Shelley Lake Weathering the 2007 Drought in North Raleigh, NC

There is a drought in the region around Raleigh. In parts of the region, this has resulted in closure of some water-based entertainment. Shelley Lake has a deep water level that allows it to continue for a while.

Shelley Lake has usually suffered more from flood than from drought. This year is no different. With only a smattering of wooden bridges, the heat has had little impact on the trail. Two connecting trails, one going north and the other south, are cool wooded trails.

The ducks, geese and even the sea gulls can still be seen from the bridge were people feed them. The drop in water level is impacting the lake, but with most facilities on the deeper south end of the lake, the impact appears to be minimal.

When visiting the lake to check out the conditions, I was the witness to an unfortunate accident. Some sweet little tyke was riding his bike with training wheels in front of his mom.

He got to the hill first. He either didn't know he needed to brake or he underestimated the hill. Either way, he started down at breakneck speed. I just thought he was having a little trouble when he came right at me. I jumped to the other side of the trail as he flew off the trail, out of control. He was going seriously fast for someone as young as he was. He didn't look more than six or so. (I can never guess someone's age right)

His bike flew up in the air with him on it. It was like a scene from ET. He could easily have been very seriously injured or worse. As luck would have it, a vine snagged his bike's pedal and jerked him to a stop before unceremoniously planting him in the ground.

This is, of course, when your heart gets stuck in your throat. I was terribly pleased to see him scrambling up the hill, bloodied but not broken.

His mother, who was in complete shock, came rushing down the hill. She hugged him like you only see in movies these days. He appeared to be fine but quite shaken. His tears told the story of the boy who flew like the wind. The vines deserve a medal for catching his bike in mid air.

Back to how the lake is fairing.

Of all the trails I have visited lately, this one is suffering the least. It doesn't mean that it won't be hurting. It seems this lake has either a better natural flow into it or the design of this storm water lake is a little better than the rest.

The trails on and around the lake are among the best marked in the city. Why they don't do the same for other neighborhoods I have never understood.

Good well-marked trails with benches approximately every quarter mile open up the greenways to the vast majority of residents.

Part of the trail is too steep for wheelchairs and seniors, but there are alternate routes onto the trail that make most of it open to everyone. It remains an excellent part of the greenway system.

According to a group of young women with water bottles strapped to there bottles like old time bandits strapped bullets around them; the lake trail is a good trail to practice for the New York Marathon. I hope it isn't this hot when they have to challenge the New York course. It was around 100 degrees when they passed me on the trail.