OT: Eclipse, who’s going?

[mtb_frk]

I’m really torn about going. It’s about 2.5 hours of driving on a normal day for me to make it to the totality area. Reading articles about how crazy the traffic will be makes me kind of happy I don’t have any plans that I am committed to. But also, to experience it, probably very awe inspiring. Major FOMO happening already.

[GregL]

It's a 30 second walk from my office to the front door of my building, so I'm going . The ride home may be interesting. I live and work near the intersection of I90 and I81. There could potentially be several hundred thousand additional travelers in that area Sunday and Monday. May be a good day to commute on my bike (sticking to residential streets).

Greg

[572cv]

Looks like it is going to be clear here in NW Vermont pretty much directly under the center of this thing. That being the case, I'll have to get some deck chairs and cushions out of the basement and bring them outside, and we'll set up for the show with ginger beers on the patio and watch the heavens. The local radio station is going to play Claire de Lune ! It should be very cool, not even including the fact that the temperature is supposed to drop 4 degrees in a few moments while the event is in progress. I'm not just going, I'm there .

[steelbikerider]

I will be in my son's backyard just north of Austin directly in the path of totality. Just hope the weather clears.

[p nut]

2.5 hours of driving? No brainer. Do it. I drove 5+ hours for the last one in 2017. I’d drive 10 hours for it. It’s amazing. It’s more than just the moon blocking light for a couple minutes. I don’t want to oversell it. But it was one of the most impactful moments in my life.

And I’m referring to path of Totality. Not 99% coverage. It’s not the same.

[Likes2ridefar]

It’s around 65 to 70% coverage in my area and I doubt I’ll bother to step outside. I’m apparently one of the few that has really no interest or excitement in this. It occurred just last year here nearly dark, exciting.

[Baron Blubba]

Shenandoah National Park will get 80-90% coverage. I live around the corner from the entrance, so will probably ride up to an opportunistic overlook and see it from there.

[mtb_frk]

Reading some threads on Reddit, people were talking about the 2017 eclipse and it taking 3 or so hours to get to where they were going to watch it, but 10-12 hours to get home.

Here it’s like 98-99%, that extra 1% makes all the difference though.

[sjbraun]

Driving from Tucson to Temple, TX tomorrow. Forecast looks iffy. Fingers crossed.

[makoti]

Originally Posted by mtb_frk

Reading some threads on Reddit, people were talking about the 2017 eclipse and it taking 3 or so hours to get to where they were going to watch it, but 10-12 hours to get home.

Here it’s like 98-99%, that extra 1% makes all the difference though.

It really does. It is all or nothing.
I'm driving from Va to Ohio to Alliance, which will have about 99%, then Monday morning driving somewhere. Maybe north to Erie, maybe west to the middle of the state. Depends on what it looks like Sunday night/Monday morning. No matter where I go, it'll be a 90 min drive (normally). I'm leaving 4 hours to get there.

[Ozz]

If you've never done it....do it. It's pretty cool.

I've seen two...in 1979 my HS took a bunch of us (nerds) over to Yakima, WA to watch it....very cool.

When the 2017 eclipse came around I wanted to make sure my boys saw it...luckily I have a sister that lives in OR and in the shadow path....we stayed at her place and made a weekend of it....successfully avoiding the crowds! We took the long way home with stops in Hood River for beer & pizza, crossed the Columbia at Maryhill and saw the roadside attraction Stonehenge, and did some wine tasting too!

Go early....find a good spot to stay (camping or otherwise) and don't be in a rush to get home....just enjoy the spectacle.

[austex]

I'm in central Texas near Kerrville for it, but weather forecast is iffy. Saw 2017 in Nebraska.
Will visit family while here, so not a total lost trip if clouded out.

[Seramount]

AUS is in the path of totality, so I'll go out in the front yard and look at it, but at the moment, the forecast is for overcast skies. so, it may not be a life-changing event...we'll see.

my next door nabe is traveling 100 miles to a place that will have triple the totality time and booked an airbnb for $1200...unfortunately, she'll get overcast skies there too.

a TxDOT site said to expect travel times on major roads to be 3-5x normal, oof. another said traffic could rival the Hurricane Rita evacuation which left thousands stranded in gridlock conditions for 12+ hrs. eff that...

[sw3759]

live and work in fort worth so pretty much right in the path.my job involves alot of driving in the dfw metroplex and my employer has warned us to treat it like halloween and be stay off any roads during the event..

[David in Maine]

We’re driving 3 plus hours up to Houlton, ME to experience totality. My wife found a friend of a co worker who is letting us pitch our tent in his garage. Excited for the adventure! Weather is looking perfect.

David