Baylands at Sunset on Full Moon

August 29, 2015

We were back at Baylands Nature Preserve for a one of a kind hike. A sunset walk in the preserve followed by a full moon rise on what was a perfect blue sky summer evening and an opportunity to see wonderful birds by the bay at dusk. 

We had parked in the same spot as we did during our previous hike in February – Terminal Rd x San Antonio Rd junction off Hwy 101.

Sunset today was at 7:41 pm. Apollo and I started our hike around 7 pm. The walk in Adobe Creek trail was familiar, except the setting was different. The sun was in the western horizon and the shadows were lengthening as we walked inside Baylands preserve.

It was low tide when we walked and there were plenty of shore birds, especially American Avocets & Marbled Godwits in Charleston slough. 

On the other side of slough, by the wetlands called soap pond, I saw the largest gathering of American White Pelicans. The birds were seriously grooming themselves with several shorebirds and mallards giving them company.  

As the sun started setting, the sky was filled with an orange hue, providing a picturesque setting for the walk. As always, Apollo was a willing model to pose for several pictures in the unique light setting drawing envious admiration from passers by!

After the sun had gone down, the next several minutes featured a fading deep red hue on the western horizon and light orange hue against the mountains on the eastern side. We had walked about 2 miles into the preserve by Adobe Creek trail and I decided to turn around, cognizant of the fading light. 

If the breathtaking sunset was not enough, Aug 29th was also a full moon day and moon rise was at 7:42 pm, a minute after the sunset! Sure enough, over the next few minutes with the sunlight not fully gone, the full moon was breaking through the clouds on the eastern horizon.

Slowly but surely, the moon was filling up the sky with its reflection showing up in the muddy waters of Charleston slough. Its not often one gets to see a full moon rise right after the sunset. Adobe Creek trail by full moon light took on a completely different look by 8:15 pm, painted by a dark blue hue in the ground, bright light of the moon on the sky against the backdrop of east bay city lights.

By the time we reached the car at 8:30 pm, the moon was well up in the sky casting shadows with its light! We walked just about 4 miles today focusing more on the scenery around us and taking in the beauty of the moment.

Here is the complete album of photographs from our full moon, sunset walk at Baylands Preserve.

November 13, 2016

Supermoon Hike

The November supermoon is one of the closest approach moon makes in its elliptical orbit (356,509 kms / 221,524 miles) and won’t be this close until 2034. I wasn’t the only one caught up in this astronomical drama (a fairly regular occurrence but for the closeness of the approach). Parking was a premium at the normally quiet Baylands Preserve that evening. 

We had reached the spot just after sunset which was also just after the moon rise. To enjoy the supermoon, I decided to walk east by SF Bay Trail towards Mountain View. Dogs are not allowed in this segment but Apollo was taking the day off allowing me to go in the trail about a mile as the light was fading.

We turned around when the moon had climbed about 30° above the horizon. I also decided to walk for a while in Baylands Preserve by Charleston Slough. And by the time we turned around, we had but only the moonlight to guide us as we wrapped up the easy 3+ mile walk by the bay.

Don’t fret if you missed the November supermoon. 2016 is an interesting year with three back to back supermoons – in October, November & December. It may not be the closest on December 14th, but the naked eye cannot make out that difference. Step out and enjoy a walk by the cold Dec super moon on the 14th.