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Eclipse.....

thebajarunner - 4-3-2024 at 03:26 PM

So, who is going?

My daughter and i drove down to KM 100 in 1991 for the great Baja event.
It was magnificent....truly a life changer
Now we do not miss them.

Going to San Antonio, which is looking like a bum choice right now
Prediction- Clouds
Should have gone to Durango or P.V.

[Edited on 4-3-2024 by thebajarunner]

David K - 4-3-2024 at 03:34 PM

Why not Mazatlan, almost dead center under the path? I hear they make Pacifico there? LOL

AKgringo - 4-3-2024 at 03:42 PM

I wonder what it will be like here in La Paz?

[Edited on 4-3-2024 by AKgringo]

BoenBaja - 4-3-2024 at 05:33 PM

At lands end there will be ~95% totality. We’re in Texas right now, between Abilene and Dallas Ft Worth. Will be in Mena Arkansas for the 6-7-8-9 but it looks like it’s gonna be a little cloudy.

stillnbaja - 4-3-2024 at 05:45 PM

Eclipse Party at Costco BYOB!

RFClark - 4-3-2024 at 06:33 PM

AKgringo - 4-3-2024 at 06:38 PM

I have a dental appointment tomorrow, and depending on what her schedule is for this week, I might be able to make that party!

Remembering the 1991 Eclipse in Baja

David K - 4-3-2024 at 09:15 PM

A long ago Baja Amiga and Nomad, 'M' (Michelle) sent me photos she had of the '91 eclipse she witnessed with Graham...

That was one of the first pages I made for my new (in 2000) website... along with her other interesting photos at El Tomatal (Baja's E.T.) and other adventures...

https://vivabaja.com/eclipse/

See the other pages I made for her, and for and from others, on page 2 of VivaBaja.com: https://vivabaja.com/davidslinks/

thebajarunner - 4-5-2024 at 04:28 PM

Such great memories from way back
Baja authorities were convinced that the peninsula would be overwhelmed with visitors
The decal pictured above was supposed to be given, by reservation, and only those with it affixed to the vehicle could pass the "Eagle" monument at the state line
When we got there the booth was empty and we grabbed a handful of the stickers, just for fun.
Our spot off the carreterra at exact midpoint had perhaps 30 or 40 spectators.
Heading back North I did pass a string of about 20 vehicles heading up the highway, somewhere below Lorteto (In the mid-pack was a Federale chugging along, but at close to 100 mph I was in no mood to quite passing the train of slow pokes)
They worried about running out of gas
Tanker trailers on blocks were sitting idle along the highway, untended. I always wondered how much of that gas got plundered by the locals.
But it was a great show.
Just hoping for sunny skies as we head to Texas tomorrow
Not looking so shiny at the moment

MontyF - 4-5-2024 at 05:43 PM

I had a similar experience in 1991. We even got to our campground north of Cabo 6 days early. Woke up morning of eclipse to high overcast, luckily didn't last long.

I just got back from Gonzaga. We can't figure out why its so crowded but eclipse viewers could be contributing.

Memorial experience.

Maderita - 4-5-2024 at 06:07 PM

⚠️! AVISO DE ULTIMA HORA !⚠️
A petición de los hoteleros, se suspende el eclipse total en Mazatlán por que los turistas no quieren oscuridad mientras están en la playa.

⚠️! BREAKING NEWS ALERT ! ⚠️
At the request of hoteliers, the total eclipse in Mazatlán is suspended because tourists don't want darkness while on the beach.

surabi - 4-5-2024 at 10:23 PM

It's going to be a two-edged sword for places in the total eclipse path. For sure hotels, Airbnbs and campgrounds are going to be booked out, but traffic is going to be horrendous, and infrastructure is going to be strained to the max.

JZ - 4-5-2024 at 10:59 PM

Quote: Originally posted by surabi

It's going to be a two-edged sword for places in the total eclipse path. For sure hotels, Airbnbs and campgrounds are going to be booked out, but traffic is going to be horrendous, and infrastructure is going to be strained to the max.

