Sometimes adventure happens at night. And sometimes you aren't allowed to use your head lamp or white flashlight; only a red flashlight so you will not disturb the local wild life. So the only photo I have to share about this adventure is this one some other photographer took in Pakistan, capturing an owl taking flight at his favorite time of day....night.
Last evening, adventure companion Spain and I joined 14 other full moon seekers through the IRC..(Irvine Ranch Conservancy) and hiked into Orchard Hills in Irvine on a 3 mile full moon hike. We were instructed right away, to turn off our really cool white head lamps (darn~!) and use the red flash lights provided so we would disturb the local inhabitants as little as possible. Our original hike route had to be detoured because a red tailed hawk family had been spotted earlier in the day, taking care of its new hatchlings in a newly discovered nest right along our intended path. So instead of going thisaway...we went thataway. For a spring equinox eve....it was cold! We had fleece jackets ready to zip into and zip up...we being always prepared for adventure away from home, as I am FINALLY learning....you never know how the weather may be at your destination, even if it's only 20 minutes from home....so bring everything! HAHA!
Rain had been forecast for the evening and as yet had been kind enough to delay it's arrival. All of us hikers looked at a thinly veiled full moon creeping up over the hill as we started up the 800 ft ascent. The clouds were teasing us as to if and when we may or may not get a real deal full moon; no let's rephrase that Uber Moon glow this evening. We were all very happy the rain was holding off, and the fact that the moon was at least TRYING to give us a show was enough. We were all very excited to be out there in the dark, watching our foot falls on the gentle single track that weaved its path up , up, up.
As we turned a few corners, the talk turned quieter as the hikers fell into a pace behind one another. We listened to the symphony of creek frogs, the sound of creepy crawlers in the brush at our feet and a single coyote cry that was answered by a whole chorus of coyotes, perhaps excited over their shared meal for the evening.
Every few hundred feet up our ascent, we all stopped and glanced over to the rising super moon, begging it to break free from the clouds of a future rain and give us the performance we had come to see. Soft whispers of hope, our night vision attuning to the shadows all around us, we gazed to the eastern night sky, and as a group, encouraged Her performance.
As we turned into the avocado orchard and tracked single file, long shadows of the giant Eucalyptus (gum tree) fell over us. Memories of my youth in Tustin, before the groves of avocado and orange and eucalyptus were laid low, sacrificed without their permission, to make way for ....just more.......more house...more pavement, came flooding through me. Here we were, being allowed to walk among the beautiful groves by permission of the big land barons who own it all now; as if it was a kind of Disneyland, instead of a free place to walk for everyone, anytime, as it used to be.........when we were kids here in the 60's. I felt such an ache for those innocent days of unsupervised exploration.................
Did you know that Eucalyptus oil is used for cleaning and functions as a natural insecticide and is sometimes used to drain swamps; thereby reducing the risk of malaria?
And that eucalyptus, a native plant of Australia, is called a widow-maker? The root system is very shallow and if super-satured, the tree can just fall over rather suddenly. If your husband is working in the back yard after a rainy day and you have eucalpytus trees out back....ok, you get the idea.......back to my moon hike...
As in every adventure, one has to BE THERE for something exciting to happen....or not. As we made our way along the big trees, some big light seemed to be turned on. We all turned to our right and just about applauded as the gorgeous super moon; 220,625 miles close, closest she's been to Earth since Jan. 19, 1992, broke free from the haze and , well, gave us a private performance of brilliant shine we had all prayerfully anticipated. YES!! It was so beautiful to see. Her light cast moon shadows on all of us. "Look at our shadows !", I said. Some of us raised our arms up as our reflections fell across the groves. A single owl flew out of the trees and crossed overhead through the light. The brightness and brilliance was so exciting. "We should have brought our moon tan lotion!" I commented.
Across the hills, the moonlight gave definition to the undulating rolls and cast her shadows on all the trees and bushes and hikers. It was as bright as a street lamp; except this neighborhood was truly wild and free.
We resumed the hike to the top and spent a few moments star gazing above and enjoying the panoramic view of land lights below, across the lowlands all across southern Orange County. We were able to watch the fireworks at Disneyland, 40 miles north. But I didn't much care for the man made lights. I turned towards the moon and worshiped her amazing beauty and power to reflect brilliance of sun from so far way. Both Spain and I were so grateful that our simple prayer this week had been heard. 'Please, rain, wait until Sunday. We have been hoping to go on a full moon hike for over a year and they are always booked up so fast. And now, to get out on this hike for the Super Moon, it would be so wonderful to really be out here under your spell. Maybe the rain will hear us and allow us this bit of adventure."
The hikers had their fill, our time was up as we quietly followed each other back to the parking area. A couple of times, without a word spoken, we all just stopped and faced the bright moon and just gazed up and basked in her moon beams as they fell upon us. As we headed down our final hundred feet, the night cries of the coyote rang out across two or three different hills, as if they were sending us on our way with some kind of message. It was wild and woolly wonderful.
Tonight was not a photo op; tonight was just about being there and filling up on perhaps a once in a lifetime chance to commune with a Super Moon Goddess.........As we turned in our red flashlights, and headed back to the truck, the moon's performance was over. As if on cue, a sheer veil of cloudy curtain drew across her face as she disappeared......back stage..................Brava, I whispered...Brava..............
Today it rained and rained and is still raining................................
