On the hottest day of the year I traveled to the north end of Nicola Lake to paddle a loop route.   The goal was to get onto the water before it got too hot and before the power boats were active.   The lake is very open so there is no shade so a modest distance was in order.    There are a number of good launch spots and I chose the northernmost one on Highway 5A.

The highlight of the day was paddling along the west side of the lake by giant granite boulders below granite cliffs.    There are no homes on the northwest end of the lake.

This large standing rock rose like a mushroom from the shallow lakeshore waters.

Most of the waterfowl were hiding in a shaded location, but these mergansers were on morning patrol.

A video of the paddling experience on the lake is shared here:

A greeting committee was waiting for me at the landing area, a kaleidoscope of clouded sulphurs.

Each day of paddling brings some new surprises, with more to come….