We’ve been pumped for the eclipse ever since this spring when we went to the Faulkner Planetarium in Twin Falls and watched a show on the eclipse.  After watching it, we knew for sure that we didn’t want to miss the experience of being in path of totality, and so on that day we permanent inked in plans to be up in Idaho for the eclipse.

We went up a few days early and enjoyed some fun at home.  There was lots of good food, swimming, and fun.  On Sunday night, eclipse eve, Tim and Suzanne came up and stayed the night with us.  We had a good time visiting and enjoyed having the parentals together.

On Monday, we made the trek up to Mackay Idaho.  Mom got us a sweet hookup with her friend who had a great place away from all the people.  It was a perfect place to watch experience the eclipse.  When we first arrived, there was a pretty good breeze, but once the eclipse was passed around 50%, the breeze completely died and it was eerie still and quiet.  Then the temperature started to drop like it does at dusk.  Then once we entered totality, it was surreal.  The corona of the sun was beautiful and very pronounced with striations of light shooting out and other curling around.  We didn’t take this picture, but it’s the closed to what I remember seeing.

There was a 360 degree sunset/sunrise.  It wasn’t dark like at night and I didn’t see any stars, but planets were clearly visible, much like at an advanced dusk right before it goes dark.  It was an awe inspiring sight.  I think Ashley summed up everyone’s feelings when as soon as the sun re emerged she asked for us to make the eclipse come back.  Two and a half minutes went by entirely too fast.

Tim took this picture.  Bravo!

There were lots of worries about terrible traffic, and luckily for us, those fears weren’t realized.  We hit some minor snags, but nothing terrible.  Most of the traffic seemed to be concentrated from Rigby to Idaho Falls.  From Mackay, we got on the freeway at Blackfoot which was pretty much at the tail end of the really bad traffic.  So all told, I think we had as good of an eclipse experience as anyone could have hoped for.

The next total eclipse that we’re likely to witness will be in August of 2045.  It will pass right over our house and the totality will last 6 minutes.  It’s really strange to think that during that eclipse, we will be an entire generation older.  Ashley and Eliza might have their own two kids, and we’ll be hanging out with their in-laws having a wonderful day.