Moonrise, Sunset…Celestial Double Whammy

Late afternoon yesterday, as tired as I was from a long day, I made a stop for an Eggnog Chai at Starbucks and headed out to hunt down some photos. 

What a dilemma for me! The sunset and the full moonrise were happening at the same time. Oh, the choices I have to make sometimes.

Twin Lakes was where I would begin my hunt and make my choice…sunset or moonrise.  Mother Nature would have to help me choose this one. The view when I got there made my decision for me, and apparently everyone else who pretty much slammed on their brakes to suddenly park. Sunset first, and then I would play it by ear.

This sunset would not end. After the sun fell into the sea, the blazing display went on for a long encore performance as the sky became bright orange with streaks of rainbow in the clouds. The smoke and cloud mixture enhanced the drama. By the time I headed out to find the moonrise, the sunset sky was still performing on center stage as the moon tried to make her grand entrance to the east.

I headed over to West Cliff to get a shot of the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk and Wharf. I found that that the moon had made her debut successfully and continued to dazzle all of us until I had to drag myself back to the car and go home.

One of the coolest things was knowing that people were surfing down in the water below as I took those photos. What a beautiful night.