Posted for "Paul Lipps" <elippse@sbcglobal.net>:

 Right On, Rob!
    My experience was not far geographically from yours; Santa Ynez. 'Was on
my night dual cross country on a dark night, and one leg was to Santa Ynez.
Turning from downwind to crosswind I could no longer see any lights. 'Though
I'm not instrument-rated, I started looking at the IAS, ROC, and altitude 'til
I completed the turn and could see the field lights. After stopping at Santa
Maria, my instructor had me fly up to Avila, then do two full stalls and
recovery while facing out to the dark ocean! 'Sure appreciated that gyro
attitude instrument. I think my instructor was using those stalls with no
outside reference as an example of what it's like on a dark night.