‘Get Sucked into a Moonbeam’: Blue Tuesdays Back this Summer

It’s time to “get sucked into a moonbeam” again.

That’s how Todd Robertson, one of the rivers division guys at Iowa Department of Natural Resources, described a moonlight paddle on Blue Heron Lake, where kayakers, canoeists and folks like Robertson, who’s evangelical about Stand-Up Paddleboard, gather Tuesday evenings.

Blue Tuesday is held on the lake, located at Raccoon River Park, from 6-8 p.m.

Offered by West Des Moines Parks and Recreation, Blue Tuesday is for anyone who wanted to to go paddling, but didn’t want to go along. Just bring your canoe, kayak, SUP and a life jacket for an evening on the lake. Call (515) 222-3435 for more information.

Related: ‘Blue Tuesdays’ Offer a Safe, Sweet Respite in West Des Moines

Blue Tuesdays started simply enough eight years ago when Robertson and some of his paddling buddies began gathering at Blue Heron Lake on Tuesday evenings. Central Iowa Paddlers, a group that promotes paddlesport safety and conservation of aquatic resources, caught wind of it and the program soon became a summertime tradition in West Des Moines.

“If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle, see some wildlife and fish – the fishing here is unbelievable – this is the place,” Robertson told Patch last year. “It’s a great way to connect to our natural resources and the beauty Iowa has. Iowa is the most altered state in the country, so you have to get out and search for it.”

Tuesday’s forecast looks to cooperate. After highs near 90, there’s only a slight 20 percent chance of thunderstorms after 2 a.m. Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service in Des Moines.