Sunday morning, August 7, 2011. A loop around Boyd Lake – 9 miles in 2:15 hours in Sea Wind canoe.

It was my first paddling on the Boyd Lake this year. The lake is very full like many other reservoirs in Colorado. I launched the Sea Wind canoe at northern end of the park road – just a few steps across a bike trail at current water level on a sandy beach.

I paddled around the lake with a short stop for photography at the SE lake corner near the dam. There is a nice view of Loveland and Longs Peak from that spot. And, it seems that I am attracted to that concrete dam structure. A nice pattern of concrete elements. You can compare three pictures below with the pictures I shot at the same location 2 years ago, but from the shore.

Pictures were shot with my DSLR camera, Canon D5 M2 and EF 24-105 mm lens with a polarizer. Sea Wind canoe is a very stable platform for photography. So, for a easy paddling like today, I carry my Canon camera in Seattle Sport mini duffel. I don’t see that product in their catalog any more. I wouldn’t consider it waterproof, just splash proof. However, it offers an easy access to the camera even with a long lens attached. There is a room for an extra lens and/or flash or other accessories.

Related posts and resources:
Boyd Lake State Park
160 Lakes and Reservoirs of Colorado

Boyd Lake is very full – the highest water level since 2005.

A lot of paddling and training on the South Platte River launching at Milliken, Evans, or Kersey. In the end of February, I started my lake paddling season on the Boyd Lake. There was still some floating ice.

A lot of paddling on my local waters in northern Colorado including Beaver Pond, Horsetoorh Reservoir and Boyd lake. Starting paddling season on the South Platte River. I was paddling Thunderbolt-X kayak and shooting with Pentax Optio W10.

After my skating I had a long photo session featuring a big pipe supplying water to the lake from Horseshoe Reservoir.