Total Eclipse of the Sun

With Randy and Theresa on their way home, we settled back into our more solitary life of the past 5 months.  After putting things back in order, we had a light meal, skipped the alcohol, checked out the Ranger campfire program and made it an early night.

Having a rendezvous with our good friend, Steve from nearby Asheville at noon on the other side of the Park, we got up early to knock out our daily hike (this one straight up the Jakes Creek Trail) and get on the road. 

We met Steve when he showed up to view our sailboat, Moonshadow, that was on the market five years ago.  It was love at first sight and Steve and Liz bought the boat and we became fast friends.  Hearty and good-hearted, we have always enjoyed our time together and we were looking forward to our planned Eclipse adventure.

Through a friend’s invitation, Steve had been contracted to stage direct the Eclipse event at Clingman’s Dome in the Great Smokey Mtn National Park.  Rob and I are always ready to jump in to help and came along to do whatever was needed.  Making a preliminary run to the Dome on Sunday, I took a minute to hike up to the nearby section of the Appalachian Trail.  Maybe a future adventure?

We had been invited to camp at the visitor center and were welcomed by the sentry for the local herd of elk who had perched himself on the nearby rock pile.  With the sun setting over the field and students from Roanoke getting ready for their role manning telescopes for the eclipse, I whipped up a spaghetti feast replete with wine and fresh baked derby pie.

The next morning had us rising before the sun to head up the mountain for the big event.  Being given the task of escort and crowd control for the talent coming from the stage, we had great fun meeting all of the brilliant players in the world of solar knowledge and exploration.  From solar physisist Dr. Helen Mason to Japanese astronaut, Soichi Naguchi to Dr. Robert Sneed, Head Chief of the Cherokee Tribe and more, we felt privileged to be a part.

And of course, the ECLIPSE!  I can remember seeing a partial eclipse as a child.  Looking at the crescent shape of the sun through a whole in paper was all I knew to expect.  The programming provided was brilliant and the weather was the same.  Perched on top of one of the tallest peaks in the state, we were well positioned for the best of the event. 

With clouds coming and going throughout the day, the sky cleared the hour before totality and we had the perfect view.  With a dance troupe performing an inspiring interpretive dance and light classical music lifting to the heavens, the sun and moon performed their own dance as 1800 bespectacled faces looked on. 

The sun set all around us, the stars started peeking through when the whistle blew.  Off came my glasses, I looked up and all I could do was gasp and marvel at the spectacular beauty that is our world.  Mesmerized by the visual phenomenon as well as sharing the moment with the people nearby, it all happened far too quickly.  I knew immediately that I had just witnessed a great gift.

And it was over.  Just like that.  The program continued until the final contact left the two celestial bodies back on their separate courses but the crowd dispersed quickly as the glow faded.  Finishing our duties, waiting for transport and the ride back to camp got us back as the sun began to drop in the sky.

 

Rob and I decided to spend another night in our cozy field and bask in the glow of the day.  We wandered out to the visitor center to check out the elk herd grazing there and found they had moved to our field by the time we returned. Another spectacular day had ended and we eased into the night feeling thankful and full.