In 2017 we travelled west to view the Total Solar Eclipse under the big Western Sky. We were fortunate enough to be able to view it. I noted at that time that the next total solar eclipse in North America was a mere seven years away - TODAY! The 2024 eclipse has totality passing through our back yard.
And I am a little conflicted. SO and I haven't gone on an extended road trip in a few years. There are several reasons for this. As nice as it is to be able to use home as the base, it isn't quite the same kind of adventure.
As the number of days until totality wound down, the forecasts were all over the place. Rain, then just cloudy, then clear, then cloudy... I did notice that the temperature forecasts were showing the cooling effect of the sun being obscured - which I thought was neat. But this must be manual manipulation since I didn't see this in any of the actual raw weather models.
I woke up on eclipse day to wet ground but clearing skies. The previous evening's forecast of heavy clouds most of the day was replaced with mostly sunny skies with numerous high thin clouds forming. Almost all the weather models were in general agreement. The biggest question was how intense the high thin clouds might be.
Right at daybreak I took the older dog on a long walk around the "block" (5.05 miles). The morning was brilliantly clear and it warmed quickly. I couldn't help but hope that it would stay that way. As I approached the long stretch back toward home, thin clouds were building to the Southwest.
Back at home I spent several hours killing time. I read a bunch about the models available on SpotWX.com and how good they are at various aspects of prediction. I shook my head and intense "discussion" about the most mundane details. I never came to any strong conclusion and appreciated that they were easily viewable. I also like that Windy.com allows graphical viewing of some of the models. While fun to learn about, it actually increased anxiety a bit. Do we stay at home? Or go "somewhere" - I have a long list of alternate locations as well as last minute, "Move That Cloud!" locations mentally prepared for.
I was ready with my April 8, 2024 survival kit.
I left around midday to walk the younger, special-needs dog. She was happy to walk in the bright sun and roll around in the grass. I couldn't help but notice clouds building, and not just wispy high altitude clouds.
Still, if we have to do an "oh crap" move, so be it.
First contact came a little before 2:00 with clouds moving through. There was about 15 minutes where the clouds obscured the eclipsing sun, but things cleared dramatically to the west. I'm not sure if it was due to the cooling effect of the eclipsing sun, or if it was just luck, but I was happy.
The moon munched away at the sun for a little over an hour. A few clouds did drift over.
The light got very weird. I heard yelling from a quarter mile away. Then the light was gone. The sun was replaced by this amazing, incomprehensible, alien sight. I snapped a few pictures, but also spent time just watching it.
And all too soon it was over. Light slowly increased along with the temperature.
In contrast to 2017 when we had thick ribeyes for dinner, we simply grilled some wild game for dinner. Also unlike 2017, where the adventure continued, in 2024, the eclipse is followed by ... work...
But for now, having the stars align or maybe I should say the sun and moon align and being able to see totality is enough.
