For a brief, dazzling moment, these two celestial forces seem to square off, suspended and unmoving. But evening ultimately tips the scale—the moon in milky full bloom—as the sun dips in the west, leaving a fiery horizon.
This is just one of the many breathtaking visual feasts on offer during tonight’s Full Moon Paddle, courtesy of Steven and Suzy Taylor, owners and operators of Ayers Creek Adventures in Berlin.
A few miles south of Ocean City, just north of Assateague Island, the Taylors’ operation, patrolled by a lovable chocolate lab named Magnum, sits on five acres and overlooks one of the many winding tributaries of Maryland’s coastal bays.
Steven grew up here, and his parents still live next door. As a boy, he and his younger brother explored the local waterways in a small motorboat.
“That was the Huck Finn-ish aspect of [our youth],” says the former environmental consultant. “Many of our friends lived on the water, so instead of walking or riding a bike to friend’s house, we’d jump in the skiff and get into mischief that way.”
With a fleet of more than 40 kayaks and canoes, Ayers Creek Adventures, established in April 2010, offers an array of guided tours and rentals for individuals and groups at all skill levels.
“We love being out on the creek,” says Suzy, who cut her teeth paddling the wild Youghiogheny River in southwestern Pennsylvania, where she was raised.
“We think it’s one of the most beautiful places on the shore. And we were looking for a way to share that with other people and also be able to do something we love to do.”
Just shy of a dozen guests have gathered for this evening’s paddle, which concludes around a bonfire with a wine tasting courtesy of Fenwick Wine Cellars and an assortment of local cheeses and desserts from the Shark on the Harbor in Ocean City. (Get a sitter for the kiddies; this is an adults-only night out.)
After a brief safety and paddling tutorial, we launch at 6:30 p.m. Never been kayaking? No problem. Ayers Creek is so tranquil that, once you find your rhythm, it’s like riding a bike.
Gliding beneath a small bridge, Steven discusses some of the environmental characteristics of the area. As a founding member and original director of the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, he makes sure eco education is part of each tour.
“Sometimes, it depends on the interest of the group,” he says. “You kind of get a feel for how much interest there is and you just play with it that way.
“If people get tired of me talking,” he adds with a laugh, “I tell them to paddle faster.”
Right now, the paddles all but stop as Steven points out a pair of bald eagles soaring above the cedars. We hold our breath, transfixed by the birds’ aerial acrobatics. Bay anchovies jump, breaking the brackish water. Tiny blue crabs scamper through the spiky sea grass.
We finally arrive at a wide bend in the creek and gently float as the moon and sun do their tango. This isn’t just a serene evening on the water; this is therapy.
The moon reflects on the tiny ripples and is our guide for the return voyage. The bonfire is crackling as Magnum, tail wagging, greets us.
“To see people of all ages get excited about the wildlife they see or the beauty of the creek and know that they’ve experienced something they would not otherwise have had the opportunity to experience, it’s just a very positive feeling,” says Suzy.
Steven agrees.
“We had a group of schoolteachers here from Pennsylvania,” he says. “They went out on the moonlight paddle and, when they came back, they said, ‘Can we just sit in the boats for a little while?’
“[It’s] very rewarding to experience that.”
For more information about Ayers Creek Adventures, call 1-888-602-6288 or visit www.ayerscreekadventures.com.
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