Lighting Up the Heavens
It’s -5 C, the sand is hard from refreezing, I’m walking under the stars, at midnight; the sound of music in my headphones and my headlamp for company. I’m off to capture the stars.
An hour into my walk, I’m unsure of my progress, and there is a small rise in the sand dune to my right. May as well climb the dune, eye the lighthouse and judge how far I am down. I climb the snow covered sand; look over the top, to see a pair of eyes glowing in my headlamp. I back peddle and my right foot sinks to the hip in the “sand”. I’m stuck.
Digging myself out, in haste headlamp looking to the edge to see what sort of wild creature was staring back to at me. I find my release and walk further down the beach, I guess I’ll just have to carry on. 10.6 km, step by step.
03:30 I cross the dune to the eastern edge and the light house. Finding my composition and watching I don’t accidentally walk out onto pack ice, I set up my tripod, dialled in my settings and for the first time; clicked that shutter, and waited the long 30 seconds. Then it was revealed, millions of stars of our galaxy, the gas cloud that was the base of our life; the universe revealed.
Now do I stay for sunrise, or go.. the 11 km walk had taken its toll; it was cold and the thought of sitting 3 hours in the cold exposed air was not ideal.
03:45 I marched off, step by step back up the dune, eyes locked on the lights of the Irving Ecological site; a big mistake.
By the early hours, the gear and ill fitting equipment now have shooting pains up my legs when my foot catches a stray piece of ice, or rocks. I move down the beach towards the waterline onto smooth sand. I keep my eyes locked onto the lights down the dune, step by step… Step by step..
Finally, my trance has lifted, and I look around .. “why is this shiny”, my brain goes to the warning of many a grandmothers in Newfoundland “don’t play on the ice” and I have erringly walked out onto the pan. Making a sharp left turn and starting a very quick pace, I start for the shore, 20 feet, 10 feet, Snap, 5 feet snap… JUMP! Now I’m the owner of two wet feet. 7 kilometres from my car.
A quick moment to gather myself, what are my risks? It’s cold, wet is not good. My brain starts thinking about hunkering down. Then I remember talking about AC systems.. my boots are waterproof so if I just work hard enough… I’ll heat the water. So my pace doubles, my cold feet become warm, if uncomfortable. And step by step I make my way back to my car.. 0730 - 2 wet feet, a fuzzy creature, and 14 shots of the Milkyway.