding. The return paddle was on a mirror surface, landing at about 2:30.

Field of Foam

January 15, 2004

Full sunshine today after several really miserable days of cold fog and drizzle. Launched at 10:30 and returned to the East Shore, paddling on a mirror surface with the increasingly green hills fringing the palisades on Blue Ridge. I first stopped to take a few photos of a large pile collected previously and of the Field of Foam, described above on January 12. I took some foam from near the shoreline next to the field but left the field untouched. Clearing that will be a big job which can wait since the field is far enough from the lake that the foam probably will stay put. I then continued north with the intention of clearing all the way to the previously cleared area to the north. But I stopped after collecting one new pile when I encountered an enormous flock of White Pelicans on the shore. At least 100 birds, probably more. To avoid flushing this congregation, I turned south and collected starting from where I left off on the 12th, accumulating two more large piles. Then back across the lake, again with the great feeling of gliding on a smooth surface, to land around 4PM. Much needed sunshine and exercise after the depressing fog.

Pile S20

January 17, 2004

Drove down to the Smittle Creek Picnic Area which turns out to be a good place for a kayak launch with a simple walk down the hill from the parking lot to the water. Launching at 10AM under mostly cloudy skies, I paddled out between Small Island and Berryessa Resort, noting the lack of styrofoam along the windward side of the island, a result of the north and east shore cleanups. Crossing over the East Shore, I encountered the 5mph buoy that is missing from beneath the eagle's nest of Big Island. In the mild N wind and 1-2ft wind waves, the buoy sat stationary where its anchor weight had apparently grounded on an underwater shore. As I approached the East Shore, a pair of Bald Eagles flew by, winging north against the wind. My intention was to start at the Gunn easement fence and work south along the broad plain. However, I noticed a few wind blown pieces floating against land just to the north. As often happens, as I neared these seemingly minor item, a larger number of chunks revealed themselves in the brush. So I spent an hour pulling out all the stuff between entrance E14 and E15 which I'd missed seeing from the land side when I cleared this region on foot. Rafting everything up (see photo below), I paddled it slowly downwind and added it to pile S18 along with an additional stray buoy which I also towed in.

Tow Load on East Shore

Rounding the easement fence, I collected another large pile from pieces that had been strained from the water by the fence. At this point, I changed strategy. For the mile south from the fence to the end of the broad plain, the shoreline is fairly straight with two clear high water lines, the seasonal line from last year and, further up, the historical high water line marked by a large amount of drift wood. Beyond this wood line is flat grazing land, easily driven on with a truck. So I started simply carrying large chunks inland above the historical high water line where a truck can drive down the shoreline to collect the stuff unhindered by all the drift wood. Moving south with the kayak in this manner, I was able to clear about 1/2 mile of shoreline in a couple of hours, leaving multiple small piles and individual pieces and buoys as I went. While my lunch settled, I walked inland to take a few photos of a plane that had ditched, literally, during a forced emergency landing in the cattle pasture in December. Finally tiring and also noting the lengthening shadows, I stabilized the final 1/2 mile by moving all remaining pieces to only above the seasonal high water mark, leaving the longer walks and the bulk of the styrofoam for another day. After a quiet paddle back to Smittles, I landed just after 4PM fully exercised. Unbeatable commute.

January 21, 2004

Launched from Smittles at 10AM for an easy paddle to the East Shore in low wind waves under a clear sky and full sunshine. Starting where I left off on January 17, I continued moving styrofoam above the historical high water mark, finally reaching the southern end of the plains and the beginning of the cliffs. Collection south from here should go fairly fast since the foam is concentrated in coves and absent along the mud cliffs. Taking under tow several large chunks that I'd previously stored atop the cliffs, I started a pile of large pieces deep in a cove next to the road, well located for collection by truck. Clearing the cove completed the pile. The return paddle was enlivened by large wind waves driven by the standard afternoon N wind. Picking up a final large piece from Small Island, I landed at 4PM and left the piece and a deck load at Smittles. Finally back to my warm cozy hobbit hole as the sun disappeared and the cold immediately descended.

January 22, 2004

Took off from the motorhome at around 10:30AM on a clear icy morning. A medium sized wooden pier with large decaying styrofoam floats, first reported to the Bureau at the beginning of November, is now being blown around within the Putah Creek arm north of the Putah Creek Resort. I located the pier and verified that it hasn't yet started to break up and dispense lots of foam into the lake. After procurring some rope, I'll secure it until it can somehow be disposed of properly. Heading out under the bridge, my goal was La Pointe Cove to tow away a couple of large pieces of foam that Carol and I had noted in the shoreline thistle while doing the annual trimming and tagging of the North Shore Trail on January 18. As usually happens, I found much more foam than I expected and ended up collecting two large piles for later pickup. A hazard buoy in the cove had come loose and was floating against the shore so I pulled this to higher ground. Finally I paddled along the shoreline to Barton Bay collecting a large deckload of pieces I had thrown onto shore during our trail work. Leaving this pile at the Putah pullout required detouring around a downed tree on the path to the pullout (photo at right). I returned to the motorhome around 2:30PM in warm sunshine. A relaxing outing.