It's not a two-edged sword. Lol.

It's no different than any other popular event, e.g. sporting events, etc. It is fantastic for the local economy and the locals who get to experience it.

surabi - 4-6-2024 at 10:34 AM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ

It's not a two-edged sword. Lol.

It's no different than any other popular event, e.g. sporting events, etc. It is fantastic for the local economy and the locals who get to experience it.

Not so. Niagara, Ontario, which is normally a popular tourist town, has declared a state of emergency for the eclipse, which will facilitate better emergency services for the hugely increased number of people anticipated. And not all locals consider a million people descending on their town to be "fantastic".

https://theconversation.com/niagara-pre-emptively-declares-a...

[Edited on 4-6-2024 by surabi]

RFClark - 4-6-2024 at 02:36 PM

I’ll post pictures from COSTCO if I remember to take any and if it’s clear!

I’m surprised Ottawa hasn’t planned to have the “First Nations” assembled around the Centennial Flame firing arrows at the “Dragon trying to devour the Sun” to drive it off!

surabi - 4-6-2024 at 03:11 PM

You think portraying modern day First Nations people as backwards savages who don't understand science is funny?

RFClark - 4-6-2024 at 04:30 PM

No, I was likening the Government in Ottawa to the Chinese Emperors of old. They felt that the appearance of action was necessary to calm the “peasants” even if the action was only token.

The First Nations run casinos a very technology intensive endeavor. I would have said the Canadian Military but I wasn’t sure if they were allowed sharp pointy things under the current regime.

AKgringo - 4-6-2024 at 04:52 PM

I just found out that one of my dental appointments will pretty much happen during the same time frame as the eclipse!

Salsa - 4-7-2024 at 11:53 AM

It will be like Y2K

Don

surfhat - 4-7-2024 at 01:35 PM

I had the privilege to experience the 91' full solar eclipse on my property on the East Cape.

We had an astronomy group stay on our property from north of Santa Cruz, Ca, who camped for a few days and set up several cams to look through focused on several planets. The rings of Saturn were the absolute bomb, for me at least.

The atmosphere quivering over the landscape was another revelation.

I spent most of the time of the eclipse on my back on the ground with my binoculars and the appropriate filter in place.

I hope other Nomads can experience a similar eclipse at some point in their lives.

I still have a number of photos somewhere that this group of astronomers took while on our property.

My tech skills are in the dinosaur category. One of these days....

My local Encinitas library is holding a gathering tomorrow for the eclipse and providing the necessary filters to protect our vision. Totality is far to the East, but even a taste of what I had in 91 will have to suffice.

If one is lucky enough to be in the full eclipse regions, you are in for a show like no other. The vibrating atmosphere alone is worth any effort. Try to find a place where you have miles of landscape to witness the shadow moving across the vibrating landscape.

The absolute quietude at noon time that comes with the birdlife submitting to the sudden change is also revelatory. Zen-like fits. It is that magical of an experience.

Peace and love for Baja goes out to all Nomads. I have no doubt we all feel the same on that alone, is not much else. haha

AKgringo - 4-7-2024 at 01:44 PM

I am amazed at how many people I have talked to here in La Paz that are not even aware that it is happening tomorrow. I have not seen any special viewing lenses available, does anyone know of a place to get one here?

I will be flat on my back in a dentist's chair during most of it but I may get a break to look up at some time.

[Edited on 4-7-2024 by AKgringo]

chippy - 4-7-2024 at 03:29 PM

I'm in Durango now and heading to Canatlán, Durango tomorrow a.m.
We'll be in the path of totality :thumbup:

JDCanuck - 4-7-2024 at 06:03 PM

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

I wonder what it will be like here in La Paz?

