ART sunset hike and super moonlight meander

The first monthly ART moonlight meander and sunset hike got off to a SUPER start. Besides there being a full moon this month last night gave us the added benefit of a Super Moon.  The moon and earth just happened to be orbiting about 15,000 miles closer to each other this month than any other month.  This gave all of us hikers and moon viewers an especially close view of the moon last night.   The event began at 6:30 with the gathering of the hikers. They came in swarms. Ok, they came in cars, but they came at 6:30, just as requested.  A couple from San Diego strolled down Valley View Rd, a group of four drove in from Avery, and a lone first time ART hiker drove up from Angels Camp. We felt like a swarm when we departed down the P9 access trail toward Cowell Creek.    The dogwood trees were a welcoming sight at the bottom of the P9 trail. Most of the trees were still in bloom, greeting us with lei type arrangements as we traveled toward the Cowell Creek crossing. After a perfect 8 for 8 dry feet crossing of the creek we proceeded up hill for a ways toward our destination. The mob didn't even want to stop to rest for a picture as they hustled up the the P12 trail toward Cougar Rock.   Upon arrival at our viewing destination we discovered we had about 2.5 fingers worth of waiting, or approximately 15-20 minutes before the horizon obscured our view of the sun for the day.  We were soon joined by another group of moon worshipers as the gang of boys (young men in their teens) scrambled their way to the uppermost reaches of Cougar Rock to view the evenings show with the more venturesome of our ART group.    As the sunlight portion of our day drew to a close, the entire assemblage "oohed" and "aahed" as they waited to see if there would be a 'green flash' as the sun appeared to set into the fog and smog of the Bay Area. If they were disappointed in the lack of the flash, they gave no sign as most were impressed with the orangeness and apparent rainbow following the suns' actual setting. Attention was soon directed to the east as the largeness of the moon was scheduled to appear shortly. All the viewers were welcomed by the punctual appearance of Mr. Moon ,and his long eared rabbit, as they began their nocturnal travels across our evening sky.   After adequate time to "ooh and ahh" some more, we ART hikers headed back towards our vehicles and homes, aided (and sometimes hindered) by the glow of flashlights. The moon gave a bright showing trying to indicate the way with flashes of illumination pointing the way between the trees. Goodbyes were said as new friends departed, back to their everyday lives. An evening of nature worship had come to a close as all these hikers and moon viewers went home to discuss the evenings events and tell their friends and family what bold adventure they had missed this month, but were welcome to attend again next month, on the first Sunday in June, when once again a group of ART hikers would go out to see the sunset and meander in the moonlight.