Standup Zone Forum
Stand Up Paddle => Flatwater and Touring => Topic started by: switters on May 22, 2016, 06:49:49 AM
-
Full moon again last night, we hit all of them last year from May to September and the year before from June to Sept.
At the local reservoir the day paddlers and kayakers start leaving at 5 and are gone by 6:30, all of the power boats are gone by half an hour before dark. Right at sunset is usually when the wind dies down also. Glass, quiet, great views. Saw one boat out fishing.
Since I live roughly 1,300 miles from any surf the moonlight paddles are my favorite time to get out.
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk221/switters_bucket/IMG_20160521_175636225_HDR_zpsa0ua3rz1.jpg) (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/switters_bucket/media/IMG_20160521_175636225_HDR_zpsa0ua3rz1.jpg.html)
-
Awesome!
You'll be pleased to know that's it was actually a Blue Moon - first in the last two and a half years apparently :)
-
Full moon again last night, we hit all of them last year from May to September and the year before from June to Sept.
At the local reservoir the day paddlers and kayakers start leaving at 5 and are gone by 6:30, all of the power boats are gone by half an hour before dark. Right at sunset is usually when the wind dies down also. Glass, quiet, great views. Saw one boat out fishing.
Since I live roughly 1,300 miles from any surf the moonlight paddles are my favorite time to get out.
You don't worry about water depth if you fall off at night? Deep water isn't a problem, but if it's shallow and you don't realize it I'd think that would be a problem.
I would love to try this at Round Valley except I think getting my board back on my car in the dark—even with a full moon— would lose its charm very quickly.
-
folks lets be careful make sure you have all safety equipment and don't skimp on RUNNING LIGHTS
JIMK
Extreme Windsurfing
-
folks lets be careful make sure you have all safety equipment and don't skimp on RUNNING LIGHTS
JIMK
Extreme Windsurfing
Hi Jim,
Define "running lights" please. :)
I haven't looked at the requirements recently (i.e. I'm unaware if they were updated in 2016), but my understanding is that for dusk/night paddling in New Jersey, all that's required is a flashlight, or a kayak light (like this one (https://www.rei.com/product/722830/paddlers-supply-company-led-kayak-deck-light-with-suction-cup-base)). Personally, I think a waterproof headlamp is a better idea (it's higher up), but the point is it doesn't take much to fulfill the requirement. Whether that's a good or bad thing depends on your point of view.
-
For lights we have headlamps which are nice for loading up but are turned off when paddling, the light flashing in my eyes reflecting of my arm every stroke is maddening. We use small led lanterns on the board to be seen by the occasional fishing boat. Some use bicycle lights, white in front red in the back. Of most import is the use of glow sticks. Every one that goes out with us gets one so they can be spotted quickly if they fall in. The really cheap ones that came connected to make a bracelet or necklace work great.
-
Sounds like fun switters!
Sounds like you have a good plan.... enjoy.
any nite pics?
-
I did my first full moon paddle last year and it was a blast. For lighting we just used glow sticks and they seemed to work fine.
-
Tomorrow night kids, dont even have to wait for the moon after sunset.
A quick rundown from yesterday. The girlfiend wanted to spend the day, all day on the local res. Because of parking at the access point and other whiney excuses I decided to load up a full size cooler on the explorer and paddle it out to the 2nd cove away and cache it in a grotto. Even paddling along for the stretch where I had to contend with wake boards and water skiiers close by it worked out well sitting on the cooler and paddling. After dropping off the cooler we used that little place as home base and went exploring and dinking around. Case of beer and ice is round 45-50 lbs on an isle explorer, I'm 185, it is about a mile paddle (stupid headwind yesterday,) to the cache.
With at least six places renting in town now and the low cost of kayaks it is getting harder to find a little peace. Three years a go I remember seeing someone out on a board and we would usually end up talking. I counted 50 within 1/4 mile of the boat ramp last weekend. Crazy.
-
Yes, I'll be going out on my second full moon paddle tomorrow night. Really looking forward to it, although the weather looks a bit unsettled. Hopefully it will cooperate!
-
Yes, I'll be going out on my second full moon paddle tomorrow night. Really looking forward to it, although the weather looks a bit unsettled. Hopefully it will cooperate!
The lightning is so much prettier and the thunder so much louder at night tho.
-
The lightning is so much prettier and the thunder so much louder at night tho.
True, and the screams carry so much better on the water at night! ;)
-
And the air temperature is cooler at night than during the day also.
-
For last nights moon we decided to stay out overnight, drank a few glasses of wine under the moon and then headed i n for the tent. Other than forgetting the stove for coffee this morning it just about perfect.
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk221/switters_bucket/IMG_20160817_195510133_zpsar2s4muk.jpg) (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/switters_bucket/media/IMG_20160817_195510133_zpsar2s4muk.jpg.html)
wanted a picture of how the board looked loaded, not bad. not my regular stroke, at least I hope not 8)
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk221/switters_bucket/IMG_20160818_063146885_HDR_zpsl5ji1y7e.jpg) (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/switters_bucket/media/IMG_20160818_063146885_HDR_zpsl5ji1y7e.jpg.html)
sunrise
(http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk221/switters_bucket/IMG_20160818_073920157_zpsnnyscag4.jpg) (http://s281.photobucket.com/user/switters_bucket/media/IMG_20160818_073920157_zpsnnyscag4.jpg.html)
-
@switters
Your photos of your overnight camping trip remind me of my overnight camping trips in the Spring and late Fall. I always enjoy a nice campfire at night. BTW, my Hobie looks a lot like yours when it is weighed down with all the gear I take along with me for my overnight trips.
Thanks for sharing your photos.
-
I just had my first moonlight paddle last night. It was so beautiful! We also used glow sticks on our boards and ourselves.
-
Been a while since posting on this but I have not missed any full moon paddles this season other than last month because of clouds. The meteor shower was also a good reason to get out and paddle at night.
Next one is coming up.
As a reservoir paddler it is one of the few times to enjoy the paddle in relative silence and wakeless. 12 miles yesterday and all I wanted to do at the end was go home and listen to nothing. On the plus side of reservoir paddling is the everchanging shoreline. The water level is now about twenty feet below full. We went out Friday night into one of the coves where a lot illegal cliff jumping happens. 15 pair of sunglasses. we also brought back 2 grocery sacks full of empty cans and bottles but thats the way treasure hunting goes. So far only one anchor this year but the water is dropping fast. I am somewhat confused about the empty coors lights to panty ratio this year, hopefully this is a trend for the better.
Cheers,
-
I just got in from my first full moon paddle this season. Was nice to be out on the water, but we currently have a lot of smoke because of all the forest fires. We don’t have the fires anywhere near us, but the smoke has drifted in. No stars visible tonight, but the moon was a soft orange glow at the start of my paddle. After a while the smoke must have increased because the moon completely disappeared. Was still nice to get out at night though, even with the smoke and without the moon (after it disappeared).
-
We spent Friday and Saturday night at a boat in only camping spot on the local reservoir. Nice moon coming up late but we had to wait for it to clear the clouds. We took the inflatables, the paddle to camp site is only a mile. Good exploring the shoreline because of the rapidly dropping water level. 4 anchors, 4 sunglasses, one of which is a salvageable pair of rayban wayfarers.
The bonus to bringing inflatables camping is being able to stack the two of them and have a really comfortable camp sofa. That's my ISUP tip for the month.
Feel the glide,