Eclipse Day today!! We woke up and it felt almost like Christmas morning with everyone abuzz in anticipation for the eclipse. Totality was to happen at 10:18AM but the eclipse would start about an hour before. We got up and hung out for a bit before boarding our little wooden rowboat that we’d reserved for the big day!
Tofu, Wolf Bird, Gentleman, and I piled in the small rowboat (I was very nervous we would capsize it as it was tiny) and figured out how to row. Well, more like we watched Gentleman figure out how to row… then Wolf Bird took one oar and Gentleman took the other and Tofu and I relaxed while the two of them paddled us around the lake. Many people were set up along the shore of the lake, but a few others also rented rowboats for the occasion. Tofu and I eventually took our turn rowing around. I was notably the worst at this out of the four of us, which luckily meant I was quickly relieved of my duties.
We didn’t pay for an anchor (well actually I don’t think we were aware this was an option when we reserved the boat) so we had to constantly row around so we wouldn’t be blown by the wind toward shore and shallow waters. We all had eclipse glasses and started around 9:15 or 9:30 could see the beginning of the shadow covering the sun. Wolf Bird’s eclipse glasses blew out of his hand while Tofu and I were paddling. Unfortunately I was not talented enough at paddling to be able to paddle us close to the glasses laying in the water… so they sank before we could reach them. We each took turns lending Wolf Bird our glasses so he could take peaks at the shadow over the sun too.
It was crazy how the conditions started changing the closer it got to 10:18. The light grew dimmer, our shadows grew longer, and it got colder out! Finally at 10:18 the shadow completely covered the sun and all that was visible was a small circle of light around the dark shadow. It was absolutely amazing. It looked like dusk all around us, with a dark sky with pinks and oranges near the horizon. We were near the center of the path of totality which meant we had a full 2 minutes and one second of this darkness. Words can’t do justice to how special an experience this was. As quickly as it started though, it was over, and the sun came back out and it got lighter and lighter and warmer as time passed. What a special experience–I still cannot believe how well the timing worked out for us to have walked so far and arrive right in the middle of the path of totality on the day of the eclipse!
After all that excitement the rest of the day was a bit of a blur. Wolf Bird rowed us back to shore and we packed up pretty quickly and headed out around 11:30AM. The days always pass quickly when we are leaving town and today was no different. We hiked about 22 miles to a couple spots just beyond a dirt road and powerline. Gentleman fell behind so it was just Wolf Bird, Tofu and I camped together. We luckily arrived at camp before dark and got to bed at a reasonable hour.
What a great day that I know we will all remember for a very long time.
I am going to miss these blogs and pictures (none here). It has been my trip that I didn’t have to take!! stay safe
love u big