Experiencing the Total Eclipse!
Me and my wonky hat waiting for the eclipse to begin. 😉 I’m starting to wonder if I should rename my blog to The Adventures of Me and My Wonky Hat. 😂
As many of you are aware, part of the United States experienced a total eclipse on April 8. The total eclipse cut a path diagonally through the US starting in Texas and finishing in the state of Maine. Because it will be 20 years before the next total eclipse in the US, I wanted to be sure to experience this eclipse in the zone of totality.
Because the closest zone of totality included Arkansas, I thought a road trip somewhere in Arkansas would be a good way to see it. Luckily Little Rock, Arkansas was in the zone. I was able to find a reasonably price AirBnb in Little Rock to view the Eclipse. I had also never been to Little Rock and wanted to see some things there. I joined a Facebook group that discussed details and locations for the eclipse, and it was predicted that traffic would be a major factor in the days prior to the eclipse. In fact, the governor of Arkansas declared a state of emergency prior to the Eclipse. I had no idea what I was getting into if I went to a larger city, but at least there were some places I could walk to see if I needed to.
It turned out that traffic was not much of an issue in most places on my drive from Oklahoma City to Little Rock. In fact, it was a beautiful drive. There were lots of rolling hills, budding trees, and flowers. I stopped to pick up some groceries on the outskirts of Little Rock and headed to my Airbnb where I relaxed for the evening. When I checked in, I was delighted to see decorated solar eclipse cookies waiting for me on a table. I decided to save them to eat starting the day of the eclipse. Everyone at the AirBnb was a little concerned because it was predicted to be cloudy the day of the eclipse - the next day.
I slept in a bit the next morning because traffic was predicted to be crazy. When I woke up, I was happy to see that it was sunny outside and there were only light clouds. It stayed that way until the eclipse was over and we were very grateful.
The AirBnb host had invited several family members to watch the eclipse at her home, and everyone sat in her lovely garden and waited for the eclipse to happen. I had purchased some eclipse glasses and a filter for my iPhone and as soon as the eclipse started, I began taking photos. Perhaps I should have just sat and enjoyed the eclipse from my chair in the garden because many of my pictures turned out less wonderful than I would have liked. I actually did enjoy photographing the garden during the eclipse because it was easy to tell the effects of the eclipse in the garden, plus I do love photographing flowers.
The time of totality in Little Rock was a little over two minutes long, but the process of the eclipse lasted about an hour or two. It was interesting to see darkness settle over the garden. The birds and squirrels suddenly went completely silent. It was like a hush fell over the whole neighborhood. I have to say it was very peaceful and just a touch eerie. When the sunlight appeared again it was as if nothing had happened, and the birds started chirping away once again. The squirrels returned to playing and scrounging for food.
Here are some select photos of the eclipse and the garden before, during, and after the event.
Before the eclipse!
During the eclipse!
Not a great photo, but… 🤷♀️
Afterwards!
I have to say Experiencing the eclipse was fun, but I am not sure if I will travel the world to see the next one unless it is in a place that I already wish to go. I am glad I did it, but there are so many places that I still wish to see and things I still wish to do. Perhaps I can cross a total eclipse off my bucket list. 🌒😁✅