Journey to the center of Maine Part 3: After

[2naSalit]

Part 3: After

The spectacle of a total eclipse is, as they say, very different from witnessing the event outside the path of totality. For one, since I was in a 90% zone for the total eclipse in 2017, I was able to compare a couple things like the Snake Effect thing, I think that only happens in the path of totality; and do the birds sing or not? In the 90% zone I witnessed bald eagles and osprey go to trees and roost quietly until the darkness passed. In the path of totality we saw the birds rush to their "places" and when it was in totality they all called out with all their might, it was loud. And the wind across the ice stopped.

And the visuals, sorry I couldn't capture the Snake thing, it was pretty cool.

The best shots from the event

Once again



As it moves out of position

Southern edge/Greenville


Receding Shadow



A Closer Look at That



Shadow Receding Under the Sun



Some perspective



All Done



Time to put the glasses back on



And then I was back to looking for the snakes again for the next ten seconds. But walking back to the bar and grille we were kind of anchored at, the eclipse was still in progress so the trees provided us with updates in multiples







Amazingly also, my whole stay was fun and had no unpleasant events once I actually got there. I even missed earthquakes that would have extended my unhappily lengthy stay at notable airport both ways... guess I am still able to keep one step, in this case a couple hours, ahead of those!

I made it home safely hopping over different storms crossing the nation, thankfully north of a big mess of tornadoes. The wonderful sight waiting for me at my destination was a beautiful newish moon, the slightest crescent such that you could see an illumined outline around the earth's shadow mimicking the eclipse in the same portion of the sky some 30 hours later while Venus shone brightly beneath.

[Mousetoescamper]

1. Splendid!

[2naSalit]

5. Thanks!

[yorkster]

2. Very intriguing series of images.

Thanks especially for the "multiples" if I used your term correctly. During the eclipse we saw very similar images on our garage door. It was the partial eclipse causing strange shadows from the large white pine at the end of the driveway. We couldn't figure out why, but the effect was as if the pine needles were curved. I didn't get any pictures, but yours are excellent. In southern coastal Maine so only a partial here, but still neat to experience.
The quality of light was very eerie. - cold almost.

[2naSalit]

6. The light does get eerie rather quickly.

I grew up around northern Casco Bay... Brunswick/Bowdoinham/Harpswell. Hadn't been back in decades, I forgot how much I like it there until I saw it again. Feels like home somehow, even up in the hills with the landlubbahs.

[yorkster]

8. Maybe you should come back or

visit more often.

[2naSalit]

14. I need to find...

A different way of getting there. I flew this time and got stuck at a major airport for almost 30 hours. I hate flying and I hate airports.

If I felt safer doing it solo, I'd drive. Used to do it all the time but now I'm old and I don't know...

It's different out on the road these days.

[yorkster]

15. Yes it is, sad to say.

If you do happen to come back give us Mainers - even the recent ones - a heads up.
Take care and again, thanks for those lovely pix.

[2naSalit]

16. Thanks...

I will give a better announcement next time. Might be later this year, I would like to come back when the weather is nicer and do more touring. I grew up there and going back after all this time felt good, makes me want to go back again soon.

I'll figure it out, I might be moving to a different unit - notice will be kind of short, then I can be sure of what else I'll be doing and when. The moving thing is a long, strange trip but would be great when it finally happens.

[yorkster]

17. Sounds good. All the best and here's to future plans.

[MiHale]

3. Great photos...

Thanks! I remember seeing those shadows through the trees in other eclipses…brought back the memories.

[2naSalit]

7. It was exciting...

Lots of people were making noise too, lots of people energy. The town was happy, they had a crappy winter season and this was like an unexpected boost for them.

I noticed that I felt a tingling all over my body for about half an hour after the totality part was over. I have seen several partials but I don't recall ever being in a total solar eclipse. Glad I went.

[MiHale]

10. Been in one total, this one we were over 90%...

80-90% clear skies .. story for another day. Boring greenhouse building tome.

[bucolic_frolic]

4. In regards to the eclipse, when in human history did we learn that looking at it

causes blindness? I mean, whole populations didn't go blind that I ever read.

[2naSalit]

11. I have no idea...

What the answer is, but it does make you wonder.

[bucolic_frolic]

13. ChatGPT answer

"The understanding that looking directly at a solar eclipse can cause blindness has been recognized for centuries, dating back to ancient civilizations. Historically, there are records suggesting that ancient cultures such as the Babylonians and the Greeks were aware of the risks associated with looking directly at solar eclipses. However, the specifics of when this knowledge was first discovered are not well-documented.

One notable account is from the Greek historian Herodotus, who wrote about the Battle of Halys in 585 BCE. According to Herodotus, the soldiers involved in the battle stopped fighting when a solar eclipse occurred, as they interpreted it as a sign from the gods. This suggests that even in ancient times, people understood the unusual nature of solar eclipses and may have been aware of the dangers of looking directly at them."

[OAITW r.2.0]

9. If you hadn't come up, the Skippa and I would probably have not gone to Greenville.

So, we thank you for that!

[2naSalit]

12. And...

If you hadn't come to my rescue, I may not have gone there either!

So I thank you for that!