Just like that…
“I’m thinking about maybe going to see the eclipse next week, its just up the road. Seems silly not to take advantage of it being so close...
...you’ll kick yourself if you don’t!”
Over a mid April weekend last year I did a bit of research and watched a Ted talk by David Baron, a self proclaimed eclipse evangelist. I was intrigued.
If I was going to go, there were a few critical things I’d need, and sure enough it looked like local supplies of the basics - solar glasses - were all gone.
“Before you die, you owe it to yourself to experience a total solar eclipse.”
By 4am Monday morning I found a lady online who had some available, but they had to be picked up by 11am Monday morning from a hotel in the city. This is pretty intriguing, I thought to myself, but….its my last chance, get them or don’t go.
Looking around her website she seemed pretty legit. Dr Kate Russo, a clinical psychologist with a passion for solar eclipses, and very involved in education and research of first timers witnessing eclipses. So I clicked through her online store and bought 3 pairs of the glasses.
I was at her hotel on the Perth Swan River by 9am. With that element, it really felt like I was heading towards an adventure, it was a bit Indiana Jones-ish.
I picked up the glasses at the front desk.
The next hurdle to jump was getting something to cover my camera sensors and lens. Apparently if they aren’t protected they’ll be destroyed by the sun.
A quick call to a local binocular and telescope store scored me one of the very last telescope solar lenses in the state of WA (way too big for my lens). I was pretty sure I could make that work. Did I mention McGyver was my hero back in the day?
With the solar lens and solar glasses securely in hand, and a few days off work approved, I was free to go. A quick stop at the supermarket after work, home to pack Jack and we hit the road early the next morning.
I’d heard on news that traffic was going to be crazy, that there was no food or water in Exmouth, which is where the eclipse was going to cross Australia. I also heard there was no accomodation as everything was booked out and overrun. The media was really sending the message that you were pretty crazy to even head that way, and that if you did, you’d starve, run out of gas and have no water.
But I did. Stocking up on water and food, fuelling up along the way, and knowing I was taking my accomodation with me, it was so exciting to be hitting the road and heading towards something I’d never ever experienced, but that sounded like I really should. At least once.
It was going to be a two day trip so I figured as long as I got past the Shark Bay turn-off in the first day, I had a good chance of reaching Exmouth in time, and would figure out where to stay once I got up there, even if it meant staying out of town.
Traffic wasn’t as crazy as had been predicted, although I was pretty sure there wasn’t a single camper can or caravan for hire available anywhere in Western Australia. They were all on the road, most heading north but quite a lot were also heading south.
The road flowed pretty well and everyone seemed friendly and cheerful when stopped to fuel up at the roadhouses along the way.
A quick overnight stop at Wooramel Station, and I was off before sunrise the next day.
The further north I travelled the more I began to realise just how many people had travelled here from overseas, just for this celestial event. I was really glad I made the decision to go, albeit very last minute.
The town of Exmouth was full of people, there were no rooms available in any of the motels and the campgrounds/holiday parks were overflowing. This was my 3rd visit and there were so many more people than I had seen there on my earlier trips, with many different languages being spoken.
The town council had created a pop-up type campsite in the middle of town, charging an astronomical fee in a dust bowl with a minimum of 3 nights stay. There was a steady stream of campers checking in, so I joined the line. At least I would be close to ground zero, and able to find my spot the next day, with not too much hassle.
The atmosphere was amazing. People were so happy, so friendly, so excited. With the eclipse happening the next day telescopes and camera gear were being set up in the make-shift campground, people were getting their sites all set up so they were well set for the big event.
I set up my tent, made myself comfortable and wandered through town.
There was such an amazing vibe throughout the whole town. Eclipse beer brews were in the local breweries, eclipse t-shirts and other eclipse merchandise was on sale everywhere and people were having a great time.
Back at my little campsite I thought it might be nice to have somewhere other than up in the roof top tent to hang out, out of the dust. It was pretty hot in Exmouth and I think that’s when I really started thinking seriously about potentially adding to my accomodation options.
A couple of beer samplings, two t-shirts and an eclipse burger later, it was time to head back to camp and get ready for the big event the next day. I still had to commit to where I wanted to be to witness the eclipse, and figured I’d need to be set up early to assure myself a good location.
I don’t think I have ever camped amongst quite so many people, ever.
Up early on the big day, my first coffee down, it was time to head out of town and get myself sorted.
Just out of town a bit, away from where the organised events were being held, I joined a few others down on a beach. I found a spot just further up the beach, away from everyone, and with a ton of room for anyone coming along after me, to set themselves up.
Tripods and camera’s out and set up, Go Pro ready to film the light change expected, it was time for another coffee, and time to get comfy.
Now we wait…