Late last night, I paddled home from Tivoli in my kayak. Setting out onto calm water at slack tide, I anticipated a smooth ride. Usually, I have no problem finding my way. I just aim for the white beacon. Not so on this night. As I made my way across the river, a thick fog suddenly rolled in from the west, enshrouding the lighthouse in an opaque vapor. The beacon disappeared. I looked behind me. The lights of Tivoli were no longer visible, as I too was enveloped by the encroaching fog. I had no alternative but to maintain course. The fog muffled sound, so I paddled forward in eerie silence and murky darkness. The splash of my paddle strokes was the only sound. Eventually, ever so faintly at first, the light reappeared and gradually brightened as I approached, leading me the rest of the way home.
Historic Landmark on the Hudson River