It’s Almost Time! 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
Everyone in America knows about the eclipse and everyone in the contiguous U. S. will see at least a partial eclipse, lasting two to three hours. The narrow band of totality is only about 70 miles wide and stretches in a straight line from South Carolina to Oregon traveling at 1500 mph. Halfway through the eclipse, this band will have total darkness and is the only place that will see two diamond rings, the sun’s corona, and 360 degrees of sunset colors, bright planets and stars in a night sky. The temperature will drop and the wind will blow. Our little town sits smack in the middle of that band of totality. And many people are coming.
Tee shirts, viewing glasses to protect our eyes, parties and themed fun activities are all part of the occasion. We won’t be driving anywhere. I’m certain we wouldn’t be able to get out; worse than Fourth of July and Thanksgiving weekends. (Remember, I live in a resort.) We plan to walk down our road to the resort playing field. We’ll pull our stuff in my book wagon and plan to spend the day at the Total Eclipse Party on a blanket with family members from Asheville and Virginia. Normally that would include playing on the large playground, swimming pools, putt-putt, playing in the river, and hiking. But Monday there will also be Bounce Houses, Space Junk Station, tracking station with countdown, face painting, moon pies, and scavenger hunt. In the morning there’s pancakes for everyone who wears wacky tacky pajamas. Bluegrass band and BBQ, and then: at 2:36 in the afternoon, THE event. We will be in total darkness for 2 minutes and 23 seconds.
This is the first time in 99 years a total solar eclipse has traversed the United States coast to coast. The next total solar eclipse to track across the continental U. S. will be in April, 2024. The totality will be from eastern Maine stretching to southwestern Texas. The next total eclipses will be 2045, 2052, and 2078. So, if you are in my age bracket, you will want to see this one.