FOMO

Last month it felt like I went out nearly every night of the full moon week. This month, I made it out once with the moon. High moon early in the evening at 97% on February 10. 

It was pretty sweet, but… the blue-ribbon moon night was Wednesday, February 12 - the full moon. It was huge and when I saw that thing up there, I wanted to go. Alas, I watched the moon float above Lancaster City as I went out for something to eat. 

Strange to think that with the number of times that I go out that I would have feelings of FOMO from time to time. What’s happening out there? Maybe something crazy! Yes, of course, there is something crazy happening out there, there always is, but I know that I’ll get out there tomorrow or the next day or tomorrow and the next day.

Something's happening out there!

The Devil Tree

After a little break in the weather, we are down to the teens and the ice is BACK! There isn’t much, but it is starting to form along the banks in some slow spots. This is in addition to the ice roots and ice shelves that formed as the water receded following the recent crest at 5.5 feet or so (3.2 is pretty normal). 

I went out with the higher water yesterday, and although I missed the 5’s, it was pretty sweet to go out with a bit of a flow and an occasional tail wind.

Things change with higher water and the usual route down the “rapids” is currently blocked by a tree truck that settled nicely against the bank, essentially creating a dam blocking what used to be a smooth run. Amongst the routes riddled with rocks and clunks, there is at least one smooth route. The ivy-covered trunk is without any branches and only a bit of water cascades through it and the rest of the debris that is all piled up over on that side. 

Turns out the trunk is from the Devil Tree, a dead scraggly thing that had bare branches that looked like the Abominable Snow Monster’s arms. The ivy on it created a huge robe that covered the monster’s head and body (but not the arms) and around dusk it looked really creepy. It was just waiting to crash on someone (but not me) while they checked out the leaning sycamore on the other side and wondered if it was going to fall. No way, it’s the Devil Tree you have to look out for. 

Well, not anymore.

The Devil Tree

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!