January 25, 2004

Launched at 2PM under changing weather conditions, beginning with partial clouds and lots of sunshine. Paddled to the East Shore and collected a new pile just north of the big silver barn. I had to stop after collecting one pile because moving further north threatened to flush the huge flock of White Pelicans, over 1,000 strong, roosting on a small island and the adjacent mainland. I then paddled south for 3/4 miles to the end of a line of piles collected previously near entrance E8. I wanted to check that all existing piles are well above the highest high water mark so they won't be refloated as the lake fills. All seems safe from rising waters but the piles remain susceptible to being scattered by strong storm winds. I collected another large pile to extend the row of piles southward. Rounding a small point, I then came upon a large number of big pieces lining last year's high water mark. Noting the time and sinking sun, I left off at this point and set off back across the lake. The front of the next incoming weather system had arrived, hiding the sun behind a gray haze so that I was spared the usual late afternoon glare. A Bald Eagle flew over heading north as I approached the Putah Creek bridge, harrassed by a trailing Osprey. Tough being a Bald Eagle on Lake Berryessa. Arriving back at 5PM left a little daylight so I located the large raft that has been floating around near the motorhome and secured it to shore with a recently acquired rope. Finally escaped the growing cold and dark into the comfort of my hobbit hole.

January 26, 2004

On a gray overcast morning, I drove over to the East Shore to continue styrofoam collection where I left off yesterday. My mood was greatly elevated when I met a Bureau truck driving towards me on the East Side Road with a huge load of styrofoam. Yeh! This help was likely in response to my email to the Bureau last week pointing out places where piles could best be collected by truck instead of by boat. Suitably motivated, I started near entrance E9 where I collected two large piles and a buoy. I then drove down to entrance E10 and collected three more large piles which about did me in for the day after 2 1/2 hours of walking. The intervening shoreline is best accessible by boat. Two Bald Eagles flew over, one chasing the other. Perhaps a territorial disagreement. On the way back I stopped at Barton Hill and retagged a short section of the North Shore Trail that we had decided to reroute to better reflect where hikers were actually walking. The new route is a much better fit to the terrain. A productive morning and good workout.

January 28, 2004

Cove on East Shore - Before and After

After the morning fog cleared, I set off a bit before noon for the one hour paddle to entrance E9 on the East Shore to clear the gap between there and E10 (see map). Clearing a cove and a stretch of shoreline into a new pile, I then rounded a point to find the concentration of pieces and buoys in another small cove shown in the photos above. The effort required to move all this stuff to a pile on higher ground (photo at right) approached real work. But it was worth it as the before and after photos show, a typical change from an unnatural eyesore to a more natural driftwood appearance. I finished clearing the gap to entrance E10 by next collecting a large deck load and medium tow load as I paddled down the shore and leaving it at the pile just below E10. Feeling a bit tired, I paddled on south to flip several large pieces floating against the shoreline higher up so they will still be around when I return. Another assortment of pieces and buoys lined the next big cove but the fading sun dictated leaving this for another day. I started and marked the pile (S35 on the map) for this cove before a smooth peaceful return paddle on a mirror surface.

Photo at right - Pile S34

January 29, 2004

For a change of scenery, I launched from the north end of Oak Shores just after 11AM and headed over to the South Gunn Ranch. To recover from yesterday, I planned a more relaxing day paddling north from the ranch while picking up the occasional piece. For a change, this plan was actually realized. This part of the shoreline is mainly steep cliffs so floating styrofoam doesn't tend to stick. After collecting a small deck load in the cove just north of the ranch and pulling a buoy out of the water, I worked north adding to the deck load as I went. Soon the deck was full and I noticed that there aren't any good places to leave a pile of foam in the area because of the steep shore. So I bypassed the foam in two deep coves and finally found a cove near the road to create a pile (S36 on the map) complete with one of the ubiquitous loose buoys from nearby.

Just to the north I came upon the long and heavy wooden ramp with two attached white plastic pipes that I had discovered on the North Shore on November 7, 2003. I reported this to the Bureau but apparently no action was taken before the structures were submerged by the rising lake levels. The submerged structures are now an unmarked boating hazard. Continuing north I accumulated another deck load and a small tow, all of which I deposited at pile S1. This pile had been greatly reduced by the recent visit of a Bureau truck. Just north of this spot I pulled two more buoys above the high water mark. Considering the large number of hazard buoys I'm finding around the lake, especially on the East Shore, it seems that whatever method is used to anchor these buoys should be improved. Finally, I returned in warm sunshine on a mirror surface, relaxed yet well exercised, landing a bit after 4PM.

