Nothing in the past few years that I can think of has caused the kind of hysteria that this year’s “Great American Eclipse” has caused. If by now you haven’t seen all the best images and all the news stories related to the eclipse… have you been hiding under a rock? That said, this is my little corner of the internet and this is my Oregon solar eclipse story.
Whitney and I made a whole weekend of Oregon, first visiting Crater Lake and then exploring the Oregon Coast (Sea Lion Caves and Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area.
The day of, we had intended to visit Depoe Bay, the first landfall of the total eclipse. Unfortunately a heavy blanket of marine layer covered the north coast of Oregon, so we decided not to chance it. At 7:30 we left Yachats for the Oregon interior.
It’s a good thing, too. Depoe Bay stayed covered in fog until the afternoon.
At the fire hall
Driving around Oregon, I wasn’t sure what the plan would be. Blue skies had me feeling good that we were off the coast, but would we end up sitting on the shoulder of some country road?
To our right a wide open field and at the head of it, a local volunteer fire hall. This would be the perfect place. No lines, no paid parking, no crowds. Just a few other people and their picnic blanket.
We settled in and learned where our new friends were traveling in their RV. Next for them was the Olympic Peninsula, where I offered some favorite spots they should make time for, and then they were going to BC and Alberta. I asked how much time they had set aside for the Olympic Peninsula and they answered “whatever!” — the perfect timeframe for travel and exploration!
They took this photo of us, which turned out well.
They also took this one, which Whitney and I had a good laugh at because I definitely look like a blind man.
Whitney is ready with her official Travel Oregon glasses. Our other glasses were not ISO rated, so I used what was left of the solar filter I used to cover my camera lens.
The show begins
We start to lose some light as the moon makes its way across the sun.
Totality
That magic moment when the streetlights come on, the insects start to chirp, a hush goes over the landscape.
Oregon solar eclipse: animated
Getting home
Oregon solar eclipse traffic was certainly as bad as expected. While it was easy getting around before the eclipse, the way home is served by only a few roads. So, we took our time and kept patient. We eventually made it home—at 11:45pm!
Comments (2)
Lovely photos!!!! I watched on TV all day . When it was our turn, the skies opened .Tons of lightning and thunder
Very nice pictures, Mom and I enjoyed them.