FEATURE

Eclipse: Our Readers Respond

From the reports we've gotten back over the past 24 hours, it sounds like many of the people who were out watching the eclipse yesterday were stuck in traffic and were unable to share their memories with us. But we're getting reader responses today- and wanted to share them- and some excellent photos with you.

For Jeff Davis, the photography certainly appears to have been worth a 1,200 mile round trip. He captured really great images of the full (top) and engagement ring (below) eclipse phases. Jeff Davis photos, with permission.

Jeff Davis from Whitetails Unlimited traveled 600 miles to see the eclipse- from his home to the World Shooting Complex in Sparta, Illinois. Jeff told us he drove down Sunday and camped there in a very cool Clam screened shelter. Gotta love what he called a "three minute setup for the shelter and cot"- and he had some really sold reviews for the WSC with its 3 linear miles of ranges.

Jeff told us the downside of his trip was, you guessed it, the return. "It took me four hours to go the first 150 miles on the way home," he said, "got in about 2:00 a.m."

Kim Emery, however, had the opposite of the congestion experience with her family's trip from Red Wing, Minnesota to Cameron, Missouri to check out the eclipse. Kim went prepared for heavy traffic and large crowds, packing extra jugs of water, cash, toilet paper, hand sanitizer- even an empty gas can- ready to fill "just in case." Even extra eclipse glasses.

Turns out everyone in Cameron was prepared for their visitors. The Cameron viewing location was just off I-35 with "lots of free parking" ( that's a rarity). In fact, it sounds like the residents of Cameron and their visitors had quite a time together, with everyone visiting, watching the eclipse ("everyone oohed and aahed like it was the 4th of July").

Sounds like a great time, and here's a traveler's tip from Kim: If you're driving by on I-35 and have a need for something sweet, consider hopping off and visiting Sweet Al's Donut Shoppe. Sounds like Cameron (population 9,788) did a great job of not only preparing for company, but making their guests feel welcome as well.

And there were some interesting observations about wildlife from around the country, with the common reports telling of crickets, cicadas and other night critters tuning up when the sun dimmed and temperatures fell.

Author J. Wayne Fears, one of the most astute wildlife observers I know, had some observations from the animals around his home. At the peak of the eclipse (only about 90% in his area), J. Wayne reports "the crows in the mountains around our house sounded off, and as the light increased and the temperature rose, they became silent."

He reported the same thing happened with the roosters at a neighbor's farm. But the most interesting thing he reports concerned bluebirds. He has bluebird houses in his backyard, but "nesting is now over and the bluebirds only use the houses to get in during heavy rain and later during cold nights."

At the peak of the eclipse, however, "the bluebirds were fighting for the opportunity to perch on top of the houses." A few, he reports, also went inside.

Seems the eclipse left a lasting mark on many of us...so keep those reports coming.

--Jim Shepherd

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