[Edited on 4-3-2024 by AKgringo]

91% in La Paz at close to 11 am
https://www.timeanddate.com/eclipse/in/mexico/la-paz?iso=202...

David K - 4-7-2024 at 06:15 PM

My goodness... unless you are in totality, it will just seem like a cloud passing in front of the sun, dimming and cooling for a few minutes. I bet if you turn on YouTube, you will find a live feed from the best location to see the corona.

I remember the '91 eclipse quite well... in Vista, CA where I was working at an irrigation and plumbing store... I stepped out (maybe it was my lunch break) and experienced the darkening and cooling with about 75% coverage then... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_eclipse_of_July_11,_1991...

surabi - 4-8-2024 at 10:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by David K

My goodness... unless you are in totality, it will just seem like a cloud passing in front of the sun, dimming and cooling for a few minutes.

Wrong. I'm in a 96% zone and it isn't at all like a cloud passing over, it's a very different kind of light. And it's been going on for much longer than "a few minutes" and it's only about 50% covered at the moment.

4x4abc - 4-8-2024 at 12:21 PM

looked great in La Paz

eclipse.jpeg - 27kB

surabi - 4-8-2024 at 12:29 PM

Clever. You should have looked for a slightly rounder avocado, though.

4x4abc - 4-8-2024 at 02:00 PM

I wanted to make it easier for the not so bright.

BoenBaja - 4-8-2024 at 03:00 PM

4 minutes 7 seconds of totality in Mena AR!

mtgoat666 - 4-8-2024 at 03:20 PM

Quote: Originally posted by 4x4abc

looked great in La Paz

Nice snapchat filter.

chippy - 4-8-2024 at 03:26 PM

INCREDIBLE in Durango!!!! Photos later.

digcolnagos - 4-8-2024 at 05:54 PM

I am now oh-for-three on total solar eclipses. Clouds, again. Next time, I will go to La Paz.

stillnbaja - 4-8-2024 at 06:27 PM

watching the eclipse sept 10, 1923

[Edited on 4-9-2024 by stillnbaja]

JZ - 4-8-2024 at 07:39 PM

My home town in Ohio was directly in the path. My brother didn't need to leave his house to see the diamond ring.

[Edited on 4-9-2024 by JZ]

mtgoat666 - 4-8-2024 at 08:14 PM

Quote: Originally posted by JZ

My home town in Ohio was directly in the path. My brother didn't need to leave his house to see the diamond ring.

While you could watch the eclipse without leaving the house, through a window or skylight, it is often a better experience to go out in the yard to view it…

[Edited on 4-9-2024 by mtgoat666]

JZ - 4-8-2024 at 08:27 PM

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by JZ

My home town in Ohio was directly in the path. My brother didn't need to leave his house to see the diamond ring.

While you could watch the eclipse without leaving the house, through a window or skylight, it is often a better experience to go out in the yard to view it…

[Edited on 4-9-2024 by mtgoat666]

'"House" in the broader sense. He has an eight acre spread in a suburb of Columbus.

My boys grew up racing RZR's down the 1/4 mile driveway in the summers.

[Edited on 4-9-2024 by JZ]

pacificobob - 4-9-2024 at 07:01 AM

I grew up on a cattle ranch. I don't think I've ever heard a suburban home site in Ohio refered to as a "spread". I am , however, suitably impressed by the wealth of the privileged classes of the Midwest.

La Paz....That was it?

AKgringo - 4-9-2024 at 09:38 AM

I watched a total eclipse from Grass Valley in 2012, where we were right on the edge of totality. It was a unique experience, although it did not last very long.

I left my dentist's office right about mid-way through the event, but did not have any dark Lense to watch the sun. I was hoping for a similar darkening, and cooling that I had experienced in 2012, but it was more like a cloud passing over the sun as David described it.

