On a smoky day I reviewed information on firesmoke.ca and saw that the least-smoky area was Nicola and Stump Lake so I got an early start and drove to the south end of the lake, going down a short pitch to a hand-launch spot.

It was grey and smoky around the lake, but bluer skies were directly overhead as I paddled down the shoreline.

The shallower bays had vegetative growth, mostly crowfoot, smartweed, and algae.

Ducks and loons were ever-present in the shallows as I paddled around the south end of the lake.

The loop was about 5 km, the right distance for a smoky, hot day.

This was the 53rd day of paddling this year, the last few in the smoke.  I look forward to paddling in clear air in the weeks to come.