Waxing Gibbous, Yo!

Back to the moon. It’s at quarter at the moment and rising around 10 am. That’s a waxing gibbous for you stargazers. It’s straight up in the sky around sunset (5:30 pm) which isn’t ideal if one wants the full moonlight experience. Not that the “full moonlight experience” happens with only 57% illumination, but later last night, at least, it was bright enough to cast a shadow.

The moon isn’t the only thing up there right now. Mars is up in the Western sky early in the evening and while it isn’t as bright as it was a week/two weeks ago, it’s up as a red ball for sure. 

Saturn and Venus are setting just after sunset and Venus looked like the star on a Christmas tree last night. Jupiter is making a showing as well. 

I mention the moon (again) because we are a week from a full moon and from about tomorrow through the 12th (full moon night), every night will be awesome for a moon float. It’ll be high in the sky and based on moonrise time and percent illumination, Feb 6-10 are ideal with the 11th and 12th also looking good. After that it rises so late at night or early in the morning that it doesn’t make sense. 

Wait! Bite your tongue! It always makes sense to go on the water!

That's the Moon!

And I'm Off

It’s the 2nd of February and yesterday was the first day in weeks that I was able to go the whole length of the horseshoe from the house. I’ve gotten used to paddling down a quarter mile or so before things get too thick to bust through. Not that it was smooth sailing yesterday, but I made it. 

Did some ice breaking and one ice-portage (crackity crack!) on what was a beautiful day. Sun. Birds. All of it. 

And today…

Today I was off the water. First time in 35 days. Sort of a return to sanity as far as going out goes, but also a bummer that I didn’t. 

Jeff was bummed too - he hasn’t been on the water since late December and he’s itching to go!

Add It To The List

We’ve established already that ice is part of the experience these days. Greeted by a sheet along the bank, I’ve been sliding into the water and pretty much any chance of clearing it with my paddle is gone. I’ve rigged up a rope to pull myself up onto the sheet at take out and as long as there isn’t a thaw/freeze event the rope should be good. A thaw isn’t happening anytime soon. 

Today’s paddle was less than a half-mile round trip and from the first contact with the terminal sheet, the ice extends all the way down to the Rocky Springs bend. That doesn’t mean much to anybody, so let’s just say that it's a good distance and from how things freeze up, there probably isn’t a break for the mile it takes to get to Eagan’s Rocks - a slight drop in the river dotted with debris from the mill dam or something like that. Nothing treacherous, just bumpy.

The sheet that is at our put-in/take-out is present all along the bank and unlike its condition a few days ago, it’s solid all the way to the water. It’s usually thin and breakable at the water, but with the temperatures like they’ve been, the crust of last week is solid ice now. 

The edge down where one can’t go any further is solid enough to attract the birds and some wrens or finches or something small and brown was hanging out there yesterday, feeding on small bugs that have, for some reason, decided to hatch. 

Haven’t seen that before. Add it to the list.

Crusty