TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE. I BLACKED OUT IN OREGON. U.S.A.

Total Solar Eclipse

Like a mother breast feeding her baby at a restaurant,

it's free,

it's beautiful,

but never under any circumstances do you stare at it!

August 21, 2017

Seemingly in the middle of no where, which was just a mile from my bush camp, was this little gem of a store that had most anything an early morning cyclist would need, including a couple from the Netherlands who were doing the Trans America bike route to trade stories with.

Already on a high plateau, I knew just ahead was another pass that seemed like a likely viewing spot for the eclipse.

This ever so friendly D.O.T. employee stopped to offer me a ride. With the summit just a couple of miles, i opted out of the lift but couldn't with his insistence turn down the offer of a icy Gatorade. 

Like to chat but eclipse will start @09:20hrs and don't want to be riding in the dark.

Blue Mt Pass.

Much success.

At the summit was this "Sno-Park" (snowmobiling) parking lot with just a half dozen parties staked out. 

Quickly befriended this family from California. All scientific and astronomical equations aside, 

much like myself, 

they've come for the experience.

And it very much seemed like, to broaden the experience band of they're daughters. 

Here we were almost in the centre of totality which lasted just over two minutes.

"in other words, don't need those other words."

 I never worried but wondered what would happen in the darkness till I heard some reassurance on the radio that: 

The Great American Discount Furniture Warehouse 

will be shedding light,

shedding light on savings never seen since the last eclipse.

Well paint my palette blue and grey.

We were deep in the woods here and for a couple of minutes I thought I saw a deer sleeping with a bear.

With this event of global magnitude, thanks to Carol, probably the only thing I learned was to make silhouette crescents from random pin hole options. Wonder if NASA knows this?

Total Solar eclipse

Number One.

See you in 2024

Having come and gone by noon, till then I'm back on the road to Idaho.

JOHN DAY TO AUSTIN JUNCTION, OREGON, U.S.A.

August 20, 2017

A night at the fairgrounds in John Day. 

I originally planned on staying in town and watching the next days eclipse with John and company.

In order to ease my ride to Idaho, I've decided to "ramble on" today. At my pace I'll still will be well within the path of totality and hopefully put another climb behind me.

John Day, Oregon. U.S.A.

I'll join in on breakfast and then not so fast break(ing) away.

How do you like my jersey?

It was a gift from Nicola from the summer she spent in the Yukon. Her side trip to Alaska save me a lot of time trying to cycle......

This is one of many makeshift campgrounds catering to the mounting visitors.

Praire City, Oregon.

Here I'll grab some grub. 

This nice lady shared parts of her journey "around" the U.S.of A. On the road since May 1, she was somewhere six thousand miles plus.

There are a few road side markers that are so ominous to a cyclist. This pretty much means you're going to do some vertical and be prepared to put some up on your bicycle chain. 

In this case close to two thousand feet to the summit of Dixie Pass.

I won't be whistling Dixie.

I'll be hacking and gagging Dixie.

Much vertical success.

I loved this ten kilometre climb, NOT!

High five.

Will end my day stealth camping along a serenading stream.

All was well even when a team of forest fire fighters spotted me and checked to see if I needed anything.

After a breif conversation they gave me the lay of the land ahead (another climb and pass to dream (nightmare) about) and a couple of good suggestions where possibly to view the eclipse.

Its like staying at the prestigious vacation property,

The Four Seasons.

Stay long enough and you will experience

Fall

Winter

Spring 

Summer