Moonlight paddle around Sycamore Island, July 24

Well, last night was much different than my wild time at the Luna Bar, but the moon was still full and the weather was still cooperating. I had a quiet night on Sycamore Island with friends. It was a great time, until the bugs started biting that is, and we decided to call it an early night.

We all gathered on the ferry for the last ferry trip back to the mainland and, after saying goodbye to everyone, I was alone on the ferry, heading back to the Island by the light of the moon. It was such a magical moment, being alone there in the moonlight, and I could feel the river calling me.

Well, I don't know if it was actually calling me but sometimes the river is so enticing that I can't resist the urge to grab a paddle and get out on the water. there are times like those early mornings in Autumn when the angled sunlight strikes the thick mist on the surface of the river. The scene so beautiful that you just want to be a part of it.

On this night it was the enchanting moonlight that beckoned me. Plus, I was hoping to get a picture of the moon over the river. The water was perfectly calm as I launched my canoe and headed downstream toward the bottom of the Island. I tried to get some pictures but the moon just looked like a speck in a field of black. The rocking of the canoe didn't help and I kind of gave up trying to get that perfect shot.

I put down my point-and-shoot Olympus and focused on paddling myself upstream and around the top of the Island, back to the dock. The moon was behind me now and lighting my way ahead, but I was getting tired and I was ready to call it a day. I rounded to curve at the top of the Island and pointed my craft downstream again. I had to navigate around some fallen trees as I turned and faced the moon again.

By now some wispy clouds had moved in front on the moon and they seemed to frame it just right. They also added the perspective and extra light that I needed. I grabbed the camera and began clicking away. The funny thing was that because of the trees in front of me the flash on my camera automatically went off. It was totally unintentional, but I was thrilled with the picture I got. Sometimes its the very last shot that's the keeper.