A warm greetings to everyone. I just wanted to look back to the solar eclipse. Although I didn't consider it to be life altering it certainly was a tremendous celestial event. We made it into quite an adventure since it was a ten hour trip to Linesville, Pa. and the path of totality. Donna, Zari, And I left North Carolina on Tuesday April 2 and traveled to Virginia to do a little hiking and wildflower observing. We spent parts of three days hiking and admiring the Virginia bluebells (Mertensia virginica) which filled the valley of Shenandoah River State Park. Bluebells are such a vivid blue color, rare in wildflowers. The clusters of bell-like flowers dangle on a stem bending towards the large ovate leaves. This plant was once used as a poultice to treat respiratory ailments.
Leaving Virginia on Friday, April 5 we drove to my hometown of Uniontown, PA. Coming across the mountains at Keysers Ridge, we encountered snow and 31 degree temps. This was the first snow we saw this year! We stopped at Friendship Hill, the home of Albert Gallatin who was the Secretary of Treasury under Thomas Jefferson. There are many hiking trails here, one in particular follows along the Monongahela River. It is such a nice hike resplendent with beautiful spring wildflowers. Among the flowers we saw were white trillium (Trillium grandiflorum), Squirrel corn (Dicentra canadensis),and sessile trillium (Trillium sessile). . Please never pick, but just admire and photograph the trillium. This flower takes up to 7 years from seed to flower! Picking the plant will kill it.
After spending the night in the mountains of Fayette County, we got up early and drove to Cedar Creek Park near Belle Vernon. This park has been a longtime favorite of mine for viewing wildflowers. Unfortunately the heavy rains of the past week had turned the gorge into a mud hole. The flowers were not fairing well from the beaten down. A large dumpster was in the middle of the creek just short of the Youghiogheny River. I'm sure it was quite a task to retrieve it.
Sunday morning we walked the Gorge Trail at Ohiopyle State Park. It too is a great wildflower hike. Several white trillium and a few red trillium were blooming. Another favorite Dutchman's breeches (Dicentra cucullaria) were discovered. This interesting flower derives its common name by having the appearance of Dutch pantaloons (pants) dangling on a clothesline.
Finally we started the last leg of the trip, driving 3 more hours to Pymatuning State Park campground in Linesville, PA. We chose this spot because the eclipse was to be in totality for a period of 3 minutes 4 seconds. So, we drove 10 hours total to have the chance to witness this event which may not even be visible if the weather was uncooperative. In fact there historically is only a 32% chance of clear skies.
The campground of 50 sites was full and a sense of excitement was palpable. We set up our tent which had not done used for 15 years! I was unsure how my 70 year old body would like sleeping on the ground. The weather this day was beautiful with a picture perfect sunset over the lake.
After having the mandatory smore over a campfire, we retired to our tent. Unfortunately some folks were shooting fireworks of which our poor dog Zari is not a fan. She shook and panted for a few hours before we were able to fall asleep in our cozy sleeping bags.
Eclipse day arrived not too promising as rain was pelting the tent. Oh, no! I tried to think it was worth the trip even if we didn't get to see the eclipse since it is the best chance I'll ever have.
Donna's sister and brother-in-law, Nancy and Bernard joined us. It was very nice having their company eclipse or not. About 10:00 the rain stopped and it looked like blue sky was beginning to appear. Could we be so lucky?
About 1:00 a few clouds were drifting back into the sky but not enough to obscure what was about to occur.
At 1:09 it began with a small "bit" of the sun blocked. Everyone had their solar glasses on and necks were craned toward the sun. Little by little the shadow of the moon ate away the sunlight.
Just before totality two phenomenoms occurred. First the diamond ring which is the last bright spot(diamond) before the sun is obscured sitting on top the of the corona(ring). This looks like the biggest diamond ring ever! As this disappears Bailey's Beads show up. The beads are circles of light caused by Sun rays beaming through the lunar terrain.
Finally totality! The light now is dusk like darkness. The spring peepers begin peeping in increased volume. Birds began their evening chirping. People clapped and cheered, effected by the strange light. On the western horizon, sunset colors glowed. As the moon covered the sun,the corona became visible, scattered light all around the orb. It is only visible during an eclipse as the sun light is too harsh to see it any other time!
After an all to brief period of totality, the eclipse proceeds in reverse--Bailey's beads, diamond ring and stages of pacman like bites of the sun. About 4:30 it was all over! But it was oh so worth it! Blessed to be able to see this. Was it worth the long drive? You betcha!!!
Thank you for reading this and coming along for the eclipse. It won't be in Pymatuning for another 102 years. See you then!