But you know what? I bet that IS him!

(do you think this will make him post himself? That's what I'm trying to do.)

I'd always kinda pictured Zen as looking glatt-ish but sounding like Hugh Jackman.

:rolleyes:

Pay attention, people.

Okay, getting close to the Main Event.

Totality was due at 6.37 am.

It was obviously necessary to pull an all nighter. I had strategic naps the day before, then at 11pm had an energy drink, then around midnight started a carefully planned session of recreational pharmaceuticals. I had some :luv: and some :rainbo: and then some :flower: and even some :nuts:, spread out over six hours, so that by dawn, my altitude was at a personal best and may have given Felix Baumgartener a run for his money. :D PM if you want full details..

So, I dressed warm - temp in the mid teens, I think, but it gets COLD during an eclipse - and went down by the lake side. I found a nice little spot about ten feet back from the shore, with the sky brightening in the east across the lake, and set up.

I had my camera on a tripod about four feet to my left, set to take a picture on automatic every 30 seconds.

Dawn twilight:

Attachment 41936

First peep of sunrise:

Attachment 41937

The eclipse was already underway by this time, with the moon moving from the top left part of the sun, as shown in this excellent shot by Ben Cooper:

Attachment 41938

Soon the sun was little more than a crescent, but alas my little camera wasn't really up to the job:

Attachment 41939

Soon, the sun became a slim crescent, a sickle, a sliver :

Attachment 41940

Then one last peek of light...

Attachment 41941

Then ...

Attachment 41942

BBAAANNNGGGGGG!!!!!!
As Someone - my campmates deny everything ;) - let off a 2&1/2 inch firework mortar shell to salute the moment, and this instant was burned into my memory.

Attachment 41943

My camera really didn't do too well, here are some other people's photos.

Attachment 41944

Attachment 41945

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You can clearly see the pale grey disc of the moon with the fleecy corona streaming out. There was a planet - looked like Venus - above and to the right. The light is strange, soft and silvery.

Words just don't cut it. See one for yourselves.

Back to my camera:

Attachment 41951

I was a tad to the right of my camera, so for me the eclipse was perfectly framed between those two dead trees.

After barely two minutes:

Attachment 41952

The fire returns!

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Gradually, the sun came back, the warmth returned.

Attachment 41955

I sat meditating for a while, then, under the waxing gibbous sun, did the obvious thing.

Attachment 41956

Yeah, that's me, enjoy it.

I swam, came ashore, meditated until the eclipse was fully over. I did a fair bit of psycho-magic head work during this time.

Eventually, I took all my gear back to my tent, and wandered through the festival to the beach area, not speaking a word. One chap tried to talk with me "wasn't that great?" etc, but I used signs to show I wasn't in speaking mode due to my mind being totally BLOWN. Another guy saw this and trotted over to give me a hug and a pat on the back. :) He understood. :lol:

I wore bathers this time, and went for a long swim, resting on a platform on the lake made of shipping pallets fixed in dead trees. Clear light, beautiful location, rippling water ... heavenly.

Eventually I swam back to shore and wandered back to my tent, had some fruit, and - having not spoken for about three hours post-eclipse - rejoined my camp mates.

We spent the rest of that day chilling out in the shade, having the occasional swim, and enjoying ourselves. There was :bong: and champagne and scotch-and-coke. They had a watermelon that had bourbon in it, but the bourbon had about 5% hash oil in it! Did I mention one of these crew buys whippits five cartons at a time? (That's 1,800 bulbs, lazybrain :p: ). There was some more :rainbo: and towards dusk four of us went for a stroll up the hill with a cocktail, that was mostly champagne.

Shortly after sunset I went to bed, slipped off into trippy dreams with trance-techno from the sound stage leaking in.

One of the most amazing experiences I've ever had. I'm buzzed just writing about it.

You did well, Z, in planning, documenting, and having a memorable trip.

I've only been in one total eclipse, many years ago, but still vividly remembered.
Ours was also in the early morning.
(Do all total eclipses happen at that time of day ?)

We had previously heard that birds stop singing.
But not ours. They seemed to be calling one another even more.
As you say, the lighting is quite unusual, and totality doesn't last long.


So.... Hooray for Z, and with Pic's too ! It really did happen.

Eclipses can happen anytime during daylight hours. I saw one in 2002 that was about an hour before sunset.

giggles ;)

Zen... :haha:

wow. just- wow.

so cool, all of it-worthy of a DeadHead----actually BEYOND worthy as you had to face actual wildlife (chuh-"timid" or not, I am NOT getting into ANY water with ANY sort of croc or gator anywhere near it. Example: I might take a chance and swim in a lake in Maine but no way am I swimming in any Florida puddle) but I digress----

that was awesome and it seems life affirming for you. Isn't nice when the Universe gives presents like that? and I'm so glad to see the back of your, well....back. But again, I would NEVER get in that water. It looks like it has a very squishy bottom like you're walking on raw eggs. I can only stand sugary-white sands in my lakes. No muck. But see, I"m a wuss. I also would've required an outlet for my blowdryer. ;)

Beautiful country-so wild looking. Now: come on. Let's see your eyes!

PS ---- just to expand on my muck obsession: when I go to maine my uncle dumps a huge truckload of pure white sand into the water around their dock for me. Aren't I the little princess?



PPS - that was also years ago when we actually spent 99% of our time IN the water. What can I say? I just don't like muck.

Zen, you are the gummiest!

wait...Zen, you are the Zenniest!

Just. Wow. Dude.

Told ya! James Franco! :D

I'm with Tribly on this one. I can deal with muck if I have to, but that's not a lake you are swimming in, that's a swamp. You need a machete to swim through that stuff.

Of course, if it's really hot, you don't have much choice.