Eclipse Adventures part seven
I woke up early and was happy to see no clouds in the sky.
The sun rose as normal.
We prepared our equipment.
We debated where to watch it. We had decided not to try and go up any of the small roads to the tops of the hills and mountains. The hotel was just as sunny as anywhere else.
But, sit by the pool or somewhere else?
A man explained the gate was broke and you had to climb over the wall. So, we opted not to do that in the impending dark. (He then totally disappeared so I figured he was the ghost of the reason the pool is locked…)
The front of the hotel was just fine.
I walked off to get us some breakfast and was happy that there was a clear sky.
I did find some of the features of downtown less than friendly that second day.
But, I liked the cone selection at the deli.
Psi testing? Why didn’t I know about that? Oh, right…
I did get some nice eclipse lemonade.
Then, just about 9, it began.
Almost everyone had literally headed for the hills, so there was no problem standing in the driveway to watch.
There were some others nearby and in front of the church across the street.
I very much like the shadows during an eclipse.
As the sun got smaller, it was harder and harder to get a good photo of it with my little camera.
As it got darker, I could see the shadow of the moon coming at us from the west. It did not photograph well. But, it was freaky to see in person. A 70 mile/115km wide shadow coming at you that looked like a storm coming, but without clouds.
The woman at the front desk of the hotel came out to ask why we were looking the "wrong" way and then looked at the shadow and said "holy shit!"
I really can’t describe it. I’ve never seen anything like it before. There is a part of my brain that just doesn’t like a huge shadow coming at me, especially when I can’t see what’s making it.
It really does strike something very deep in me.
Them. the light got a strange color.
It got darker and the street lights came on.
And, then the sun went out.
It was replaced by a hole in the sky.
Since I was six I have been fascinated by a photo my cousin’s husband took of the eclipse that happened that year. For those 47 years since I’ve tried to get to see it myself.
I’d planned it for years. I cross the continent to be in the place most likely to get a good view.
It did not disappoint.
The light under it is very strange.
I can’t explain it, and it doesn’t photograph well, but it is very strange.
And then, 96 seconds later, it was over.
