Great evening paddle with friends Ali and Heather of Path to Adventure. Starting from Brown Howe on the SW shore of lake Coniston we spent around 4 hours with 10 clients paddling a short loop round to a bay on the Eastern shore where we used a Kelly kettle for hot drinks.

Nine green canoes stacked high on the Path to Adventure trailer ready to be towed to lake Coniston for a sunset paddle.
The Path to Adventure fleet of canoes ready for the evening paddle.
Twelve people paddling six canoes at the Western shore of lake Coniston in mill pond conditions near Brown Howe with wintery trees in the background.
Ali and Heather ensuring the group have the basics of canoe handling after launching from Brown Howe.

I delivered a short session on the night sky in relation to finding direction, focusing on the plough (Ursa major), Cassaeopia, the summer triangle, and included the general movements of the stars over a night. We enjoyed a bright waxing gibbous moon that started creeping up over the Eastern shore hills and climbed higher as we paddled.

A waxing gibbous moon rising up over the mountain tops of the Eastern shore of lake Coniston with a wintery woodland on the mountain side.
Waxing gibbous moon cresting the Eastern shore of lake Coniston.

Jupiter, Saturn and Venus were all visible and fantastic to watch from the boats being reflected in the black, still lake water. Great to practice estimating how many days into the lunar cycle by observing the shape of the rising moon and then using this and the time of day to use it as a directional bearing.

Looking North up lake Coniston the last sun light hitting the mountain tops of the Eastern shore. Still water, scattered light clouds and Fairfield visible in the far distance.
Last light on the Fells looking North up lake Coniston.
The bow of my canoe floating over almost mirror perfect water as the light goes down on the group paddle in the twilight waiting for the stars to come out.
Perfect millpond conditions and a clear sky made for a very memorable paddle!