January 30, 2004

Rain at dawn soon followed by partial clearing. I drove to the East Shore, stopping on the way to make sure the Bureau hadn't accidentally missed a pile when they cleared the field just east of Eticuera. Looks good. Then on to entrance E11 to complete where I had left off on Jan. 28, adding to pile S35 and creating an additional pile. Driving on to E14, I walked north while collecting and creating another three piles. This leaves only a small gap below E12 which is best approached from the water. I took a quick look at the shore below E15 and was glad to find that the four large piles there had been removed by a Bureau truck. These were below the high water mark and would have floated free as the lake reached or exceeded the overflow. The 2 1/2 hours of walking moved the cleanup close to completion and gave my arms a welcome rest while exercising my legs. The overcast moved back in as I returned to the motorhome.

January 31, 2004

A cold north wind and a clear sky greeted the dawn. The shelter of the unfinished coves north of the South Gunn Ranch seemed just the thing. Launching from Foxtail in Oak Shores at 11AM, I noted an unusually large amount of boat traffic on this Sunday morning. Probably a bass tournament. On the East Shore, I located a good spot for a new pile near the dirt road in one of the coves that I bypassed on Jan. 29 and cleaned out that cove and another just to the north, paddling everything to the new pile. After lunch, I attempted to turn over a medium sized raft floating against the shoreline in order to salvage the large styrofoam floats. No go, too heavy. I continued north cleaning out bypassed coves while accumulating a large deck load and a small tow. This shore takes a beating from the waves driven by the prevailing NW wind. Thus the styrofoam littering the shoreline is broken into many small pieces. Fortunately I had remembered to bring a couple of large trash bags and it was easy to gather up all the small stuff from the various beaches, the bags completely filling the rear deck and towering above head level (while seated). I pressed on to where I had reached when paddling and collecting down from the north and created another small pile of the stuff in tow, thus completing the East Shore from The Narrows up to north of entrance E14. After the tournament boats all stampeded down the lake at around 3:30PM, I carried the entire deck load back across the peaceful lake and between Big and Small Islands where I noted, wonderfully, that the two adult Bald Eagles are back at the nest on Big Island. I landed back at the start a little before 5PM just as the sun went behind the Cedar Roughs ridge and a chill set in. The long day was tiring but fruitful and I certainly got my workout on the 7 mile paddle (plus an extra mile or two shuttling loads along the East Shore) and the beach hiking.

February 2, 2004

It was a dark morning with heavy rain. The rain let up and patches of blue appeared around noon but the weather remained unsettled. For some outdoor time, I drove up the North Shore to Racoon Lagoon where I launched at 1PM and paddled over to the East Shore just south of the Gamble Ranch. Conditions were spectacular with nice big wind waves driven the length of the lake by the south wind and huge puffy clouds, some leaking sheets of rain. A Bald Eagle standing on the beach at the water's edge greated my arrival. The other avian species don't share my appreciation for the increasing number of these Eagles and were making noticable vocal comments to that effect. They don't like the competition or worry about becoming lunch. I pulled a buoy that I'd collected last Fall out of the rising water to high ground. Then I towed and rolled another previously collected buoy up to entrance E2 where the rangers can pick it up while on patrol. Finally I found a record sized piece of styrofoam in the shoreline brush, about the size of a single bed mattress. This I towed to pile S3 for the continued entertainment of the Gamble sheep in the nearby pen. The wind had taken on a penetrating chill by this time so I paddled back over Racoon (landing at 3PM) and loaded up. Just as I closed the van door and started up, the sky let loose. I drove back snug and smug in the downpour.

February 3, 2004

More blue sky than clouds this morning. Launching at 10:30, I paddled to a cove between entrances E10 and E11 that I'd bypassed and cleaned it out, creating a large pile. Then I drifted on south to the bay between E11 and E12 where I collected everything in the bay and, the road being close here (see map), walked the pieces up to the entrances instead of creating a new shoreline pile. Apparently collection by truck is easier for the Bureau than by boat so leaving stuff on the road is more likely to result in its removal. After lunch, I continued south towards E13, collecting large deck and tow loads which I unloaded into two new large piles. A dark patch of rain moved over but didn't dampen my spirits because, with the last piece collected, the East Shore is DONE except for the broad plain below E5 which can wait since the stuff there is not close to shore. Another milestone completed. I stayed out collecting longer than normal to finish up and finally set off on the return paddle a bit after 4PM. The sky was spectacular with a mix of black clouds and patches of blue sky. The wind had shifted to N and the temperatures had plummeted so I was fairly frozen when I landed just after 5PM. A long but productive outing. Feels great to have the East Shore done. Styrofoam collection will be taking a break for awhile.