Lake Natoma just before sunrise

We set out yesterday in the early morning light and walked down to Lake Natoma at Black Miners Bar. Gus had a chance to wade (he’s not a swimmer, but he loves the water). That didn’t stop him from being extremely disappointed that I wouldn’t take him down to the boat ramp so he could schmooze with the kayakers and paddleboarders. But being Gus, he soon  forgave me and thoroughly enjoyed the rest of our walk — then indulged in a very nice post-exercise snore-fest on the sofa.

I’ve never thought of this as a peppery trail until today

Gus and the geese

Green oak galls

A quiet spot along one of my favorite trails

Another angle on the same spot

An unexpected fragment of history along the Pioneer Express Trail