Re: [Paddlewise] Sloping sea illusion?

From: James Tibensky <jimtibensky_at_hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 08:08:25 -0600
"Wilky":

>Speaking of illusions, I was paddling in the Gordon River (South West
>Tasmania). The water is fairly brackish and I was paddling along beside 
>some
>limestone cliffs which are sheer for about a hundred feet. The water is
>mirror calm and the reflections are mirror perfect.
>
>I happened to look over the side of the kayak into the water and all I saw
>was a hundred foot cliff in perfect detail. etc....


I have had a similar experience a couple of times.  I paddle my whitewater 
kayak most days after work.  I go to a dead flat river near my home.  In 
winter, this means I am paddling in the dark.  There is a bridge that I pass 
under.  The bridge has bright lights on and around it on the roadway.  The 
lights illuminate the river in that spot. When there is no wind and big, 
fluffy snowflakes are falling, I get the illusion when I look down into the 
black water.  It's like a mirror.  The snowflakes' reflection in the water 
makes it look as though the flakes are falling up from the depths of the 
river. At the point where the real ones meet their reflections there is a 
really disorienting image.  I find that I have to pay attention to which way 
is really up.

Jim Tibensky

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Received on Thu Nov 29 2001 - 06:08:41 PST

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