[Edited on 4-9-2024 by AKgringo]

thebajarunner - 4-9-2024 at 11:34 AM

Just got home from San Antonio
Most of Texas was a wipeout
We drove north to Fredericksburg and saw the start
Also saw the oncoming clouds
For the next 45 minutes we chased blue sky across the hills of Texas, finally ended up just out of Llano and had fantastic skies,
(with brief scuds of clouds going across to make it even more interesting)
My daughter whispered, amid the tears "Dad it never gets old.....but Baja 1991 was still the all time best" She was only 17 at the time.
Ah the majesty of this epic event of nature...
Alsready booking Spain for 2026....if I last that long

Marc - 4-10-2024 at 06:44 AM

I watched the partial eclipse using a pinhole sitting in my living room window in San Francisco.

David K - 4-10-2024 at 08:57 AM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner

Just got home from San Antonio
Most of Texas was a wipeout
We drove north to Fredericksburg and saw the start
Also saw the oncoming clouds
For the next 45 minutes we chased blue sky across the hills of Texas, finally ended up just out of Llano and had fantastic skies,
(with brief scuds of clouds going across to make it even more interesting)
My daughter whispered, amid the tears "Dad it never gets old.....but Baja 1991 was still the all time best" She was only 17 at the time.
Ah the majesty of this epic event of nature...
Alsready booking Spain for 2026....if I last that long

Super... lucky you, and to be with your daughter both times, too!

pacificobob - 4-11-2024 at 06:09 PM

Did we loose any BN folks to the rapture?

AKgringo - 4-11-2024 at 06:40 PM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob

Did we loose any BN folks to the rapture?

Some of us are negotiating for better terms.

RFClark - 4-11-2024 at 06:41 PM

PB,

We had a small (40A) spread and ran 10-20 head of cattle in the hills behind Malibu back in the late ‘70s and ‘80s. Never considered ourselves part of the “privileged class”! The guy we sold to ran it as a wedding destination until it burned down in the last fire. He was part of the privileged cla$$!

The view of the eclipse from COSTCO’s parking lot was great!

[Edited on 4-12-2024 by RFClark]

elgatoloco - 4-17-2024 at 06:32 PM

We saw the Total Solar Eclipse in the front yard of a friends 40 acre ranch outside of Killen, TX. We had met them when we were in Fairbanks in 2017 for the Aurora and they invited us for the Eclipse and we accepted and stayed in touch. All morning and at first contact there were clouds passing by and the sun would disappear and reappear giving a completely different view then the others we had seen. We all were prepared to be skunked due to cloud cover. About 2 minutes before totality the clouds were gone and the view was epic. Baileys beads, diamond ring, corona (not the beer) were all grander due to the high levels of solar activity. We had rented an RV and did a big circle 16 day 3,400 mile road trip out and back and saw a lot of new and old sights along the way. We are trying to get to Spain if we can but definitely booked for 2027 Luxor and 2028 New Zealand. Total Eclipse never gets old.

elgatoloco - 4-17-2024 at 06:37 PM

Quote: Originally posted by thebajarunner

Yes! Tears. Lucky you.

I missed 1991 due to GF at the time suffering a compound fracture of her leg two days before departure.......in the back of my mind I think I never forgave her or mostly myself :saint:

Been trying to make up for it ever since. The fact that we got to drive to this one and the one in 2017 is special. Your daughter can light a candle for you in 2044.

StuckSucks - 4-18-2024 at 12:48 PM

We watched the '91 eclipse on the East Cape, pre-human pollution.

We were in position for this eclipse, exactly on the center line, close to the Mexican border and north of Eagle Pass, TX. Shared the location with zero other humans. The skies were mostly cloudy but we got to see the eclipse progress during brief times between clouds.

IMG_4953.JPG - 101kB

chippy - 4-18-2024 at 03:52 PM

A photo from Canatlán,Durango near the presa. More to follow.

[Edited on 4-18-2024 by chippy]

chippy - 4-18-2024 at 04:30 PM

12:14 pm.

[Edited on 4-18-2024 by chippy]