Mid-summer solstice

Looking east to Taylor's Mistake

 The mid-summer solstice occurred in Christchurch on December 21 and it was for us and many others a very special event.  It was in fact a triple event that we will remember always.  The  longest day (sorry, the shortest day for you northern latitude folks), A full moon and a total eclipse of the moon beginning at 9:15 pm!

The light begin to sparkle in Christchurch

Ships lay at anchor off the coast.

We went up to a park high on the volcanic ridge separating Taylor's Mistake from Sumner and waited for events to unfold. As the sun set in the west, the clouds were illuminated with bands of gold and scarlet over CHCH.  A bank of clouds hung over the eastern sky obscuring the moon as it rose.  A couple of ships at sea were brightly lit and seemed to cast thee only light to the east.  We were gathered along the hillside. 

 Bob had brought his guitar and was playing and singing a few quiet songs as we waited.  There were many small groups assembled here and there talking quieting and waiting for a glimpse of the moon.  A few photographers stood with long lens pointing to the horizon hoping for a break in the low lying clouds.

Slowly the moon regained is post in the night sky.

The sky darkened.  We began to lose hope that the clouds would clear enough to see something, anything as the moon rose hidden by their cloak.  Then suddenly about 9:40 pm the moon cloaked in a rose-colored shroud pushed through the mist and showed itself.  

There was an audible breathe of joy and awe among the many gather on the mountainside and we watched it slowly climb into the heavens.  At first a dusty rose-colored disc shone dully on us, but soon a sliver of silver white light peeked from its edge and slowly grew as the minutes clicked by.

We quietly watch this phenomenon, savoringly the light flowing down on us and finally, when it was about three-quarters clear of the earth's shadow, we walked slowly down the hill in the moon glow and went home to a restful night of sleep.

A night to remember.