Photo additions to Susan's 'Under the Harvest Moooon' post!

Shown here is a good portion of the group while paddling towards the sunset, on the way to the town beach where we had a picnic and watched the moon rise (which was starting to happen behind us as the photo was taken)...also a photo of the picnic on the dock - a great night!

under the Harvest Mooooooon

Friday, September 24th. The beautiful Harvest Moon! A small group this time, maybe 12, but a nice mix of good friends.

This is probably [one of] our last kayak trips out as the weather is changing. Kris - what are we going to do all winter???. Is there such a thing as slalom kayaking?

Launch point ~ White Woods bridge (except Kris & Lisa, who meet us at the mouth of the river)

Half way point ~ the dock at town beach

Highlights ~ 1) good food, drink and conversation with friends, 2) trekking over the beaver dam - those beaver get an A+ on dam construction - that sucker is big! Lance was our self designated DA - Dam Assistant. Without him someone would have plunged for sure, 3) paddling back up the river with only the light of the moon. Nice nice nice. Nothing better (well almost). Sweet endings. :)

Full Moon Kayak, Friday, May 28, 2010

The full moon was actually the night before, on Thursday, but a Friday made for a better group kayak night. Nine of us (Kris, Susan B., Chrissy, Linda, Denise, Pat, Beverly, Karen, Diana)set out from the usual spot on the river at about 6:3o. It was a great ride down the river on a beautiful night. I had been watching the weather all week, and forecasts were not good, but got better as the week went along. It ended up being cloudy some of the time but overall a nice, warm, mostly clear night. The beavers were out in force and we began seeing them almost immediately upon getting on the water. As we approached and passed under Chickadee, there were lots of teenagers swimming and jumping from the bridge (including Chase, Susan's son - who jumped in from the top despite her motherly yells from the kayak telling him not to do it!) On down the river, over the beaver dam - pretty easy going towards the lake (knowing it will NOT be that easy on the way back!) After entering the lake we headed right over to the town beach to take a break, and have some snacks and beverages. It turned out to be a veritable feast with everyone bringing various treats to share. As we enjoyed the night socializing on the beach, it got even better when a couple arrived and started a bonfire for a high school party that was taking place that night. So we ate, talked, enjoyed the fire, had our group picture taken by the fire, and had a visit from another group of kayakers, Alisa and her friends who were out doing the same as us that night - saw the kayaks and came in to say hello. As dusk and dark set in, we went over towards Point Folly, enjoying the sight and smell of all the campfires from a very full campground, all there for Memorial Day wknd. As we headed back towards the river it was a bit cloudy and hard to see where the entrance was. Someone did find it though, and just as we were about to start up the river, the moon became visible as it was starting to rise, and enough of the clouds cleared for us to have a good look - it was really cool, nice & bright, 'popping up' out of the water and right on up - just like a sunrise (only far less bright!) We just sat at the mouth of the river for awhile enjoying that view, then began to head back. Knowing that the only way over the dam was getting out of the kayak and stepping on the dam to pull the kayak over...or having someone else who was standing on the dam help to pull you over...everyone began their attempts of navigating over it. This was the location of the only real mishap of the night, as one of the group tried to help another over, but ended up with someone dunked in the water (no names here!) But hey, it was all good intentioned, and luckily it was not a cold night, so she was ok. We all had a good laugh (sorry about that to the ones involved - it was easier for the others to find it funny! I'm sure we'll all eventually have our turn!) The rest of the ride up the river was great - nice night, nice company - can't wait till the next trip out!

"This is really cool as long as we don't get hit by lightning!"

Practice for the ladies full moon kayak scheduled for Friday. I will not be in Litchfield for this (sister weekend in PA - woooo hooo!), so just Kris & I head out tonight. Out on the water by 7:30 pm. It was a really steamy day and there is a threat of thunderstorms, but as we head out onto the water the sky is perfectly clear. As we head downriver toward Bantam Lake, the colors of sunset are just beginning to form on the horizon. The beaver are already awake, starting their night of activity. They are miffed at our presence.

Under Chickadee Bridge where some kids are hanging out in the heat of the evening. They wait lazily for us to paddle under, then they climb to the top of the bridge (way top) and jump. Tradition!

The dam just before the lake is a bit of a challenge for us this time but we manage to get over, knowing full well that coming back in to dark, going upriver, and back over the dam will be a challenge. Out to the lake. The sun has just set. Brilliant colors paint most everything to our right; the moon is just coming up to our left. We each get lost in the lily pads.

