***** TRIP REPORT *****
We had a wonderful night on the water. There were 10 club members in attendance and the conditions could not have been any more perfect. Not too cold, Not too hot, no wind, a star filled sky, wonderful Holiday decorations to look at and most interesting, an appearance of a comet!
We left the Ross Residence and paddled the length of the Harbour, enjoying the Holiday lights along the way. Then one, two, three and four people noticed it - a comet in the sky. It was quite a site. A Christmas Star? After the paddle we had a lovely time sipping Gluhwein and chatting with each other. This was one of our best night paddles yet - thanks to the following...... (info provided by David Bauman).....
......The comet we saw during the evening was 17P/Holmes, the 17th periodic comet to be discovered. Unlike most comets, which have highly elliptical orbits and visit us from the far reaches of the solar system, Comet Holmes lives in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. Normally, Comet Holmes can only be seen with a telescope. Holmes was last visible to the naked eye in 1892.
Why the comet is now visible to the naked eye is a bit of a mystery. Suddenly during the night of October 23/24, 2007, the comet's luminosity increased by a factor of almost a million, or about 15 magnitudes. The comet is now gradually fading.
=============================================
Date: Monday, December 10, 2007
Time: 6 pm
Level: Beginner/Easy
Location: Ross Residence located at the north end of Queen's Harbour Boulevard
Length of Trip: 2 hours
Trip Leader: Glenn and Debbie Ross
Gear: Be sure to have your Coast Guard regulated PFD, whistle and flashlight.
You will see the Lighted Boat Parade on the 8th, now join us for the Kayak Club's private "Lighted Home Parade" as we paddle in the harbour to view all of the holiday season decorations from the water.
To make viewing the homes even more beautiful, we have arranged to have a new moon, so there will be no moonlight to take away the splendor of the decorations! (In case you were wondering, this was quite difficult to arrange - but we did it!)
TRIP INFORMATION:
We will meet at the Ross Home at 5:45 pm and launch from their dock at 6 pm, paddle the harbour for about 2 hours, then return to their dock and have an all time Bavarian Favorite -- Gluhwein, a spiced red wine, served hot, that will be a perfect "warm us upper".
Please click on "comment" and leave a message if you are interested in participating or e-mail the club at backcountrykayakaventures@yahoo.com
See you on the water.
5 comments:
i think i will make it. I will probably paddle to the dock. I will be the one in the ocean kayak (in case it gets rough in the harbour:)
Brian Barquilla
Shannon and Lisa will be there. We'll bring the hot spiced wine!
Harold and Hope plan on coming - good weather permitting.
This trip will be GREAT. It looks like we will have a wonderful turn out as well. Looking forward to seeing everyone tonight.
Bob and Deb Stewart will be there
Bob Stewart
Post a Comment