In the midnight hour,
She cried Moe, Moe, Moe!
I'm not sure why Billy Idol had such a fascination with the leader of the famous Vaudeville and television comedy troupe The Three Stooges. Don't get me wrong. I'm not hating on Moe. He's awesome! But if I were an internationally famous punk rock singer, I'm not sure I would sing a song about him. Not judging', just sayin'.
But what do I know?
We'll meet at the Bair's Cove boat ramp, at the posted coordinates, on the south bank of Haulover Canal, for a quick headcount, then we'll splash our kayaks. Once on the water, I will be heading east, into Mosquito Lagoon, then playing around the back of the spoil islands. I figure on going about 10.5 miles, round trip. Feel free to follow me, if you wish. Another option would be for you to head west, into Indian River Lagoon. Or, you could just paddle around in Haulover Canal. It's your call. The event officially runs from 8:00pm till Midnight, though you are free to make your paddle longer, or shorter, as you see fit.
For those who have never experienced a bioluminescent paddle, prepare to be amazed. Obviously, with Momma Nature running the show, there are no guarantees, but with the warm temperature, and no moonlight, the odds are in our favor that we'll see some way kewl stuff. According to our friends at Wikipedia, bioluminescence is the production and emission of light by a living organism. It is a form of chemiluminescence. Bioluminescence occurs widely in marine vertebrates and invertebrates, as well as in some microorganisms including some bioluminescent bacteria and terrestrial invertebrates such as fireflies. In some animals, the light is produced by symbiotic organisms such as Vibrio bacteria. During the warmer months, bioluminescent organisms thrive in the waters of Mosquito Lagoon and Indian River Lagoon. These organisms become startled by things moving through the water, (fish, manatees, kayak paddles, etc), and flash momentarily with a haunting green light. Because these organisms are microscopic, just one flashing is pretty much invisible. But when millions of them fire off as a critter swims by, it is visually stunning.
There is a $5.00 fee, per vehicle, for the use of this ramp, so bring some cash with you. You will also need a PFD, (life jacket), for each person, a noise producing device for each vessel and a white light, visible for 2 miles, capable of illuminating 360 degrees. (In other words, a good flashlight) You should probably bring bug spray, as Mosquito Lagoon is well named. They will carry you off if you are not protected. Snackage and water are also good ideas.
Hope to see you there!