More journaling later Kris - have Responsibilities now... I'll save the lightening story until then... enjoy the Flower Moon of Friday! I'll text you from PA! I'll be on the water too! :)

p.s. that blob on the moon picture is a stupid mosquito! better the lens than my skin... i'll have to get my photo editors to edit him out!

This was a Great Night out! Loved it. Lightning and all!

through the eyes of a 15 year old

Sightings: beaver, geese, mallard ducks, great blue heron, other birds (?)
Sunrise: 5:46 am
Temp: 58 F
Moon: waning gibbous, 3/4, setting in the west

Getting two teenagers out of bed @ 5:00 am on a Saturday morning wasn't easy, but we did it! Boats in the water around 5:30. Kris, me, Ryan, Jacob. Two moms and our two babies (sorry Ryan & Jacob - you will always be our babies!).

Getting over the first beaver dam is getting trickier these days as the water gets lower and the beaver build higher. As we make multiple attempts to navigate over the dam, numerous beaver are lazily cruising around on the far side of the dam, taking note of us, laughing at us I'm sure. Over we go, the beaver go under, on we continue. We've been out here enough to know that some of the beaver will quickly resurface behind us. I can visualize them looping and cartwheeling below me. I would love to join them.

Kris & I lag behind Jacob & Ryan as they kayak slowly up river, our Nikons at ready. We relinquish the reward of being the first in line to stir up the wildlife of dawn. Jacob is capturing the story with the Canon Powershot, Ryan his photographic consultant. see the short video ...

Out to Little Pond. One fisherman, one swan, one walker on the boardwalk. We scatter into three different directions - Ryan and Kris head up a small side stream, Jacob gets moored on a sandbar and takes advantage of the moment to capture what passes by him. I wander across the pond, chase the swan for a bit (at a distance - he's not to be messed with), and then lose myself among the water lilies.

The sun has just broken over the trees and the light is cutting into the water in such a way that you can see below the water surface. The lilies exist not just on the surface, but are a whole other piece of art below the surface too. I am privy to the World Below the Lilies. The colors are spectacular.




...............................................................................
Here is what Jacob captured...

full moon but no kayak :(

Full moon tonight but waaaaaaaay too cold for even the bravest of chicks. Next full moon I'll be away. Shoot for June's full moon?

Star light star bright,

first star i see tonight.

wish i may, wish i might,

grant this wish i wish tonight....don't let all the flower buds get frosted tonight!

Ending the week, under the Moon

On the water after sunset...
This one isn't about the flora or fauna of White Memorial. It is about White Memorial after sunset - when the moon is up, the air is still, and you have good friends to share it with.

Greg, Kris, Glenn, Lisa, Charlie, me and our young pup representation Sam, Sean, Daniel and Michael all launch our kayaks from Litchfield Town Beach around 8:00 pm. The sun has just set and that magical time of transition from sunset to moonlight envelops us. We have just started out when the town official announces he is locking the gates in 1/2 hour. The fishermen on shore make some undertone jokes and continue to fish. They're not moving. Out we go, move all our cars to outside the gate, jump back into the kayaks, off again. We'll be lugging the kayaks a loooooooong way back to our cars. Minor pain. It's worth it.

We head northeast toward Point Folly. No real itinerary - just following our instinct. The moon is a waxing gibbous moon, straight overhead. Orion is low on the horizon in the east, the Big Dipper is straight overhead. I see a planet on the horizon in the east. Hmmm. Venus, Mars, or Saturn? I call my astronomical lifeline expert, brother Mark in New Mexico (cell phones are great!). He tells me it is Venus. "Venus will continue to be in that location for a few months" he says, "And by the way Mars and Saturn are overhead, one is in the constellation of Cancer". Sorry Mark, I'm not that good! I tell him the moon is too bright - can't find them. Love you Mark!

With Venus to our right, we continue all the way to Point Folly. Our teenagers wick themselves away from the adults like oil to water, but we keep constant count on all, reeling them back into sight every so often.

The night is getting darker, more stars are coming out. One can see pretty far - everything is a a palate of blues, grays and black, punctuated by the brilliant points of the stars, the moon, and lights from the houses on shore. The camera can not begin to capture what the eye actually sees.

And what can capture what the heart actually feels on a night like this? Ahhhhhh a great ending to a work week. Beautiful night!