The Great American Eclipse - Monday August 21, 2017

Well, Today is the day!   Camping is different from what I remember, or perhaps it is the body changes and memory lapses I have experienced since my halcyon camping days.  Slept like a rock the first two hours, tossed and turned for the next three hours, then dozed fitfully, changing sides and readjusting my makeshift pillow each 30 minutes for the next three hours.  At 6:00 I deemed that I had experienced enough, not to mention the call of nature that was frantically demanding my attention.  There is nothing elegant about a stiff old man crawling out of a one-person tent and trying to stand up on dew soaked grass!

Once upright and relieved, I strolled to the house and started the coffee.   Caffeine deprivation relief in sight, I enjoyed the sunrise over the plains.  There is nothing like a clear sky over the open fields of corn and beans to stimulate a morning sunrise.  Coffee made, the household is beginning to stir.  The three resident dogs, Markey, Henry and Denali "Dolly" are all old, or blind, or deaf, or lame, or all of the above but adorable and demanding of attention.  Markey particularly reminds me of our own Harry in his need to be right next to someone and finely attuned to any activity in the kitchen, staring up at you waiting for something to drop, ever hopeful of human "error."

As both Dick and Beth have to work today (it really isn't a holiday) Karen, Dell and I are left to mind the dogs and fend for ourselves.  I prepare some poached eggs and toast as we chatter over the plans for the day.  Dell and I head out for a walk after breakfast, walking a couple of miles on the gravel roads, marveling at the height of the corn, the greenness of the beans, and the terrifying speed of the occasional vehicle (almost always a pick-up) speeding down the road past us.  It is warm already and we quickly work up a sweat.

Returning, we set up the gazebo tent to be used for viewing the day's event.  Grandson Logan arrived around 10:00 and daughter Amy pulled in around 10:30.  Research revealed that we would begin to see some eclipse activity in front of the sun around 11:30. Dick returned around 11:00 and Beth retuned about 11:30.  It seems all local businesses were closing for the eclipse, and traffic on the highways was increasing as sun tourists were streaming north to gain some time headed to the prime line of the eclipse. Those viewers on the main line would have about 10 seconds more totality than we at our location.

Much talk this morning about clouds, but they were wispy and clearing as time approached.  We spent the next hour checking on the sun through our eclipse safe eyewear and greeting various relatives who arrived and congregated for the event.  Food was brought in, roast pork for sandwiches, beef and noodles, more pasta salad, chips, etc.  A feast.  At 12:57 CDT, the sun disappeared, darkening the landscape and we all whipped off our glasses.  I dialed Deb on FaceTime and shared my view with her while she sat at breakfast in Alaska.

During the 3 minutes of totality there was so much ongoing change.  Sunset of 360 degrees around the horizon, stars shining brightly, exclamations of wonder, the sun's corona like a bright diamond - and then the bright spot showing as we quickly slip our glasses back on.  We toast the event with what ever is at hand - Dell opted for Glenfiddich, Karen a glass of sweet white wine, I opted for a fizzy Redd's Blueberry Ale.  Some picked beer, some a Jameson's, but all enjoyed the once in lifetime (for most of us) event. 

In the afternoon, Dell, Karen, Amy, Logan and I traveled to CottonMill City park with a pair of kayak and we floated around the lake for a bit.  Very hot out on the water, but we made it with no spills into the drink. 

Back at the house, George and then I, showered and cleaned up. The two of us traveled back into town and did some grocery shopping, stopping on the way and  ordering 4 extra-large pizzas from Papa John's. We journeyed on to HyVee for additional provisions and returned for the hot pizza.  We arrived back at the house, loaded with provisions and Karen made a salad from our supplies; the family again began converging for the end of the day's festivities with the the all American pizza, salad and beer (or wine) to end the Great American Eclipse event.

As heavy rain was threatening, I made the executive decision to break camp and opt for a real mattress and bedding that Beth thoughtfully made up for me in the basement.  As I laid back in the darkness, I looked at my watch - 9:12 PM and I was promptly out like the lights.