The last time there was a total eclipse in the US (1979), I wasn’t even born yet. That’s why the rare occurrence of the “Great American Eclipse” was so fascinating to me. With the Path of Totality being accessible to me in the ‘hood, I became an official solar eclipse chaser. The event took place on Monday morning, August 21, 2017. I got in the car on Sunday morning and drove 10 hours to from San Francisco Oregon so I could be in position for #totality. Lucky for me, my friend was a planner and already had rooms reserved, so I crashed with him in Wilsonville, OR, about 5 miles from the edge of #totality. There was a festive mood everywhere I went, including the local Safeway store.
Getting pumped up for the solar eclipse…shirts and all
The next morning, we woke up early and made our way to a quiet neighborhood/park in Mount Angel, right in the Path of Totality. My friends have already staked out a spot in the open field (of hops of course) so we can get a good view of the eclipse. We were there a few hours earlier just in case and got busy setting up.
Setting up for Total Solar Eclipse
I didn’t have fancy equipment other than my handy dandy smartphone, but I borrowed my friend’s solar binoculars and got to see solar flares from the non-eclipsed sun.
Setting up and looking at solar flares
One of my friends believed that leaving a bottle of water out during the eclipse can make your “intention” (i.e., wish) come true. I am open to all ideas, so here is my special eclipse water.
Special eclipse water + solar glasses
The event took a couple of hours, so we spent some time observing the eclipse through our very own pinhole shadows.
Seeing the eclipse through “pinholes”
When all’s set up, we took some time watching the eclipse happen with those special solar glasses and waited until #totality.
Observing the solar eclipse in action
And this is what happened!
The experience of being there during #totality was unforgettable. The gradual (then not so gradual) changes in lighting, the sounds of animals experiencing this with us, the sudden drop in temperature, the reactions from the audience, and the spectacle (of course!)….pictures and videos don’t do it justice. It was truly a magical experience (but way too short)! It makes me understand why people become lifelong total solar eclipse chasers. There’s nothing like it!
On the way back the drive was brutal. Everyone was leaving at the same time, and I didn’t get home until 4AM, about 16 hours after the end of the eclipse.
Was the brutally long drive worth the trip? Without a doubt, yes! I even had time to go for a bonus – run through nearby hops field…
When in Oregon, run through hops fields…