Aurora Hunting

It started out as another bucket list thing, just like the circle tour around Lake Superior. I've always wanted to see the Aurora Borealis. I traveled up to the Lake, even in Canada, and I never saw the lights. I'd see others post on social media and go out and saw nothing. Then I found out you often needed your camera to see the lights. On December 13, 2023 I saw a bit of pink on my birthday. There! I finally found you lady aurora! Fast forward to the spring of 2024 when the real magic happened. We entered a storm period that has lasted well over a year. I got a few aurora apps that told me when conditions were favorable. I started the hunt with a vengeance. May 10th I had my first real aurora--I could see it without a camera even. I called my neighbors and told them to come out. We spent time chatting and shooting photos. That night I saw greens, pinks, purples and even indigo! The next night I was visiting my daughter in Superior when I got another notification. We went to Wisconsin Point and were treated to a spectacular shimmering aurora with a view of the Duluth skyline. I was hooked!! The lights just kept coming all year. Once, I was out driving and shooting photos late at night, all alone, when I heard the coyotes howling. It was an eerie feeling and I jumped into the car and left. The second time that happened with the lights I googled it and found out the storms do affect animals too. I have shared my passion with several friends, texting them to go out and see the lights. We share our photos and our disappointments when the numbers are great but the clouds get in the way. After over 1000 photos, I'm still not done. Each time is different and I want to how lady aurora is going to surprise me next.