I was sitting on my deck reveling in the memory of being in the shadow yesterday. The sunshine is very warm and feels great. After a 10 hour drive back home and a deep sleep into the afternoon, I’m now feeling rested and somewhat back to normal. What a journey it was!
The total solar eclipse of 2024 would have taken me to a beautiful small town in Texas called Comfort. My host Kerry and her family was very warm and welcoming and anticipated my arrival. I had a recently upgraded travel trailer waiting for me! Ranch, farm animals, breakfast, Big Steak and Texas hospitality. It would’ve been perfect, except for the forecast of low to mid clouds and a chance of showers. I couldn’t risk it. Its not the time or money. It’s about clouldless totality. You always try to put yourself in the shadow of totality. No clouds.
Onward to upstate New York. A very beautiful small grass strip airport near the town of Degrasse. Turns out the family who owns the property has quite a wonderful history of many wonderful memories at the field. They were very welcoming. Robin (who I never met) and her daughter Heidi got me situated on the grass field. I was honored to be camping out of my Jeep. It would’ve been perfect, I may have been the only one there, and to witness a total solar eclipse in solitude to me would’ve been a delight. Except for the pesky, high deck of cirrus clouds that was now forecast to move in sooner into the region during eclipse time. Clouds. I’ve come this far, this long, not to compromise great photos. (high clouds can soften and reduce the clarity of totality shots)
Onward northeast, following the centerline of totality. This led me to Ellenburg, New York. After a phone call and some texts, I had permission to be on a perfect paved spot, which was plowed, right next to a sold-out motel. Jeff the owner (who I never met) even offered to let me “sell spots” on the property for a commission! My plan was all set to do photography at a small abandoned convenience store just up the road. The southwest view was perfect, unobstructed and would have worked well. I savored visiting Jenn’s for their homemade pulled pork sandwiches and poutine (of which I’ve never had before). Except for those evil forecasts, calling for the high cloud deck to come in even farther and faster to the northeast, conveniently right along the path of totality. The NWS out of Burlington, VT stated in their forecaster discussion that the cloud deck likely would hold off from points east of the Greens. (Green Mountains) Onward again, following the centerline of totality.
I ended up in Vermont. Racing against daylight I followed Waze to Newport Vermont- a lovely little town- and since I had done no planning for this location I ended up in a Walmart parking lot ready to camp overnight and find a location in the morning to do photography. As I settled down to sleep for the night I scouted Google maps for a good setup location. After a couple phone calls and permission from the airport manager I ended up leaving Walmart that night and headed over to EFK- Northeast Kingdom International Airport, where I found myself camping out in the parking lot. After a little drama (and a new friend, Jim!) I somehow managed to get some sleep. But morning arrived too fast, and we had to get on with the day!
I call it Eclipse Magic. The fact that it always works out when the clock is ticking. The fact that you’ll be ok with the changes. The camaraderie felt among your fellow Eclipse chasers. And this was different: I ended up at an airport, which is an area with great visibility, very wide and open space, and for this event like-minded people, as I am a pilot. I was in with the Wright crowd. Sorry.
From this location totality lasted 3 minutes and 23 seconds. On the south western horizon, we observed the high cloud deck coming towards us, but somehow holding off in western Vermont. My experience and intuition led me to the right place and I would experience completely clear skies and a great total solar eclipse.
I was set up at the edge of the aviation ramp with permission. With totality some 5 hours away, planes started landing and over 90 aircraft had flown in to see totality. Including one Bombardier Challenger business jet coming from the New York City area with two families, and through their monetary capability were able to bring their kids up into the path of totality and right back home. Can you imagine!?
New friends were made, festival-like atmosphere was present, and a large crowd of fellow aviation enthusiasts and pilots shared many stories, made new connections, and reveled in the fact that we were all going to be- In the Shadow.
I took many shots at intervals all throughout the different phases of the eclipse. The very moment the moon “contacts” the edge of the Sun is called “C1”, and when it leaves it is called “C4”. In between, totality begins at C2 and ends at C3. My time was spent between taking pictures and enjoying the live action above me. I was very happy with how my program went. I’m thrilled to have gotten a lot of great shots. They are below and I hope you enjoy them.
These shots do more than just document the Total Solar Eclipse of April 8, 2024. They tell a story.
