The sun was still low from the east, but its low altitude didn’t mitigate the sparkle bouncing off the water. Sun screen on, boat off the roof and to the dock. Out with the camera and water bottle, on with the spray skirt and two-piece custom-made Greenland paddle. My initial target is usually the mile buoy, paddle out to the moaning of the horn and a look at the seals hanging on as it bobs up and down in the water and then make a turn west toward Natural Bridges or east to Capitola.

The sound of George Benson’s Breezin’ blaring from the end of the pier drew me like a moth to the flame. Not exactly the direction of the buoy. As I approached, an unseen drummer accompanied George. I guess he was tuning up for Saturday playing for visitors and collecting thank-yous in the form of currency. Its nice work if you can get it. Maybe he had his hat out in front of his drum set to throw in coins and bills, “anything appreciated” or “Thank You” on a small piece of cardboard anchored inside the brim. I lingered for a few moments. He wasn’t too bad. Only temporarily distracted, I pointed the bow toward Steamer Lane and Seal Rock, a popular surf point in Santa Cruz. By this time the heat from the interior had drawn in the off shore could bank. The sun was still low in the sky and because it was…magic happened.

Unlike Frank Sinatra and Michael Buble, I don’t have the world on a string and can’t make a rainbow with my finger. Instead, I must wait for the conditions to be right for one to appear. Under certain conditions I can put myself in the right position to see the rainbow that is already there. Rainbows are always magic, even when they are white. As I turned toward the coast the sun lit up and the bow appeared. I found the arch moved as I paddled and could “make it” highlight things in front of me.

As I moved around the shoreline, the fogbow moved with me and gave me a chance to use is as a frame for the shore, a boat and seal rock. In my minds jukebox I heard Louis Armstrong singing, “What a wonderful world.”

Have you seen a Fogbow? Let me know.