2017 Eclipse

Did a four day trip to Michelle OR. We had received reports that because of solar festivals there was a 40 miles traffic Jam after Bend towards Prineville, so were scared. 

Started on Friday. Sushma and Yashwant bhai came to home. She brought a lunch with her. Started at around 2 pm from our home. Car and Van were totally loaded with stuff. Reached at klamath falls at about 10 pm. Stayed that night in motel at Klamath Falls. The hotel room was specious but infested with small insects. Lots of people came to Oregon. Checked at the counter and was surprised to know the price for one night was shot to  $500.00 Very steep!

Started towards Bend in the morning. Took halt at Bend. The Restaurant menu was specially created for Eclipse. 

Mitchell

Surprisingly there was hardly any traffic, seems local police had done a great job of clearing traffic.

Reached to site at 2-3 PM. It was very hot. The EAS had reserved a city park. Setup the tents, cooking arrangement etc. Sushma had brought lot of Indian food.  Arranged telescopes, Binocular mount. Nights were amazingly clear and very dark. Could see milky way. The city Street light close to park, was too bright. That was the only issue. 

Everyone who saw the binocular mount fell in love with it. Many people questioned where I bought it from. 

Next day i.e Sunday just roamed around. Nilima, Sushma and Yashawant bhai went to Painted hills. I stayed back. The local brewery was really good. 

Eclipse

Eclipse was once in a life time event. Sky darkened, temperature dropped, we started shivering. Had to wear sweater. Saw first touch, Baileys beads, Diamond ring and then totality. Simply amazing! 

At totality removed the filters from binocular and telescope.To my Astonishment, I could see the solar mass ejection. I DID NOT EXPECT THAT and hence was a dream come though. 

Everyone was glad to make this long trip.Many people became emotional. 

Sun rays through colander formed eclipse patterns on the ground, this became a popular event. many people took photos. Binocular filters I created from film worked perfectly well. 

Return journey

Because of traffic scare, we had planned to stay one more night in Mitchell. But, very good Traffic experience while coming in, made us rethink of our plan and we took decision of returning on the same day.  We started after lunch and were caught in heavy traffic. We reached to klamath falls at 2 am in the morning. Sushma had made the booking over phone but the hotel did not recognize it.  We stayed the night in parking lot. At about 8 am we started from Klamath falls reached to home at 3 pm.