Cumberland Falls, Kentucky: We had come to the rustic state park to see a moonbow, but the weather was wrong–cloudy with scattered showers. Years earlier, I had read about moonbows in a Cincinnati newspaper. Usually a ghostly white rainbow, this arched light is only seen under a full moon beaming light at the correct angle on wispy sprays of water. Because of these conditions they are rare to the naked eye. Cumberland Falls and Victoria Falls (on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe) are the best places for lunar bow sightings. However, photographers, with special lenses, have also captured success in Yosemite National Park and Hawaii.
The Cumberland Falls are beautiful with lots of craggy rocks and roped off watchposts for hikers. The constant rushing noise of water falling 100 feet with such crushing power surprisingly soothes the listeners. This has been a sacred place to the Cheyenne and Shawnee tribes, who once held rituals at Cumberland Falls, waiting expectantly for the Great Spirit’s magic of moonlight and mist.
My faithful companion and I had booked a rustic cabin for two nights. The first night gave us constant rain. We read our books for comfort.
The second night was overcast and drizzling. I was disappointed, trying to remind myself that hiking in the park, being with a loved one, reading, dining in a lodge while watching a family of raccoons, were good enough pleasures. My partner was more optimistic. “Let’s drive out there. It might clear up.”
I bounced up from reading on the bed. “Okay.” Maybe there was a chance for something special.
We sat in the parking lot, about a block from the Falls. People-watching was fun. There were empty nesters, parents with children riding piggy back, boisterous teenagers in church vans, romantic hand holders. One interesting woman was parked in front of us in an old tan Mercedes with a California license plate entitled “Portula.” The tall, gangly driver of Portula wore nerdy glasses and donned a white shirt, tan hiking shorts, and knee high white socks. She carried a big, pricey camera like a pro. Meanwhile, we waited in our car. A moon halo dimly glowed behind the dark, moving clouds, and there was just enough space to see one sparkling star. Maybe? Hoping! But, most people were returning to their cars and driving away disappointed.
They should have waited! Like a small miracle, a pocket of space opened among the clouds, and we could see the gap moving toward the covered moon. “This is it!” my buddy announced, as we hopped out of the car just as “Portula” was giving up. She saw us, turned around, and ran ahead for the photo opportunity.
We tried to hurry across the dark, roped area. There were applauding frogs, glowing fireflies, bouncing flashlights, and that powerful water sound. And then for what was maybe a wee three minutes the moon glided out and a ghostly bow arched from the spray. We strained to see it and remember. I took this pale sighting as a little gift from God. Soon, raindrops were baptizing us. But I didn’t care. Moonbows existed! I had seen one and was satisfied. Thank you, God, for the magic and mystery of nature’s timely surprises.