Start looking for a boondocking site: eclipse (Aug 21 2017)

[profdant139]

It's never too early to plan that trip!

Path of totality

[avoidcrowds]

Sounds like being in the path of totality is much different than even 92%. Glad it was worth the trip for everyone!

So, where will everyone be heading for the 2024 solar eclipse? There are some National Forests along the path of totality, so I may try to get that put into my daytimer. 😉

[obgraham]

We wound up boondocked in a pasture west of Dayville, Oregon. Roads down on Saturday were empty. The farm family we found were most gracious, and we had about 20 other dry campers there.

The total eclipse was fantastic! Amazing how fast it got dark. I had hoped to see the shadow race across the hillsides, but didn't see that.

We let the traffic settle down before leaving, and again, the roads were empty.

What a great weekend!

[BizmarksMom]

We're talking about Texas in 2024! I want to experience totality again.

[All_I_could_aff]

For me, the wife, and 3 kids it was absolutely worth the 1,800 miles round trip (750 each way plus side trips to stay with family when possible on way down and back, plus one nite in Myrtle Beech)

We were right on the line, and saw stars and heard crickets chirping for 2 minutes.

I saw the one in 1979 as a kid, and now my kids have seen one. They already talking about Vermont
2024 where ironically we have other family to stay with

[BizmarksMom]

Totality was awe inspiring. Yes, it did get dark. There was a 360* sunset. I saw Jupiter and Regulus. And the sun's corona was amazing to see!

[avoidcrowds]

For those of you that camped in the Totality area, whatever the state, was it worth it? We had 92% in Denver, and it was somewhat underwhelming. No crickets, no birds behaving oddly.

Did it get much darker than a light overcast would appear?

Sounds like traffic was not as bad as they were forecasting in the Wyoming and Nebraska areas. Any difficulties traveling, or at camp?

[BizmarksMom]

I am in Stanley, Idaho. I will be watching it at 100% totality, along with all of the astronomers in town.

[pnichols]

We'll be watching the eclipse live, outside, at 79% totality in clear blue skies here in the mountains of North Central California.

At just a few minutes later (PST) we'll be watching it live, on the big screen, at 100% totality from a perfect site near Stanley, Idaho via this website: https://www.slooh.com/

The RV will be out in the backyard keeping it's batteries charged. 🙂

[mama_sylvia]

We don't seem to have any traffic problems in eastern Wyoming yet. I've driven past I-25 both yesterday and today and there is more traffic than usual but it is moving. Lots of RVs!

I've reluctantly decideed I'm better off staying home. I didn't get the Winnebago back from repair shop until late Friday afternoon and I never had a chance to even change the bedding, much less load up dishes/pans/toilet paper or change out the current chair for a recliner. (I need one to sleep in.) So I could kill myself rushing to get ready and then drive a new-to-me rig in heavy traffic while I am tired, or I could stay home with my own bed and my own bathroom and see 97% eclipse. I'm still looking forward to our test run but it will be after I have taken my time getting ready.

[pnichols]

It's too late now, but early-on you eclipse chasers could have left the RV at home and booked a seat on one of these instead 🙂 :

http://money.cnn.com/2017/08/18/news/chasing-eclipse-in-the-sky/index.html

[Duke-44]

pushed button 2x

[Duke-44]

I was in Hawaii in April talking to the Cap. of our tour boat. He said he was going to be in Jackson Hole for the eclipse.
Well... so are thousands of others. The problem is that in Jackson and surrounding roads, especially near Teton and YS parks are already packed from regular summer traffic. If you are coming here, do not expect to go anywhere for many hours or even days before or after as the roads do not have the capacity to move the even regular summer traffic well.
On I-15, authorities are planning to turn possibly 3-4 lanes of the 4 lane I-15 of traffic to south bound only.

[pnichols]

Jeff, I'm surprized that your TC isn't equipped with a cellular antenna on the roof and a 12 volt Wilson amplifier inside.

This kind of setup worked for us years ago to get tower service 25 miles north of Plush way out in the OR Outback.

Good luck ... let us know how it went!

[jefe_4x4]

Today is Thursday Aug. 17th. We leave California tomorrow driving north on I-5 angling to the right at Weed to get to the high desert area 50 miles ENE of Bend, OR. The local area TV stations are already predicting traveller DOOM as there are already long lines for gas and other services with some stations already out of gas. There are already several traffic grid locks on secondary roads that rarely see much traffic. This prompted me to put my rear rack on the XTC truck camper and strap down 3-5 gallon jugs of diesel fuel, making our total 49 gallons. At a loaded average of 13-14 mpg, we can get upwards of 637 miles. We're loaded up; the fridge is cooling down; all our traveling/camping gear is loaded, including food/drink and the all important eclipse glasses. A watch. I must remember to take a watch. With a 2:29 minute window, you only get the one chance. There will be no cell phone or internet coverage where we're going and no chance to use Google Earth to hone in on a spot to hole up.

[mama_sylvia]

Y2K, the people in the know were all saying there wasn't going to be a big crash. It was the particularly ignorant members of the public that screamed the sky was falling. (DH is a programmer and explained how the computers had been dealing with third-millenium dates for literally decades, the example he gave was 30-year mortgages.) For the eclipse, the emergency-preparedness people and law enforcement are worried. We are only going a couple of hundred miles, in a motor home, and in separate vehicles so if the traffic is as bad as expected, DH can head home afterwards in the car and leave me to bring the MH home at my leisure. (He has to be at work Tuesday morning.) I also plan to bring along my ham radio equipment for emergency communication if needed.