Starry, Starry Night
Shh.
It's 10:15 p.m. and everyone except Suzanne is meeting in the lounge dressed for a midnight paddle. Suzanne got a touch of heat stroke today and isn't feeling well, lying in bed drinking lots of fluids. Teddy is tired and her blistered thumb hurts. She doesn't want to go, but Lana insists, saying she'll chauffeur her and Teddy won't even have to paddle.
There's a plankton bloom in the ocean. Conditions are just right to see the very special effects this creates at night.
Off we go.
It's not easy carrying our kayaks down to the water's edge holding the boat in one hand and aiming a flashlight at our toes with the other. We whisper and giggle, and because we know we have to keep quiet so as not to awaken the staff, we try to giggle softly. But the rocks shuffle and tumble around our feet making too much noise. We giggle harder.
Amazingly, we're launched in record time. The water appears thick and oily smooth. We're still whispering because water carries sound so well, but we understand clearly that we are operating on a strict buddy system. Flashlights are off so as not to impair our night vision and voice contact becomes essential.
Finally far enough away from the lodge to speak normally, we look up and identify what we can in the sky. It's still a bit early and we have to wait for the night to get blacker. Cassiopeia and the Big Dipper wink at us through filmy clouds as transparent as northern lights. A half moon casts its shimmering glow on the water but tonight, the moon is our enemy. We need The Dark.
We paddle in a group to the Pinkertons but not before Judy and Gail paddle onto a log they can't see. We skirt around them and head for shore, hugging its edge looking for the deep shadows cast by trees. The clouds thicken and obscur the stars, the moon dips behind the cedars and we float in a void, surrounded above and below by a black abyss.
The first glimmers appear on our paddles as they cut the water. Each stroke leaves a glittering trail and little eddies of stars twirl away in all directions. It's utterly brilliant.
We trail our fingers in the water and leave a comet's tail of fairy lights in their wake. Wiggling our fingers intensifies the effect and thousands of little sparkles are stirred up and dance away. In the shadow of the trees we play, back paddling and splashing, laughing out loud, squealing like little children in the playground.
This night is so special. I want to find a picture to share what we saw but it's impossible to capture that effect on film. We are so lucky to see it.
It is completely magical.
It's 10:15 p.m. and everyone except Suzanne is meeting in the lounge dressed for a midnight paddle. Suzanne got a touch of heat stroke today and isn't feeling well, lying in bed drinking lots of fluids. Teddy is tired and her blistered thumb hurts. She doesn't want to go, but Lana insists, saying she'll chauffeur her and Teddy won't even have to paddle.
There's a plankton bloom in the ocean. Conditions are just right to see the very special effects this creates at night.
Off we go.
It's not easy carrying our kayaks down to the water's edge holding the boat in one hand and aiming a flashlight at our toes with the other. We whisper and giggle, and because we know we have to keep quiet so as not to awaken the staff, we try to giggle softly. But the rocks shuffle and tumble around our feet making too much noise. We giggle harder.
Amazingly, we're launched in record time. The water appears thick and oily smooth. We're still whispering because water carries sound so well, but we understand clearly that we are operating on a strict buddy system. Flashlights are off so as not to impair our night vision and voice contact becomes essential.
Finally far enough away from the lodge to speak normally, we look up and identify what we can in the sky. It's still a bit early and we have to wait for the night to get blacker. Cassiopeia and the Big Dipper wink at us through filmy clouds as transparent as northern lights. A half moon casts its shimmering glow on the water but tonight, the moon is our enemy. We need The Dark.
We paddle in a group to the Pinkertons but not before Judy and Gail paddle onto a log they can't see. We skirt around them and head for shore, hugging its edge looking for the deep shadows cast by trees. The clouds thicken and obscur the stars, the moon dips behind the cedars and we float in a void, surrounded above and below by a black abyss.
The first glimmers appear on our paddles as they cut the water. Each stroke leaves a glittering trail and little eddies of stars twirl away in all directions. It's utterly brilliant.
We trail our fingers in the water and leave a comet's tail of fairy lights in their wake. Wiggling our fingers intensifies the effect and thousands of little sparkles are stirred up and dance away. In the shadow of the trees we play, back paddling and splashing, laughing out loud, squealing like little children in the playground.
This night is so special. I want to find a picture to share what we saw but it's impossible to capture that effect on film. We are so lucky to see it.
It is completely magical.
Comments
How pathetic!
Teddy
PS Thanks again, Lo, for the phenomenal job you've done capturing our holiday!!
I did it!!
I'm thrilled to see your comments on the blog. Did you get my attachment with the kay-yakking adventure? - Haloranch