Tanya's Daily Scoop
CURRENTLY TRAVELING IN: RENO, NEVADA
ECLIPSE DAY!!!
What a morning! It started with us hitting the road in Idaho at 6am - which was 5am in Oregon - where we were headed due to a change in our game plan the day before.
We were heading to Huntington, Oregon - dead center on the belt of the Great American Eclipse. With 2 minutes and 9 seconds of totality.
At first I didn't think it was SUCH a big deal. But since this was kind of a once in a lifetime experience I agreed that we should opt for the best possible position.
The skies were clear and we drove a bit more than an hour from Boise to Huntington. Although there were plenty of vehicles on the road, traffic was light. Once we arrived at the Huntington exit you could see the cars lined up on the side on the road and the population of this small town of 550 increasing with exponential growth.
Hot pink and neon yellow poster boards offering driveways and parking spots for camping and/or just parking (starting at $100) to be able to watch the TOTAL ECLIPSE.
But I wasn't looking for the crowds or a party. I was looking for something with a view and something with quite a few less people!
Then I found it...
We were heading to Huntington, Oregon - dead center on the belt of the Great American Eclipse. With 2 minutes and 9 seconds of totality.
At first I didn't think it was SUCH a big deal. But since this was kind of a once in a lifetime experience I agreed that we should opt for the best possible position.
The skies were clear and we drove a bit more than an hour from Boise to Huntington. Although there were plenty of vehicles on the road, traffic was light. Once we arrived at the Huntington exit you could see the cars lined up on the side on the road and the population of this small town of 550 increasing with exponential growth.
Hot pink and neon yellow poster boards offering driveways and parking spots for camping and/or just parking (starting at $100) to be able to watch the TOTAL ECLIPSE.
But I wasn't looking for the crowds or a party. I was looking for something with a view and something with quite a few less people!
Then I found it...
Our spot above the Snake River (c)travelincousins.com
We still had a few hours until the eclipse would begin and with the kids sleeping in the back seats and Dave dozing off, I decided to also take a short nap.
Waking up 30 minutes later, we began to set up out tripods and cameras for the event.
Dear Dave had succeeded at my request of purchasing a Solar Filter for my camera while I've been away on this road trip. HOWEVER when I opened the filter I had immediately noticed that the filter was damaged (scratched)!
Neither he nor the salesperson at Samy's Camera had looked over the non-returnable merchandise!!
My heart sunk. I was in shock and overcome with disappointment. I was also rather furious with the camera shop. What was I going to do... There was nothing I could do.
With the little reception that I had, I called the manufacturer and explained the dire situation. To which they were incredibly sympathetic, absolutely offered a refund, but understood that I was not going to be able to take the pictures that I was expecting to be able to take.
Luckily I always carry a second camera (a point and shoot) which is currently a Canon SX620HS.
Waking up 30 minutes later, we began to set up out tripods and cameras for the event.
Dear Dave had succeeded at my request of purchasing a Solar Filter for my camera while I've been away on this road trip. HOWEVER when I opened the filter I had immediately noticed that the filter was damaged (scratched)!
Neither he nor the salesperson at Samy's Camera had looked over the non-returnable merchandise!!
My heart sunk. I was in shock and overcome with disappointment. I was also rather furious with the camera shop. What was I going to do... There was nothing I could do.
With the little reception that I had, I called the manufacturer and explained the dire situation. To which they were incredibly sympathetic, absolutely offered a refund, but understood that I was not going to be able to take the pictures that I was expecting to be able to take.
Luckily I always carry a second camera (a point and shoot) which is currently a Canon SX620HS.
This was not the camera I had planned to shoot with, but it is the camera I shot the Eclipse with (using our solar eclipse sunglasses as a makeshift filter).
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It was time to wake up the kids and start looking at the sun!
And to be perfectly honest, Dominic thought even the beginning of the Eclipse was cool. Where Cosette was less than impressed.
And to be perfectly honest, Dominic thought even the beginning of the Eclipse was cool. Where Cosette was less than impressed.
ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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Staring at the sun (c)travelincousins.com
A plane taking off at the start of the Eclipse (c)travelincousins.com
ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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DIDN'T YOUR MOTHER TEACH YOU NOT TO LOOK UP AT THE SUN! LOL
Wearing our Idaho Eclipse tee shirts - watching the Eclipse in Oregon! (c)travelincousins.com
Wearing our Idaho Eclipse tee shirts - watching the Eclipse in Oregon! (c)travelincousins.com
But then it started to happen. The sun became a crescent of it's former self.
ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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Shadows started to get weird and mini crescents could be found in most tiny spaces. The kids (including Dave) certainly had fun with that!
Casting weird shadows (c)travelincousins.com
Look! It's an Eclipse! (c)travelincousins.com
Little by little the sun disappeared...
ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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The temperature dropped and the daylight gradually disappeared.
Cars lined up for miles - people can't believe their eyes (c)travelincousins.com
Waiting for totality (c)travelincousins.com
All in all it was a very mystical experience. And one that you had to be there for.
The day went dark (c)travelincousins.com
Then IT happened...
And the sun vanished behind the moon.
And the sun vanished behind the moon.
The most amazing thing I have ever seen! (c)travelincousins.com
Dave taking a picture of me taking a picture (c)travelincousins.com
We all stood there in awe and amazement.
THIS WAS THE MOST PHENOMENAL thing I have ever witnessed.
THIS WAS THE MOST PHENOMENAL thing I have ever witnessed.
Corona of the Sun (c)travelincousins.com
THIS WAS AMAZING! (c)travelincousins.com
Let me tell you that we were all speechless and all we could say was that 2 minutes and 9 seconds was too short. We wanted more!
We can't believe what we experienced (c)travelincousins.com
And then it was over (c)travelincousins.com
And just as the moon came, the moon went and things slowly came back to normal. All except us. We were changed. Now that we had a taste of this. We need more!
ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
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Dominic's extreme excitement! (c)travelincousins.com
ECLIPSE 2017 (c)travelincousins.com
We went into town to mail a post card for Dave and to get the commemorative once in a lifetime postmark.
Special one day only postmark (c)travelincousins.com
Then we were back on the road. Heading to Reno (7 hour drive) where Dave would fly out first thing in the morning.
Traffic wasn't bad, but there was definitely a steady flow of Eclipse goers all making there way back to the corners of the world from which they came.
Driving through the Oregon high dessert was rather barren and I suppose caused alarm and an urgency to fill up on fuel. The only gas station in town was BUSY, and the lines for the bathroom were 30 minutes long!
I still had plenty of gas and being the impatient person that I am, I chose to NOT wait in line and to continue to drive.
Traffic wasn't bad, but there was definitely a steady flow of Eclipse goers all making there way back to the corners of the world from which they came.
Driving through the Oregon high dessert was rather barren and I suppose caused alarm and an urgency to fill up on fuel. The only gas station in town was BUSY, and the lines for the bathroom were 30 minutes long!
I still had plenty of gas and being the impatient person that I am, I chose to NOT wait in line and to continue to drive.
Lines at the pumps (c)travelincousins.com
Into Nevada (c)travelincousins.com
Reminiscing all the way. We still couldn't believe what we saw and experienced. The kids were definitely HOOKED. Even Cosette.
The suns rays - all in a day (c)travelincousins.com
Arriving into Reno, we stopped for dinner and then needed to get some rest. It was a LONG day.
At the end of the day I was exhausted! But it was a magical day! (c)travelincousins.com
Now we all know that I am a planner. But I don't think I've ever planned out quite as far as I did yesterday...We are going to experience another Eclipse in totality on April 8, 2024 - destination Northern Maine!
And of course you know that won't be all... I've got BIG plans!
But for now, I've got to hit the road once more and drive 8 more hours. Good news is that I'm pretty sure I'll have wifi and actually be back tomorrow!
Tootles,
-T
And of course you know that won't be all... I've got BIG plans!
But for now, I've got to hit the road once more and drive 8 more hours. Good news is that I'm pretty sure I'll have wifi and actually be back tomorrow!
Tootles,
-T
