Beginning the Eclipse Adventure

In 1996 we saw our first total solar eclipse.  It was an awesome experience.  We were in Curaçao, and we watched from the pool area.  (I had originally worried that we needed to find a place with a clear view, but then, duh, it's almost straight up.  Anywhere will work!)  There was an open air restaurant off the pool deck.  The lead up to the eclipse is kind of long and rather boring, but you do get afraid of missing something, so it was great having lunch in the covered patio and being able to slip out for a peek every so often.

We did take pictures, in the pre-digital era.  They are mostly quite boring:

 Eclipsed Sun through Palm Tree

 The other ones make this look exciting - since they are just like that but without the tree!

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We began making plans for our 2017 eclipse adventure in November, when we booked a house on AirBNB.  We like privacy, and we chose a whole-house, rather than share space with people we don't know.  And we also needed a place where Tommy would fit in.  We liked this one, and made our reservation and paid for it at that time.  https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/6887339  It's in Hiawassee, GA, in the northeast corner of the state.  There is a nice yard that will be great for viewing.  Let's hope the weather cooperates!

In December we ordered our eclipse glasses.  Apparently, it's a good thing we did. . . The local library plans an eclipse watching party, but they have already given out all their glasses.

In June we made hotel reservations for the trip down and back.  We'll stay at a Residence Inn in Waynesboro, VA, about half way there.  And we reserved a rental car for our trip.  Had a bit of a panic when Hertz said they were cancelling reservations, even prepaid ones, during the eclipse, because they had not planned for the need for cars.  Turns out it was only Portland, Oregon.  We got an email reminder of our reservation, so we're hoping all will go well when we pick up the rental car on Friday.

Now it's time to make lists and get excited.

One of the photos I am hoping for is shadows.  In 1996 we took this one:



You are looking at the pool deck (see the square tiles?) in the shade of a palm tree during the partial eclipse.  Notice the crescent suns in the shadows.  I know, it's not easy to see what you are seeing!














Check back to see if I get the shadow pics.

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I have removed a rather funny but perhaps politically inappropriate poster.  If you would like to see it, email me. 

You can reach me at my regular email addresses or at muddleaged at gmail dot com.