Before

I wake early. 4am.
Darkness outside
Prepare to go
On the road
Driving driving driving far

Traffic was smooth for a time
Then we were lucky to reach 10mph
Cars as far as the eye can see
All with the same destination in mind
Totality

The trip is fun
Nieces rowdy
So much food packed
Shame they get bored easily

Almost there

Bits of snow!
Here and there, more and more the further north we go

3 hours to destination

3 hours to destination

3 hours to destination

We’ve reached the destination city!

Cars parking everywhere!
People so excited!
Puppies and children
The weather is incredible!
Warm and sunny!
Pleasant and fine!
The sky is so clear!

Blue as blue can be!

We found a beautiful river!
A perfect spot!
Camping chairs set up!
Solar glasses ready!

The water is flowing so fast, so free
Washing our hands in the piles of snow
Setting up our chairs in the muck

The spot is perfect!

The tree will frame the eclipse in such an epic fashion!

During

Holy shit!
Holy crap!
Incredible!
No words!

Utter darkness and beauty!
A cheer runs through the crowd!
Experiencing totality together!

A crown of ethereal beauty glows,
framing the shadow of a cheeky moon

Such beauty!
Incandescent beauty!

So short! So suddenly bright!

After

The journey is long
So very long
So incredibly warily long

I’ve seen the backs of these cars for three hours now
One hour to travel two miles

Everyone is in a rush to get nowhere

We’re exhausted

Worth it!