I had other plans for today’s post, but I had a surprise on Saturday evening that changed all of that. I spent the day on the Oregon coast, and arrived on the home stretch just as the last light was fading. As I neared the Nisqually Delta, I looked east out of habit, where I knew I’d see Mt. Rainier above the ridge. The moon was just on its way up, but this time it was no ordinary moonrise. The full moon that night was a supermoon—where the full moon coincides with the point on its orbit where it is closest to Earth.
The result was jaw-dropping—I had just enough time and presence of mind to take the next exit, head to the nearest uphill spot, pull over, and jot down a quick sketch with my pencil. When I got home (and had access to a proper lamp!), I filled in the color.
It’ll never match what I saw that night. But at the very least, it’ll always remind me of the moment—and how lucky I was to be able to witness it.
Ghost domes 
Twists and turns 
The Loneliest Road 
Chandler, this is stunning!! I’m so glad you pulled over to sketch this. And I think I love it even more because I had my own little super moon-rise moment on Saturday night…I was out for a quick post-sunset kayak ride on Quartermaster Harbor, and as has also become my habit here, I looked back over my shoulder to see if I could spot the very tip of Mount Rainier – and again, I had that same moment of realizing that the great golden orb on the horizon was none other than the moon 🙂 Thank you for sharing this!
Wow, it came out of the clouds for the supermoon? Wonderful. Saw the moon here that night too. It’s been very Northwesty here over the last week, raining and foggy every day for the last four days. Welcome relief from 95F I must say.