We’ve stayed in one place for about 4
months now and we’re starting to get wanderlust. For the past couple
months, I’ve been hearing many reports on NPR about how watching a
total eclipse is almost spiritual and if possible, it’s something
that you really need to see in your lifetime. Luckily, we have
friends who live near the path of totality. That’s as good a reason
as any to take a road trip.
months now and we’re starting to get wanderlust. For the past couple
months, I’ve been hearing many reports on NPR about how watching a
total eclipse is almost spiritual and if possible, it’s something
that you really need to see in your lifetime. Luckily, we have
friends who live near the path of totality. That’s as good a reason
as any to take a road trip.
The drive down was mostly uneventful but as anyone who has driven on Interstate
81 through Pennsylvania knows, it’s under a perpetual state of
construction. We lost at least an
hour of travel time sitting in traffic waiting to merge into a single
lane on 4 different occasions. The Pennsylvania DOT must have
rebuilt I-81 five times over by now. At least we know where their
federal highway funds are going.
81 through Pennsylvania knows, it’s under a perpetual state of
construction. We lost at least an
hour of travel time sitting in traffic waiting to merge into a single
lane on 4 different occasions. The Pennsylvania DOT must have
rebuilt I-81 five times over by now. At least we know where their
federal highway funds are going.
We arrive at Allan and Jill’s on Friday
afternoon with plans on doing some hiking and other outdoor
activities before the Monday eclipse. We open the car door and find
the heat index is over 100 degrees. Way too hot for us soft
northerners! Indoor activities in the AC are just fine.
afternoon with plans on doing some hiking and other outdoor
activities before the Monday eclipse. We open the car door and find
the heat index is over 100 degrees. Way too hot for us soft
northerners! Indoor activities in the AC are just fine.
 |
| Allan and Jill – always gracious hosts! |
Allan chose Poinsett State Park as a good spot to view the eclipse so we head out fairly
early so as not to get caught in eclipse traffic and stake out a decent spot. We didn’t run into any traffic (see how it’s done Pa.?) and with the help of some friendly fellow gazers and their astronomical apps, we
determine where the sun will be at 2:30 and lay claim to a good
viewing area. Since we got there early, we walked around looking at all the other photogs
solar filter setups for taking pictures of the sun. Most people made their
own filters by buying filter sheets, cutting it to size and attaching it to cardboard cutouts
and taping it to their camera lens. That’s probably better than spending $200 on a
camera filter you will probably only use once. We might have gone
that route but by the time we ordering it, it was out of stock
everywhere. If you insist on buying a solar filter, Seymour’s seems to be the filter of choice (www.seymoursolar.com). Good to know for next time. Plan B – I went to Lowe’s and bought a welding helmet,
took the glass out and held that over the lens to take pictures.
Unfortunately, that give the pictures a greenish tint. Let’s see how
good Cathy is at using Photoshop.
early so as not to get caught in eclipse traffic and stake out a decent spot. We didn’t run into any traffic (see how it’s done Pa.?) and with the help of some friendly fellow gazers and their astronomical apps, we
determine where the sun will be at 2:30 and lay claim to a good
viewing area. Since we got there early, we walked around looking at all the other photogs
solar filter setups for taking pictures of the sun. Most people made their
own filters by buying filter sheets, cutting it to size and attaching it to cardboard cutouts
and taping it to their camera lens. That’s probably better than spending $200 on a
camera filter you will probably only use once. We might have gone
that route but by the time we ordering it, it was out of stock
everywhere. If you insist on buying a solar filter, Seymour’s seems to be the filter of choice (www.seymoursolar.com). Good to know for next time. Plan B – I went to Lowe’s and bought a welding helmet,
took the glass out and held that over the lens to take pictures.
Unfortunately, that give the pictures a greenish tint. Let’s see how
good Cathy is at using Photoshop.
There’s a lot of people in the shade surrounding the viewing area having picnics, barbecues and just having a good time waiting for the main event. As the moon starts it’s journey across the
sun at about 1:15, everyone at one point or another straggles out into the opening to take a peek and then goes back to what they
were doing. But as things get closer to totality, everyone starts paying closer attention and the opening fills with spectators. Soon the noise level rises with the sense of anticipation of witnessing a truly unique occurrence. A cheer goes up when it reaches
totality and the corona appears. Stunning is all I can say about that! The pictures don’t do it justice because we didn’t have the best equipment or photographer. Cathy couldn’t handle looking up with her neck condition so you got me taking the pictures. We’ll be better prepared next time.
sun at about 1:15, everyone at one point or another straggles out into the opening to take a peek and then goes back to what they
were doing. But as things get closer to totality, everyone starts paying closer attention and the opening fills with spectators. Soon the noise level rises with the sense of anticipation of witnessing a truly unique occurrence. A cheer goes up when it reaches
totality and the corona appears. Stunning is all I can say about that! The pictures don’t do it justice because we didn’t have the best equipment or photographer. Cathy couldn’t handle looking up with her neck condition so you got me taking the pictures. We’ll be better prepared next time.
 |
| This doesn’t look staged at all. |
The sight is well worth the drive. Surprisingly, soon after totality, the
crowd begins to disperse. We stay to watch the moon complete it’s
crossing. All the radio reports were right – you really do need
to see this. Fortunately, there’s another one on April 8, 2024 and we won’t have to drive too far to see it. Or you can make the trek to Argentina or Chile for the next one in our hemisphere on July 2, 2019 or again on December 14, 2020. Options abound.
crowd begins to disperse. We stay to watch the moon complete it’s
crossing. All the radio reports were right – you really do need
to see this. Fortunately, there’s another one on April 8, 2024 and we won’t have to drive too far to see it. Or you can make the trek to Argentina or Chile for the next one in our hemisphere on July 2, 2019 or again on December 14, 2020. Options abound.
Tuesday we head to Raleigh for a quick
visit with the munchkins (Cory and Vanessa just happen to live there)
before heading home to get ready for our next adventure.
visit with the munchkins (Cory and Vanessa just happen to live there)
before heading home to get ready for our next adventure.
Our adventures will be a similar to this from this point forward as the
Treasury Department decided to grant my pension fund’s application to
cut my monthly check by 30%. That will put a big dent in my travel
budget. This week-long trip cost us about $400
for gas and meals. Hotels were paid for with points and our friends welcomed us into their home. So this is an alert to all our friends scattered across the
country – our next adventure might bring us to your front door!
Treasury Department decided to grant my pension fund’s application to
cut my monthly check by 30%. That will put a big dent in my travel
budget. This week-long trip cost us about $400
for gas and meals. Hotels were paid for with points and our friends welcomed us into their home. So this is an alert to all our friends scattered across the
country – our next adventure might bring us to your front door!
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