HASSO HERING

It looks as though this kayaker is not worried about getting soaked by the Waverly Lake fountain. 

On Memorial Day, Albany’s Waverly Lake showed why it’s more than just a scenic spot in Albany. It’s also a magnet for people visiting the park when the weather is fine.

I went there to use the bike computer to measure the exact length of the path that surrounds the lake. I thought walkers might want to know how far they they’ve walked each time they’ve gone around.

Using the bike for this was not a great idea, because the paved path was busy with people, including whole families. There were people of all ages on the path and on the banks. Some were angling and others just hanging out.

It was no place for riding a bike.

Nobody seemed bothered by the algae infestation that appears to have progressed since my last visit. The Albany Parks Department is aware of the problem, though the algae seem less severe than this time last year. Later in the summer the department plans to repeat last year’s mechanical “harvesting” of the growth.

Algae or no algae, a couple of kayakers were on the water. Albany offers few opportunities for quiet paddling without fighting a river current, so it’s nice to see people make use of one that exists.

And by the way, if you have circled Waverly Lake on the paved path once, on foot or on the bike, you have gone exactly 0.65 miles. (hh)

Looking across Waverly Lake toward Pacific Boulevard on Monday evening.